Sales of new (above) and existing housing in the far western suburbs have perked up as the U.S. Census Bureau reports that counties like Kane, Kendall, Will and McHenry have gained in population while Chicago and Cook county have lost. (Photo by Jack McCarthy / Chronicle Media)

According to the Census Bureau and news release, Kane, Kendall, Will and McHenry counties were up in year-over-year numbers between 2017 and 2018. Only 16 of Illinois’ 102 counties saw a population increases have over the period.

Kane saw the third-highest population increase of any county in Illinois for the period of 2017 to 2018. The county’s population went up from an estimated 533,156 in July 2017 to 534,216 in July 2018 — an increase of 1,060 residents.

The highest numeric population increase was in Kendall County, which saw an increase of 1,643 residents year over year. Will County showed an increase of 1,293 residents. McHenry County was up boy 557 residents.

Population totals for the state of Illinois decreased by 45,116 year over year, dropping from 12,786,196 to 12,741,080. Losses in Chicago and Cook County were a significant part of the decline.

Despite the losses, the Chicago metropolitan area continues to be one of the most populous in the U.S. According to the Census Bureau.

Cook County is the second-highest in population, with 5,180,493 as of July 1, 2018. It’s far behind the No. 1, Los Angeles County, which has 10,105,518 residents, according to Census estimates. The “Chicago-Naperville-Elgin” metropolitan area has the third-highest population among the metros, with 9,498,716 estimated population as of July 1, 2018.

Overall, Texas counties  saw of the country’s highest population growth. Generally, counties are growing in the South and West, and declining in the Midwest and Northeast.

By metropolitan area, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, had the largest numeric growth with a gain of 131,767 (1.8 percent) in 2018, followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. with an increase of 96,268 (2.0 percent).

Migration, both domestic and international, as well as natural increase contributed to the growth in each of these areas, with natural increase serving as the largest source of population growth in Dallas and domestic migration serving as the largest source in Phoenix.

“One interesting trend we are seeing this year is that metro areas not among the most populous are ranked in the top 10 for population growth,” said Sandra Johnson, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. “Though no new metro areas moved into the top 10 largest areas, Phoenix, Seattle, Austin, and Orlando all experienced numeric increases in population since 2010, rivaling growth in areas with much larger populations. This trend is consistent with the overall growth we are seeing in the south and the west.”