Geek's Number Talk: Where are all the people going?

You may have heard that the Bay Area is experiencing a population decline for the first time in what seems like decades of consistent growth. According to early Census data, our regional population shrunk by 0.6% in 2020, and we’re down 0.8% from the peak of just two years ago.

As you can see, the biggest dip was right here in Santa Clara County, which dropped more than 15,000 residents last year alone. It’s no secret that the rising costs of housing are driving a population shift out of the Bay Area. But it’s yet to be seen how long this trend will hold.