MN population continues to grow, with significant jump in Twin Cities

The number of people living in Minnesota is growing – especially in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota's population is up 2.9 percent from the 2010 U.S. Census, according to 2014 Census estimates released Thursday. In July 2014, there were an estimated 5,457,173 people living in the state, up from 5,303,925 in 2010, Census data show.

Rising population figures are good news for city and state leaders. Growth encourages investments in development, businesses and entertainment, which helps improve the state's economy, and further propel the population by attracting more people to the area.

Here's a look at who's growing, and how fast.

Twin Cities area sees growth

The Twin Cities metropolitan area has also been growing, increasing its population 4.1 percent since 2010, and up by 0.9 percent from the 2013 estimate, according to Census data.

From 2013 to 2014, Minneapolis grew by 6,560 people, while St. Paul jumped by 2,200.

With the thousands of people who have recently taken up residence in Minneapolis, it's population is now at 407,207 – making it the 46th largest city in the U.S., up two spots from last year's estimate.

The state's capital – the 66th largest city in the nation – now has an estimated population of 297,640. That's just shy of the 300,000 mark that the city hasn't seen since 1970, when suburbs started booming, causing the city's population to drop by 40,000 in a decade, the Pioneer Press notes.

Wayzata is among the cities with the biggest gains, seeing a 20 percent increase in population from 2010-2014, the Star Tribune notes. Rogers, Otsego, Carver, Victoria and Waconia have also seen significant growth.

Of the larger suburban cities (populations of 50,000 or more), Maple Grove, Woodbury, Blaine and Lakeville have seen the most growth compared to cities of comparable size – all seeing a population increase of at least 7 percent since 2010, data show.

Last week the Metropolitan Council – which serves the seven-county Twin Cities area – released its population estimates, showing the Twin Cities region grew to nearly 3 million in 2014.

City and state officials say new immigrants are one of the main factors influencing the Twin Cities population spike, Met Council noted. Brower told the Star Tribune the state will have to relay on new immigration to sustain its growth due to the state's aging population.

A look at Rochester, Duluth

Rochester, the state's third-largest city, grew faster than any other city in Minnesota outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, the Rochester Post Bulletin reports. It added 689 people – a 0.6 percent increase – to reach an estimated 111,402, data show.

The newspaper notes several suburbs of Rochester have also seen significant growth in the last few years.

Duluth, however, saw no growth in population compared to 2010. In fact, the estimated population for the North Shore city is 28 fewer than it was on the 2010 census. The current population is an estimated 86,238, data show.

Find highlights from where you live by clicking here.

ND leads in housing creation

Also included in the 2014 Census estimate was the number of housing units added throughout the country.

From 2010-2014, North Dakota added the most housing units compared to any other state, increasing the number by 10.4 percent. From 2013-2014, the state had the fastest rate of growth in the number of units at 3 percent, the Census notes.

Since 2010, Minnesota has only increased its number of housing units by 1.6 percent, data show.

The report released Thursday cover all cities, towns, townships and consolidated cities. For all the data locally and nationally that was released, click here.