Manatee County sees 17% population growth with rising housing challenges

Manatee County has experienced a population increase of approximately 17% since 2020, according to WUSF. This growth has brought challenges such as rising home prices, increased traffic congestion, and lagging public infrastructure.

One Stop Housing recently opened the Nest Apartments in Bradenton, a 182-unit workforce housing complex currently at half capacity. Shanna Hendricks, a single mom and behavioral technician, rents a two-bedroom unit there and credits the affordable housing for enabling her to live near her workplace.

The population growth includes a significant number of adults aged 75 and older, who account for about one-third of the increase. Younger adults aged 20 to 34 make up about 23% of new residents, based on a Pioneer Institute analysis of U.S. Census data.

Manatee County has seen more residents moving in from other Florida counties than from other states, with the largest net gain coming from Sarasota County and the largest net loss to Hillsborough County. Additionally, new residents tend to have higher average earnings than those leaving the county, according to IRS tax return data analyzed by the Pioneer Institute.