U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for 2012 show that Butler and Warren counties continue to draw people to their communities.

Butler County has gained 1,775 residents since the 2010 census and Warren County’s population grew with 3,972 new people. To the south, Hamilton County lost four residents from the 2010 census, but an estimated 1,350 people moved in between 2011 and 2012. Montgomery County has seen its population drop off by an estimated 1,580 people since the last census.

The census estimates released Thursday show most of the growth occurred in the Great Plains states and Texas between July 2011 and July 2012. Ohio is in a three-way tie with Maine and West Virginia with an estimated .01 growth rate from April 2010 to July 2012, with 7,723 new residents. Michigan was the only state to lose residents with 275.

David Fehr, Butler County’s economic development director, said the two biggest impacts census figures have on communities are congressional readjustments and Community Development Block Grant money. However, CDBG figures aren’t adjusted until the 10-year census.

Warren County’s unemployment rate is 5.6 percent, which is the lowest in Southwest Ohio, and down from the 9 percent rate in 2010.

Warren County Economic Development Director Martin Russell said the combination of jobs, good schools and all of the tourism opportunities make the county an attractive place to live.

“I believe Warren County has created a climate for both strong business and residential growth,” he said. “It is a county that has seen its business base expand, it means there are more job opportunities, so if they want to life in other areas or live here, they can move and work and play all inside of Warren County… When you say you can get the best of both worlds, you can get a lot of that inside Warren County.”

A recent survey by the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati showed that Warren County topped the area with a 4.4 percent rise in single-family home permits at 534 in 2012 and Butler County came in second with 394.

Butler County’s unemployment rate has dropped from 8 percent this time last year to 6 percent, according to Fehr.

“We’re not out of the woods yet on the economy,” he said. “But we’ve definitely bottomed out and are on the climb back, based on things we track like building permits and unemployment rates.”