Metropolitan Washington Growth Trends

Local governments in the Washington region have worked cooperatively for many years to develop region-wide and neighborhood level forecasts of employment, households, and population. Through this effort, a consistent set of local and regional forecasts is developed for use in program and facilities planning throughout the region.

The Cooperative Forecasting Program, established in 1975 and administered by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), enables local, regional, and federal agencies to coordinate planning using common assumptions about future growth and development.Each series of forecasts constitutes a "Round," and each round covers a period of 20 to 30 years.

The Cooperative Forecasting process provides data necessary for regional planning activities including analyzing the effects of growth and developing policy responses to regional issues. In addition, the forecasts are used to determine the demand for public facilities including schools, parks, medical facilities, roads, stores, and services.

You may download the reports from COG's online Publications.