Ocala Metro Ranks No. 1 in Growth for Second Year

Thursday, March 26, 2026

The Ocala area continued to lead the nation in population growth, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday.

The data shows a 3.4% growth rate for the Ocala Metro in the bureau's Vintage 2025 population estimates between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. The bureau estimated the metro's at 442,660 people.

The population increased by more than 14,600 people compared to the previous year and by more than 66,700 since the 2020 Census.

Posted by Corky at 07:46 PM | 5 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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The growth in Ocala comes as the bureau reports that population growth slowed in the majority of the nation's counties during the same time period.

Officials credited the shift to lower levels of international migration to the U.S. last year.

"The nation's largest counties like those in the New York metro area are often international migration hubs, gaining large numbers of international migrants and losing people that move to other parts of the country via domestic migration," explained George M. Hayward, a Census Bureau demographer.

"With fewer gains from international migration, these types of counties saw their population growth diminish or even turn into loss."

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There's Top Ten cities Chart at the link, including places like Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg in SC, St. George, Utah... couple of more in FL.

Lots more traffic here the last few years, but still not as bad as a lot of places. Comparatively mild weather; about an hour to either coast of the Atlantic or the Gulf. Also about that to Orlando (I refuse to drive there!) and less to Gainesville.

Rolling hills, pastures (Horse Country... with International Competitions at the World Equestrian Center) Huge National Forest complete with bears and gators.

Some of the best natural springs in the country in town and nearby. A nice old downtown with dining and artsy events. (I won't mention the Far South GA vibe... receding, but still Swamp Buggy Heaven)

You would hate it, don't move here!

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-26 07:59 PM | Reply

Cork, I didn't realize you live in Ocala. I'm often in that area for the ONF or the Oklawaha or jamming at Charlie Horse.

#2 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2026-03-26 08:33 PM | Reply

I stopped at a Waffle House in Ocala. It was pretty good. Waffle House is always pretty good.

I looked at some Waffle Houses around Ocala on Google maps and I think that one may be long gone. Lots of them are looking pretty new.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-26 08:52 PM | Reply

I lived out in the Forest near Salt Springs for a few years. 5 acres, a few horses. Been to Gator Joe's in Ocklawaha... and Ma Barker's House nearby, lol.

Now I'm on the other side of town, about 15 mins from my happy place:

worldequestriancenter.com

If I remember right, you were doing plays in what... Bunnell or somewhere?

We finally got a Culvers a couple of years ago ;)

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-26 09:21 PM | Reply

When I was a teenager Ocala was mostly a bunch of citrus groves. Orlando too. Worked a couple of days with a buddy and his dad picking oranges. It was weird how some orange trees grew other fruit like limes or grapefruit. When we'd go over the Howard Franklin bridge, we'd throw oranges into Tampa Bay. Sometimes sharks came up to see what just splashed the surface. Beach towns were mostly weekend cottages, and not too fancy. Old Florida was pretty cool.

#5 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-26 11:11 PM | Reply