residents

Residents are individuals who live in a particular place for an extended period. The term is used in law, governance, and statistics to distinguish everyday inhabitants from visitors, tourists, or temporary workers. A person may be a resident of a city, state, country, or other jurisdiction, and residency can depend on factors such as length of stay, intent to remain, and ties to the community.

Residency often governs access to services and rights. Public programs, taxation, voting eligibility, school enrollment, and eligibility for certain benefits or in-state tuition frequently rely on residency determinations. Rules vary by jurisdiction and may use criteria such as physical presence, place of abode, income, and intent to remain. Some contexts distinguish between residents and non-residents for tax purposes, while immigration law may define permanent residents as individuals with lawful status to live and work, with temporary residents having more limited rights.

Census and statistical agencies classify residents to produce population counts and analyze demographic trends. In urban planning and policy, understanding who is a resident helps guide housing, transportation, schools, and public services. The term also appears in specific contexts, such as medical residency programs or apartment buildings, where it denotes those living in a facility or participating in a program.

Defining residency can be challenging due to mobility, multi-jurisdictional ties, and differing legal standards. Clear, consistent definitions are important for fairness and comparability in research, governance, and policy implementation.