The Twin Cities metro's population has grown an estimated 4.5 percent since the 2010 census.

Preliminary estimates from the Metropolitan Council show the region added 127,878 people from 2010 to 2014. Minneapolis grew 7.5 percent in that time, St. Paul, 5 percent.

The numbers, based on census data and building permits, are not surprising given the robust apartment construction in many areas, said Libby Starling, the Met Council's regional policy and research manager.

"We are probably pretty much in the middle of the pack in terms of how we're doing compared to other similarly-sized metropolitan areas," she said.