We all know that the Ocala Metro is growing, we just have not known how much. Now we do! The new Census numbers for Metropolitan areas and counties recently were released and this area is growing even faster than we anticipated. For the period of 1 July 2022-30 June 2023, the Ocala Metro (Marion County) was the 4th fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation! What does that mean? As of the cutoff date more than 9 months ago, the population of our community was just shy of 410,000 people. For comparison, the population at the 2020 Census was 376,000.
Of the 392 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the US, the Ocala Metro now ranks 134. In 2020, we ranked 148. Not only was our growth rate (3.4%) the 4th highest, but we ranked 31st for the highest quantity growth. In other words, while extremely large metros (Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix) may have much smaller growth rates, they could still add tens if not hundreds of thousands of new residents. The Ocala Metro still ranked 31st in sheer numbers despite being smaller than any other metro ranked above it in this category.
When you break these numbers down on a weekly basis, it means approximately 269 people a week are moving into our community. Based on our average household size, it means we need 110 housing units a week for these new residents. We need jobs for these new residents and we need space for schools, healthcare, etc.
All of the construction you see throughout the community is a direct result of this growth. It is also why we are seeing so many new stores and restaurants open throughout the community. Our twice a month videocast, POV: Ocala presented by Ocala Flooring, highlights these new additions. You can find the videos on the CEP’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages. You will want to check back frequently because this is the year of commercial development. It is incredible the number of new retailers and restaurants who are working on new locations.
Yes, growth does create some challenges, but it creates far more opportunities. The median wage in Ocala has grown 1/3 faster than the national average over the last 10 years. The economy is significantly more diversified and balanced than perhaps at any time in Ocala’s history. Housing growth is robust, and the median price remains the lowest of any Florida metro and among the most affordable in the nation. All of these and more are contributing to an Ocala which is an excellent place to live, work, and play.
