Birmingham city saw no population growth since 2010, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, while a handful of small cities in the suburbs continue to grow rapidly.

Birmingham city officials welcomed the new reports, which showed the state's largest city lost just 80 residents since 2010.

"When placed in perspective, the losses are marginal compared to decades past," a statement from the mayor's office said. "From 2000-2010, the city lost more than 30,000 residents -- more than 80 residents per day -- as opposed to the 80 we lost over the last six years."

Birmingham city is now estimated to be home to 212,157 residents.

While Birmingham and Bessemer and other spots in Jefferson County lost small amounts, the metro area continues to sprawl at its southern and eastern edges.

Chelsea in Shelby County is the second-fastest growing city of 10,000 or more people in the state, according to the new 2016 city population estimates, and the fastest growing city in the Birmingham metro area.

Chelsea is joined by Helena, Calera, Trussville and Moody among the top 10 fastest growing cities in Alabama from 2015 to 2016.

Chelsea city councilman Casey Morris attributes the growth to the small city being family friendly and to the availability of affordable housing.

"We have churches on just about every corner in our city," he said. "We have ballparks and great schools. We have great public safety. We have a fantastic full-time fire department."

Chelsea's population grew 21 percent from 2010-16, Census data shows. The city gained 2,158 residents during that time frame. Chelsea now has an estimated population of 12,341.

Hoover, now the 6th largest city in the state, is still experiencing growth but at a much slower rate than during the explosive expansions of the 1970s and the 1990s.

Hoover grew by about 4 percent or 3,359 people since 2010. But the city added just 263 residents from 2015 to 2016. The Census estimates the current population is 84,978.

Birmingham has seen population swing by small numbers each year since 2010, and the latest figures show the city lost a little more than one person per day from 2015 to 2016. Overall, from 2010 to 2016, Magic City's population remains virtually unchanged.

That's despite a surge of new apartments in downtown Birmingham. An estimated 1,772 new apartments were added downtown in 2016.

The Birmingham mayor's office sees the new Census estimates as a positive for the city compared to years' past.

"Recent census statistics demonstrate a true renaissance for the city of Birmingham, the likes of which have never been seen in the city's recent history," the mayor's office said in a statement. "In 2015, we saw an increase in population of 668 citizens from the previous year. This is the first time such an increase has occurred since the outward migration began in the 1960's."

Birmingham is faring better than two of the state's other large cities, the mayor's office noted. Indeed, Montgomery's population shrank by 5,742 since 2010 and Mobile shrank by 2,207. The mayor's office said the Magic City is on the upswing.

"With over 1,000 new residences completed or underway in the Oxmoor area, Ensley, throughout Five Points South, Pratt, Lakeview, Enon Ridge, Titusville, Parkside, Bellview Heights, around UAB, and in the City's Central Business District, we expect these numbers to turn and show an increasingly positive trend in coming years," the mayor's office stated.

In Shelby County, Morris said Chelsea's central location on Highway 280 makes it an attractive location for families. The influx of new residents, though, is causing some headaches for commuters.

Despite that, Morris said Chelsea residents can still access most attractions in the Birmingham area in 35 to 40 minutes.

Shelby County is also working to accommodate the city and the county's growth, he said. Twenty-one classrooms are currently being added to Chelsea High School to help meet the immediate needs of the system, Morris said.

Chelsea is seeing new home growth due to demand, he said.

"We have great property values, and we have homes ranging from your starter homes from the mid-$150,000s to almost a million," Morris said. "We have a lot of choices for people to choice from."