Census Reveals 4.2 Percent Population Increase for Birmingham

Surrounding cities may be taking a hit in population, but Birmingham is on the rise. According to 2010 census figures released Tuesday, the city's total population is now 20,103, up 4.2 percent from 2000's count of 19,291.

Oakland County also saw an jump in population, coming in at 1,202,362 — up from 1,194,156 in 2000. The area with the biggest population increase was Oakland Township, which saw a 28.4 percent population jump.

Assistant City Manager Joe Valentine said falling housing values during the past 10 years have made it easier for people to purchase homes and relocate to Birmingham.

"Birmingham has become a better value for the buyer," Valentine said. In addition, he said Birmingham's recent redevelopment of its downtown — including investing in mixed-used buildings that double as commercial and residential spaces — has made the city more attractive for a variety of demographics.

Valentine said the increase is to be expected, particularly given the July 2010 projections by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). SEMCOG has forecasted that Birmingham will grow by a little less than 1,000 residents through 2035.

Need a quick reference for what the 2010 numbers mean? We've got five things you need to know about the 2010 census, in addition all the figures you'll ever need:

• Population: Birmingham is growing. Since 2000, 812 new residents have moved to the city.
• Race: Birmingham is quickly becoming more diverse. The black population jumped 250 percent since 2000, while the Asian population grew by 74 percent.
• Age: Birmingham is quickly becoming younger as well. In 2000, there were 4,094 minors, or people under the age of 18, in town. In 2010, that number had grown to 4,939.
• Housing: In 2010, 9.4 percent of the housing units in Birmingham were vacant. This is up from 2000, when only 5.9 percent of housing was vacant.
  
• What this means: Valentine said that such a small increase probably won't prompt the city to do anything drastic, although the effect is a positive one. "I think it spurs confidence, and it adds to the numbers going forward."
  
• For the complete list: Visit factfinder2.census.gov.

Below are the 2010 census figures for Birmingham, compared with 2000 figures.

Birmingham demographic data is courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The population of Oakland County grew 0.7 percent during the past 10 years, while major shifts dominated the county's racial makeup. The white population fell by 6 percent since 2000, while the population of those identified as Asian or black increased by 37 and 36 percent, respectively.

+3%

Corrections: The percentage change has been updated to fix miscalculations.