MINNEAPOLIS — Population estimates released by the Metropolitan Council this month show the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are growing at a faster pace than the suburbs.

According to a press release, the Twin Cities grew by 6.8 percent in the past five years. St. Paul claimed more than 300,000 residents in 2015, and Minneapolis had more than 412,000 residents.

But the suburbs have been growing, too — at a collective rate of 5.1 percent. Blaine, Woodbury and Brooklyn Park have seen the most growth in terms of raw numbers.

Libby Starling, Met Council’s manager of regional policy and research, says the balanced growth shows people have choices about where to live.

“One size does not fit all,” she said.

The Met Council also compared the 16 counties that make up the greater Twin Cities region to 10 other Midwest metro areas with more than 1 million residents. The Twin Cities greater metro area ranked third in growth, behind Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis.

“We are growing much faster than regions like Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Cleveland,” Starling said. “It’s a combination of a strong economy, an appealing quality of life and the overall affordability of our region.”

The Met Council data show the seven-county region added 156,000 people over the last five years, topping 3 million. About two-thirds of that growth was natural, as more people were born than those who died, while the rest of the growth came from immigration.

Some say more people are moving to the cities for the vibrant, creative atmosphere.

“This is part of the national trend of empty nesters and millennials wanting to live in a more urban place where you don’t have to use your car as often or drive as far. They want to be closer to amenities,” said Caren Dewar, executive director of Urban Land Institute Minnesota.