Pennsylvania grew more slowly than it did the prior decade, when it grew 3.4%, and far behind the nation's population growth of 7.4%. Still, with Illinois' loss of population, Pennsylvania rose to the nation's fifth-most populous state, up from sixth a decade ago. It remains behind California, Texas, Florida and New York.
Norman Bristol Colon, who ran Gov. Tom Wolf's Census 2020 Complete Count Commission, said Pennsylvania's growth was stronger than anticipated two years ago, in part because of people moving from Puerto Rico.
“Pennsylvania became the second state where Puerto Ricans were moving,” Bristol Colon said. “Florida was No. 1, and Pennsylvania was No. 2.”