New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today released a report on local demographic changes in New York City based on 2020 census data and an online interactive map that breaks down the population statistics by age, race and ethnicity, as well as housing trends, in New York City, townships, towns and villages. DiNapoli’s report provides a snapshot of New York State’s population, which stood at over 20.2 million in 2020, up 4.1% since 2010.

“The 2020 census results show that New York State is changing, and this report and online tool provide detailed information on population changes in local communities and what that may mean to the community. ‘future,’ DiNapoli said. “These changes may have an impact on how revenues, such as local sales tax and federal aid, are distributed.”

The state’s overall population growth has been largely driven by the New York metropolitan area. The city experienced its fourth consecutive decade of population growth and saw the largest increase with 7.7%. The population of the Mid-Hudson region grew 4.7% to nearly 2.4 million, the largest percentage increase of any region outside of New York City. Long Island, the second most populous region in the state, grew 3.1% from 2010 to over 2.9 million people. Conversely, the southern layer experienced the largest percentage decline, at 3%, followed closely by the North Country and the Mohawk Valley, with decreases of 2.9% and 2.2%, respectively. .

Overall, cities outside New York City grew for the first time since 1960, up 2% to a total of 2.3 million people in 2020, although less than the half have experienced population growth. Cities grew by 1.7%, totaling 9.1 million inhabitants, reflecting the weakest growth of cities in decades. The number of people living in the villages also increased, but only by 1.1%, in part due to the dissolution of 22 villages between 2010 and 2020.

Other conclusions of the report:

• Almost all of the state’s largest cities outside of New York City (11 of 12) experienced growth between 2010 and 2020, increasing a total of 4%. Mount Vernon’s population grew the fastest at 9.8%. Buffalo added the most people (17,039) – a 6.5% increase – after losing more than half of its population from 1950 to 2010. Yonkers grew 8%, overtaking Rochester as the third largest city in the state. Almost all of the state’s smallest towns (10 of 12) contracted, falling 3.9%.
• The share of the population declared white has decreased in all classes of local government. In cities outside of New York City, this group declined by almost 12% between 2010 and 2020 and now represents just under 51% of the overall population.
• Outside of New York City, the number of blacks increased in all classes of local government, with cities seeing the largest increase, at 9.3%. People who identify as Hispanic or Latino increased by almost 28% in towns and villages and 38% in towns. The Asian American population has also experienced significant double-digit growth in all categories of local government.
• The number of occupied dwellings in cities outside New York City increased 3.7% from 2010 to 2020, faster than in cities or towns, but this class also saw a 2% increase in vacant units, so the city’s overall vacancy rates have remained fairly constant.

DiNapoli’s online interactive tool also includes data for all of New York City and each of its five counties (Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond and Queens).

Online dashboard

Interactive dashboard of the 2020 census of local governments

Report

2020 Census: Changes in Municipal Population in New York State

Track state and local government spending at Open Book New York. As part of State Comptroller DiNapoli’s open data initiative, search millions of state and local government financial records, track state contracts, and find the most requested data.