Census: Stamford now state’s second-largest city as CT grows more diverse

Stamford is now the second-largest city in Connecticut, and the state”™s population has increased modestly since 2010, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.

Connecticut”™s 0.89% rise from 3,574,097 in 2010 to 3,605,904 as of April 1, 2020 was the fourth-smallest increase in the U.S.

Stamford ”“ whose population increased by 10.5%, from 122,643 to 135,470 ”“ leapfrogged over Hartford and New Haven to become the state”™s second-largest municipality behind Bridgeport, which itself grew saw a 0.4% decline from 144,229 to 143,653.

All told, Fairfield County recorded an increase of 40,490 residents, the highest in the state. Norwalk remained the state”™s sixth-largest city, growing 7% to 91,184, with Danbury staying in seventh place (up 7% to 86,518) and Greenwich remaining 10^th (up 4% to 63,518).

As a result of the latest census data, Connecticut”™s Congressional apportionment will remain at five.

The state is also becoming more diverse. While Connecticut”™s White population dropped from 77.6% in 2010 to 66.4% in 2020, its Hispanic or Latino population increased from 13.4% to 17.3%; its Black population went from 10.1% to 10.8%; and its Asian population grew from 3.8% to 4.8%. The figures do not include people of mixed race.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, who chaired the state”™s 2020 Complete Count Committee, noted that Connecticut’s 99.9% overall response rate exceeded the national average of 99.8%, and that its 70.6% self-response rate bested the 2010 self-response rate of 69.5%.

“As Connecticut continues to be an attractive destination for new families, and as we continue to come back from the pandemic, our state’s count in the 2020 census will be a critical milestone which will ensure that our state gets its fair share of federal resources,” Bysiewicz said.

“By producing the most complete count possible, the 2020 census results will bring billions of dollars in federal resources to Connecticut for education, health care, transportation, and more,” she added.

The total U.S. population as of April 1, 2020 was 331,449,281 compared with 308,745,538 in the 2010 Census, a 7.4% increase.