Who's Growing? Who's Shrinking?
Vol. III, No. 348 - New Census Data Shows Growth All Across Miami County
The U.S. Census Bureau just released its latest population estimates, and for those who pay attention to where our region is heading, the numbers are worth a close read. The data — covering April 2020 through July 2025 — offers a five-year snapshot of growth, stagnation, and in at least one case, decline across incorporated places in and around Miami County. And the data is important, one of the most important metrics any community can look at is it’s population - a steadlily growing community is one that is health.
So, what do these numbers tell us? Miami County’s major communities are growing, but not all at the same pace — and one neighboring city is quietly losing ground.
Troy and Piqua Are Trending Up
Troy continues to solidify its position as the dominant city in Miami County. The county seat grew from 26,345 in April 2020 to an estimated 27,344 by July 2025 — an increase of nearly 1,000 residents, or about 3.8% over five years. Troy held steady at 55th on the list of Ohio’s largest cities throughout the entire period. That kind of stability at a growing population level isn’t accidental; it reflects sustained residential investment and a consistent draw for families and workers.
Piqua tells an even more interesting story. It added roughly 681 residents over the same period — growing from 20,383 to 21,064 — and actually climbed in the state rankings, moving from 83rd to 81st. In a state where many mid-size cities are fighting to hold population, moving up the rankings while adding residents is a meaningful signal.
Tipp City also continued its steady climb. From 10,279 to 10,644, Tipp grew by 365 people and moved up from 173rd to 170th in the Ohio rankings. That may sound modest, but Tipp City’s growth has been remarkably consistent year over year — no spikes, no dips — which reflects the kind of steady demand that comes from a community people actively choose.
The Smaller Villages Are Holding Their Own
Covington, Bradford, Pleasant Hill, West Milton, and Fletcher all posted gains over the five-year period. None grew dramatically, but none lost population either. Covington grew from 2,549 to 2,635. West Milton added 178 residents to reach 4,871. These are not explosive numbers, but in the context of Ohio’s broader rural demographic picture, holding and modestly growing matters.
Potsdam and Ludlow Falls remain very small — 233 and 178 residents respectively — with essentially flat populations over the period. Casstown remained nearly unchanged at 277.
Sidney’s Slide Deserves Attention
The most significant cautionary data point in this dataset belongs to Sidney, the Shelby County seat just north of Miami County. Sidney went from 20,582 in April 2020 to 20,124 by July 2025 — a loss of 458 residents. More telling: it dropped from 82nd to 85th in Ohio’s city rankings. While Sidney is not a Miami County community, it’s a regional economic peer, and its trajectory is a useful contrast to what’s happening in Troy and Piqua.
Huber Heights, a Montgomery County city that encroaches into Miami County, also slipped — from 27th to 28th in the state rankings — despite technically adding residents. In Ohio’s larger-city tier, even modest growth can result in a ranking drop if peers are growing faster.
What This Means Locally
Population growth is not the only measure of a healthy community, but it is a signal — of housing demand, school enrollment, tax base, and economic confidence. The Miami County communities represented in this data are, on balance, growing. The question local leaders and residents should be asking is not just how many people, but where are they coming from, where are they settling, and what’s bringing them here?
Those are conversations worth having in public — not just inside city hall.
Announcing our May Community Survey!
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