To get the most out of this indicator . . .

Ask questions:

·         Is the local population growing or declining?

·         How quickly is it changing?

·         Is it changing steadily over time, or have there been periods of rapid change alternating with periods of little change?

Look at other indicators:

·         “Population: Migration and natural change” - Which component of population change is having the greatest impact on population change?

·         “Population: Race” and/or “Population: Hispanic origin” - Are specific groups growing or declining faster than others?

·         “Employment: Number of jobs” – How does population growth compare to job growth?

·         “County types: County policy type codes” – Is your county classified as a “population loss” county?

Dig deeper:

·         Look at the county rankings for your state and/or view maps to see how your county compares to others.

·         Take a Big Picture view of your county.