If you think Bay Area freeways have become more crowded, the state finance department may have an explanation.
Its annual report estimates that nearly 60,000 new residents moved in the last year. And three-quarters of them moved into the East and South Bay.
Santa Clara County gained the most residents–19,000 in all.
Alameda and Contra Costa were next.
San Francisco found room to add almost 1,000 new residents last year.
In the North Bay, Napa and Sonoma counties recorded population declines.
The steepest drop was in the unincorporated parts of both counties.
That’s where thousands of homes were lost in the wine country fires.
Santa Clara was not only the top county, but the City of Santa Clara gained the most residents among smaller towns. Eleven people were moving there every day.
Also on the list: Dublin and Newark in Alameda County, and Brentwood in the far eastern part of Contra Costa County.