To quantify, by dictionary definition, is simply to express or measure the quantity or amount of something. If only quantifying an increase in the population of the five mainland towns in the Long Beach Island region for the last quarter of 2020 into this year were as easily definable.

From almost the beginning of the pandemic, there seemed to be a mass exit of individuals and families from hot-spot areas to such places as Barnegat, Stafford, Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor townships.