“When I see Daytime Population and Non-Resident Population in AGS data, are these the same thing? Do I need both? How should I interpret each?”
They sound similar—and both affect local demand—but they represent distinct demographic phenomena. Here’s a breakdown of their definitions, use cases, and key distinctions.
Daytime Population measures who is physically present in an area during “active hours” (for example, the workday). This includes residents, employees (or workers), and nonworkers present (such as students or stay-at-home adults), plus non-residents who happen to be in the area at that time—though that group is often imperfectly captured. Daytime population tends to weight all presences equally, even though their “demand behavior” may differ dramatically (a toddler, a CEO, a visitor, or someone in group quarters all count the same).
Non-Resident Population, by contrast, represents people who do not permanently reside in an area but are temporarily present—tourists, business travelers, seasonal visitors, campers, second-home owners, or migrant workers. The AGS Non-Resident Population database estimates annual and quarterly counts of these groups by type (for example, business travelers, leisure travelers in hotels, or campers).
The key difference lies in purpose and application. While Daytime Population captures who is present during traditional working hours, the Non-Resident Population quantifies how many people are in an area but do not live there—vital for understanding tourism, restaurants, attractions, and seasonal markets.
Daytime population is most useful for businesses that rely on foot traffic—urban coffee shops, quick-service restaurants, and convenience stores—whereas non-resident population is essential in markets with strong tourism, business convention traffic, summer resorts, or concentrations of second homes. Though the two can overlap, their behavior patterns and seasonality are distinct: non-resident populations fluctuate, while daytime populations tend to reflect consistent weekday presence.
Ultimately, Daytime Population and Non-Resident Population are complementary, not competing, metrics. Used together, they provide a more complete picture of who is physically present versus who is temporarily visiting. Daytime population helps you understand ongoing, local presence during active hours; layering in non-resident population reveals the dynamic visitor flows that can reshape demand patterns in your market.
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