DAYTON IS THE NATION'S 72nd-LARGEST METRO AREA
Dayton's 800,909 population in the metropolitan area ranks 72nd nationally (not including metro areas in Puerto Rico measured by the Census), just behind Columbia, S.C. (810,068) and ahead of Sarasota, Fla. (768,918). The population has remained all but flat since 2010.
Dayton metropolitan area population
| Year | Est. population |
| 2015 | 800,909 |
| 2014 | 801,145 |
| 2013 | 801,622 |
| 2012 | 802,296 |
| 2011 | 801,389 |
| 2010 | 800,303 |
Metropolitan areas similar to Dayton in 2015 population
| Rank | Metro area | Est. population |
| 67 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 842,304 |
| 68 | El Paso, TX | 838,972 |
| 69 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 832,327 |
| 70 | Baton Rouge, LA | 830,480 |
| 71 | Columbia, SC | 810,068 |
| 72 | Dayton, OH | 800,909 |
| 73 | North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 768,918 |
| 74 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | 752,157 |
| 75 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 744,526 |
| 76 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 731,612 |
| 77 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | 726,106 |
SINCE 2010, DAYTON HAS BEEN EXACTLY AS ATTRACTIVE TO MOVE TO AS SHEBOYGAN, WIS.
Dayton's population grew 0.08% from 2010-15, from 800,303 to 800,909. That made it one of 32 metro areas that showed growth of less than 1 percent from 2010-15.
The city that saw that same growth level was Sheboygan, Wis., whose population rose from 115,474 to 115,569.
Metropolitan areas similar to Dayton in 2010-15 population change (pct.)
| Metro area | Est. population, 2015 | % change 2010-15 |
| Sioux City, IA | 169,069 | 0.14% |
| Rome, GA | 96,504 | 0.09% |
| Sheboygan, WI | 115,569 | 0.08% |
| Dayton, OH | 800,909 | 0.08% |
| Carbondale-Marion, IL | 126,828 | 0.01% |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | 1,135,230 | -0.03% |
| Midland, MI | 83,632 | -0.04% |
SINCE LAST YEAR, DAYTON'S POPULATION HAS CHANGED ABOUT AS MUCH AS FOND DU LAC, WIS., AND CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO.
The number of people in the Dayton metro area dropped 0.03 percent from 2014-15 (a total of 236, from 801,145 to 800,909). That put it on par with areas like Fond Du Lac, Wis., and Cape Girardeau, Mo., in how much it changed in that single year.
Percentage change in population, 2014 to 2015
| Metro area | 2015 population | % change from 2014 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 97,177 | -0.01% |
| Dayton, OH | 800,909 | -0.03% |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 101,973 | -0.04% |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 97,534 | -0.05% |
| Trenton, NJ | 371,398 | -0.05% |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 169,546 | -0.05% |
MANY OHIO AREAS ARE HURTING FOR NEW PEOPLE
Six of the top 30 metro areas (outside of Puerto Rico) that saw the biggest percentage drop in population nationally from 2010-15 were in Ohio, led by the Weirton-Steubenville area (-3.03%). Also on that list in are the Youngstown area, the Wheeling region that extends into Ohio, Mansfield, Lima and Springfield.
Ohio metro areas with biggest population drops, 2010-15
| Metro area | % population change, 2010-15 | U.S. rank (1 is biggest drop) |
| Weirton-Steubenville | -3.03% | 9 |
| Youngstown-Warren-Boardman | -2.65% | 13 |
| Wheeling (W.Va. and Ohio) | -2.47% | 17 |
| Mansfield | -1.99% | 24 |
| Lima | -1.86% | 27 |
| Springfield | -1.65% | 28 |
MONTGOMERY COUNTY LOST PEOPLE SINCE 2010 (SO DID MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF OHIO COUNTIES), BUT SOME OF THE REGION GAINED
Montgomery County saw a drop from 536,216 to 532,258 people from 2010-15. That made it one of 60 Ohio counties that experienced a decline in the same period (although 13 of those drops were less than 1 percent).
Others in the area saw growth. Warren County had the state's third-biggest jump in population from 2010-15, at 5.2%. Butler, Greene and Miami counties in the region also experienced bumps from 2010.
Regional counties population change, 2010-15
| County | 2010 | 2015 | % change 2010-15 | Ohio rank (1 is most growth) |
| Butler | 369,064 | 376,353 | 1.97% | 12 |
| Champaign | 40,059 | 38,987 | -2.68% | 76 |
| Clark | 138,246 | 135,959 | -1.65% | 53 |
| Greene | 161,608 | 164,427 | 1.74% | 13 |
| Miami | 102,479 | 104,224 | 1.70% | 14 |
| Montgomery | 536,216 | 532,258 | -0.74% | 37 |
| Warren | 213,524 | 224,469 | 5.13% | 3 |
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