ST. LOUIS – Two U.S. Metros in the East Coast have passed the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area in population, new Census estimates show.
The metros for Charlotte, North Carolina, and Orlando, Florida, have surpassed the St. Louis region in population, according to Census figures released Thursday. FOX 2 first reported that this was a possibility last October based on post-pandemic demographic trends.
The metropolitan areas for Charlotte and Orlando have now passed 2.8 million people, while the St. Louis metro dipped below that mark as of July 2023, per Census figures.
Census data since 2020 reveals that the Charlotte and Orlando regions have added around 50,000-100,000 people each year since the new decade. The St. Louis metro has lost roughly 25,000 residents since that time, and 2023 marked the third straight year of a regional decrease.
San Antonio, Texas, also gained some ground in its metro population compared to St. Louis, but still trails by roughly 100,00 residents.
A closer look at the numbers, per Census:
| 2020 population | 2022 population | 2023 population | Change (2020-23) | |
| St. Louis | 2,820,253 | 2,801,319 | 2,796,999 | -0.82% |
| Orlando | 2,673,376 | 2,764,182 | 2,817,933 | 5.40% |
| Charlotte | 2,660,329 | 2,756,069 | 2,805,115 | 5.44% |
| San Antonio | 2,558,143 | 2,655,342 | 2,703,999 | 5.70% |
One common denominator between the three metros surrounding St. Louis, they are all south of St. Louis geographically and have a stronger chance of warmer weather year-round, especially in Orlando and San Antonio. Also, all three are within a few hours of an ocean and beaches.
Could St. Louis fend off this competition? Perhaps it’s possible with lower-than-average housing and rent costs compared to similar-sized metros. It also holds an advantage as a larger professional sports scene, in addition to national acclaim for its music and arts scene.
According to Census figures, the population of Greater St. Louis has increased from the start of one decade to the next every time since the 1980s. This comes as the flagship city of St. Louis has lost more than half of its population since 1970. That said, previous FOX 2 research reveals tens of thousands (perhaps even more than 100,000) have stayed closed and moved to suburbs, especially in St. Charles County.
St. Louis regional leaders told the St. Louis Business Journal last year that they hope the St. Louis area grows by at least 1% from its 2020 population by the time 2030 arrives. That would mean a regional population of around 2.85 million people at the start of the new decade.
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