BRATTLEBORO — New data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) show that population growth in Windham County and the rest of Vermont has been low, with nearly as many people moving in as moving out.
According to data gathered between 2007 and 2011, Windham County's population is 44,090. The county saw 1,991 people move in from other states, and 2,185 people move out of state.
Where did those 1,991 people come from? The three most popular origins were Cheshire County in New Hampshire (259), Westchester County in New York (158), and New Haven County in Connecticut (123).
And where did those departing 2,185 fetch up? Cheshire County was tops again, with 327, followed by Walton County in Florida (267), and Tolland County in Connecticut (116).
Population movement within the state yielded a similar pattern. Four hundred six people moved into Windham County from other counties. Essex and Orleans counties were the only two of the state's 14 counties not to have their residents move to Windham County. The top-two sending counties were Bennington (123) and Windsor (102).
As for outbound movement within Vermont, 874 people moved out of Windham County to another part of the state. Franklin County was the only county not to see people from Windham County move in. The top two destinations were Windsor County (371) and Rutland County (155).
And, according to the ACS data, 201 people moved to Windham County from another country.
Nationwide, about 16.8 million people moved into a different county within a year in the United States between 2007 and 2011. The largest net influx of movers were found in the Southwest and parts of Florida and Colorado.
Counties that saw a significant net loss were mainly in coastal Southern California, South Florida, and the New York City metropolitan area.
As for overall population growth, Vermont saw a 0.14 percent increase - from 625,745 to 626,630 - between April 2010 and July 2013. Only Michigan (0.12 percent) and West Virginia (0.07 percent) saw lower growth rates.
Maine and Rhode Island were the only two states to lose population in that time frame, albeit in statistically insignificant numbers: Maine lost 59 residents, while Rhode Island saw a net loss of 1,056.
California (1.1 million) and Texas (1.3 million) were the two states gaining the most new people.
The American Community Survey (www.census.gov/acs) is an ongoing statistical survey that samples a small segment of the U.S. population - about 1 in 38 households - each year. Demographic data gathered in the survey - which is more detailed than the standard census form - is used to aid in allocation of federal funds to state and local governments.