[brian51]

there are 2 additional ideas to consider here-

1) i think the 1899 number just tells you what the maximum occupants you can have at any given time as a function of the current desirability factors..

2) I think the number of occupants in a given building can vary as a function of time and other factors

For example similar to how you sometimes have a motel partially occupied during its off season perhaps , and so you still have some empty rooms that can be filled.
But at other times you may have a full motel which is filled to its maximum , when things are going well.. or just when the motel is "in season" ..