Lakeville has ousted Apple Valley from its none-too-sought-after position as the state's biggest loser.

Loser, that is, of residents commuting to other cities to work.

Hundreds of thousands of metro-area residents depart daily from job-light bedroom communities, heading mainly for an elite group of job-rich cities forming what has been called a "golden crescent" from Plymouth to Eagan.

A new set of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau offers updated details on what happens each weekday.

Population growth in Lakeville helped vault it into the No. 1 position for daytime population loss, with nearly 15,000 people leaving daily.

Next, in order, in the roll call of daytime abandonment: Apple Valley, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Cottage Grove, Andover, Coon Rapids, Inver Grove Heights, Woodbury, Champlin and Savage. Those cities' daytime losses range from about 13,000 to about 7,000.

The biggest gainers were Minneapolis, which swells by more than 103,000 people daily; St. Paul, which grows by about 39,000; and Bloomington, which attracts about 37,000 commuters each day. The rest of the top 12, in order: Golden Valley, Edina, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Eagan, Roseville, Plymouth, Fridley and Arden Hills.

Comparing the past years of the most recent decade with the year 2000, St. Paul attracted fewer commuters but Minneapolis pulled in more.

Allowing for margins of error in the latest data set, Bloomington and some other suburbs stayed fairly constant, but Golden Valley — home to major corporate headquarters, notably General Mills — gained, moving from fourth to second place among suburbs.

Just the other day, moreover, Golden Valley told residents in its latest newsletter that it's on the cusp of adding numerous new multifamily living units.

For further details on the commuting shift, go to www.startribune.com/a2298.

David Peterson • 952-746-3285

dapeterson@startribune.com