Population
Metro Denver has a population of 2.7 million people, with a growth rate that has consistently outpaced the national rate every decade since the 1930s. The region grew steadily during the past decade, averaging two percent population growth each year from 1997 to 2007. And by 2030, Metro Denver's population is anticipated to increase by nearly 50 percent to almost 3.9 million, with 800,000 new jobs being created.
To proactively plan for the region's growth, the Denver Regional Council of Governments has created Metro Vision 2030, a long-range strategy that addresses land-use planning, development, and transportation while preserving Metro Denver's unparalleled quality of life. Metro Vision concentrates development in a defined 750-square-mile urban growth boundary and identifies guidelines for nearly 70 high-density, mixed-use developments in the region, many around transit centers.
A large portion of Metro Denver's population growth is due to in-migration of highly educated workers from other states. The region's net migration averaged about 30,800 people each year during the 1990s. Metro Denver is estimated to have net-migration of 20,800 residents in 2007. The top five states for in-migration are California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Illinois.
According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Census Bureau, Thornton is the 15th fastest growing city in the United States – growing by 32 percent since 2000 to 109,155 residents in 2007. Aurora added the most residents – 27,189 people since 2000, and has now passed the 300,000 population mark. Overall, Northern Colorado is the fastest growing corridor in Colorado – with seven of the state's fastest growing cities.