Detroit's population loss slows; some suburbs see gains

Detroit continues to lose residents, but the population loss appears to be slowing, with about 1% moving out between 2013 and 2014, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

In the tri-county area, the Oakland County suburbs of Lyon and Oakland townships and Sylvan Lake, as well as Macomb and Washington townships in Macomb County grew the fastest, according to the estimates.

The census makes the estimates annually based on a review of birth and death records, as well as migration.

Demographer Kurt Metzger said Detroit's population loss appears to be easing.

"It continues to average about 1% loss per year," said Metzger, now mayor of Pleasant Ridge. "That is significantly less than the 2.5% loss per year last decade."

By the city's estimates, Detroit lost about 1,000 residents per month in 2013; that slowed to 500 in 2014, and the number is even lower in 2015.

"We have seen a significant slowing of people leaving the neighborhoods, and it will continue to improve," Mayor Mike Duggan said. "When we talk a year from now, the numbers will look even better."

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The city's population estimates — using utility and occupancy data, for example — are in line with current census estimates, Duggan said.

In March, the census released county-level estimates showing Wayne lost 17,067 residents, about 1% of its population, while Oakland and Macomb posted net gains of 0.5% and 0.6%, respectively.

Detroit, with 680,250 residents, remains America's 18th most-populous city, slightly ahead of El Paso, Texas, and behind Charlotte, N.C.

A pattern of growth stretches across Macomb, Oakland and Livingston counties as well as into Washtenaw. With the exception of Canton, Brownstown, Flat Rock and the southern portion of Northville Township, the remaining Wayne County communities lost population between 2013 and 2014.

Most of Michigan's Upper Penninsula lost population, as did older communities downstate. Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Dearborn and Livonia had the largest numerical declines year over year, with Saginaw dropping below the 50,000 mark this year to 49,844 residents.

Lyon Township was the region's biggest population winner on a percentage basis, growing 4.7% by adding 765 residents. New home development is fueling the growth.

The township issued 364 single-family housing permits in 2014, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

"Ten Mile west of Novi is the hottest residential corridor in the state right now," said Lyon Township Supervisor Lannie Young.

Young said the township's proximity to Detroit, Lansing and Ann Arbor, coupled with an improved school district and a lot of land available for development, has made it a magnet for new homes.

Also released today were the Census Bureau estimates of the number of housing units.

Metzger said the growth of housing units accelerated last year in Macomb, Oakland, Kent and Washtenaw counties, which is "indicative of an economic/housing recovery."