Why is This Important?

Population is a basic indicator of the health of a community. New residents moving into the county are important drivers of economic growth and can increase social diversity. At the same time, increased population can deplete natural resources, while changing demographics may increase pressure on public services.

What is a Sustainable State?

A sustainable state is one where a community is able to accommodate population growth and changing demographics without negatively impacting quality of life or depleting nonrenewable natural resources.

How Are We Doing?

· San Mateo County’s population grew by 0.8 percent, or about 6,100 residents, in 2010. As of July 1, 2010, the estimated population of the county was 756,900. In aggregate, the population of the county has grown by 46,000 people (about 6.5 percent) since 2000.

· Total population increased in each town and city in the county in 2010. Millbrae was the fastest growing city in the county, growing by 2 percent over the last year.

· Daly City is the largest city in the county with 108,383 people living within city limits. San Mateo is second with 97,535. Colma is the smallest municipality in the county with 1,637 persons.

· The overall population density in the county is about 1,397 persons per square mile, reflecting both the urban and suburban nature of the county. Among municipalities, population density varies from a high of 14,336 people per square mile in Daly City, to 500 or less per square mile in Portola Valley and Woodside.

· State data break down the components of population change at the county level, between “natural growth” (births minus deaths) and “net migration” into the county to and from other places (both foreign and domestic migration). In 2010, the population increase in the county was composed of about 4,770 more births than deaths, and a positive net migration into the county of about 1,330 individuals.

· Notably, net migration is largely driven by foreign immigration into the county. In 2010, there was a net increase of 3,300 individuals moving to and from foreign countries, and a net loss of about 2,050 residents moving within the United States.

· Since 2000, there has been a net loss of about 54,000 residents to and from other places within the United States.  At the same time, there was a net gain of about 48,300 residents moving to and from other countries.

· In 2000, about 13 percent of the population in the county was 65 and older. By 2050, the number of residents 65 and older is expected to increase to over 25 percent of the county’s population.