Florida leads country in population growth or the first time in 65 years

TAMPA, Fla. – This week, the US Census Bureau named Florida the fastest-growing state in the country. The population right here grew 1.9% from 2021 to 2022. 

It’s the first time the state has led in growth since 1957. 

Dennis Prescott, who works in the tech-sector, moved to Tampa along with his golden retriever Walter in early 2020. 

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“It seems to have exceeded expectations after moving down, especially the Channelside area it’s been growing so much,” Prescott mentioned. 

Florida was discovered to have grown from about 21.8 million to 22.2 million individuals this yr. 

For Brandon (*65*), shifting from Western New York to Tampa simply two weeks in the past was about enterprise and sunshine.

“Honestly, I should’ve moved down here five years ago because of the weather, sitting at the pool in the middle of December you can’t beat it,” he mentioned. 

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Others mentioned it was Florida’s political local weather and Governor Ron DeSantis that attracted them to the state. 

“I love the conservative part of it,” mentioned Blake Passamaneck, who moved to Tampa in August.

All that growth does have a draw back. It has put a crunch on the state’s housing and lease costs. An common residence in Tampa goes for about $2,300 proper now – a 40% improve over the final 5 years.  

Still, that isn’t stopping of us like Elizabeth Markham, a nurse from Boston who moved to the state final summer season. 

“Honestly, winter and COVID in Boston was horrible,” she mentioned.  “Everyone’s always like ‘why would you move to Florida?’ and now everyone’s like ‘when I can come visit you,’” Markham mentioned.