Texas cities again lead population growth, and Austin is now country’s 10th largest (2024)

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Texas is now home to four of the nation’s largest cities, with Austin finally joining Houston, San Antonio and Dallas on the list of top 10 most populous cities.

New population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau showed significant growth in the Austin metro area overall, with several of its suburbs ranking among the fastest-growing cities in the country. The estimates track population growth from July 2021 to July 2022.

Georgetown, a suburb north of Austin, once again saw the fastest pace of growth in the country with a rate of 14.4%, surpassing its 10.5% rate from 2020 to 2021. The bureau estimates Georgetown’s population reached 86,507 after an increase of 10,887 in 2022. The booming city gained more new residents than Dallas, which at 1.3 million total residents saw a gain of only 8,833.

Kyle, south of Austin, and Leander to the northwest ranked third and fourth among the fastest-growing cities with populations of 50,000 or more. Of the 10 fastest-growing cities in the country, Texas took four spots, with Little Elm in the Dallas-Fort Worth region ranking fifth.

Fort Worth gained the highest sheer number of new residents of any city in the country in 2022, with an increase of 19,170. Its total population hit 956,709 last year.

Fort Worth just barely outpaced San Antonio, which saw the third-largest numeric increase behind Phoenix, and reached a population of 1.47 million. Last year, San Antonio ranked first while Fort Worth ranked third.

Fort Worth’s growth helped power the broader Dallas-Fort Worth region so that the metro area saw the highest numeric increase of any other metro, with a jump of 170,396 residents. The Houston-The-Woodlands-Sugar-Land metro area followed, adding 124,281 residents.

On its own, Houston — Texas’ most populous city — came in at ninth for numeric population increase.

Texas regularly dominates the Census Bureau’s release of annual population growth, and it crossed a new threshold when total population hit 30,029,572 last year, making Texas only the second state, along with California, to pass 30 million. The state’s overall population has been on an upward trajectory for decades, fueled by both migration to the state and natural increase, which is the difference between births and deaths.

That growth has made the state even more diverse, with people of color fueling 95% of its growth from 2010 to 2020. Latinos powered nearly half of that overall growth of roughly 4 million residents.

Last year, a separate estimate from the Census Bureau indicated that Texas may have passed another demographic milestone: the point at which Hispanic residents make up more of the state’s population than white residents. But those estimates, derived from the bureau’s American Community Survey, are not considered official.

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Texas cities again lead population growth, and Austin is now country’s 10th largest (2024)

FAQs

What is the population of Austin Texas top 10? ›

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In recently released 2022 population estimates, the U.S. Census Bureau said Austin was now the 10th largest U.S. city, with an estimated population of 974,447. “Austin expanded its population by 12,547 residents, growing at a rate of 1.3%,” the Census Bureau said.

Which Texas city has the largest population? ›

Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States.

Is Austin one of the fastest-growing cities in the US? ›

Metro-level Population Estimates

For the 12th consecutive year, the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metro area was the fastest-growing region in the country, among large metros. The Austin metro area added nearly 63,000 residents between 2021 and 2022, growing at a rate of 2.7%.

Why is Austin the fastest-growing city? ›

Internal migration was highlighted as a big factor in the growth, with several tech firms expanding their presence in Austin over the past decade, including Amazon, Google, Meta, SpaceX, Tesla and Apple.

Why is Austin population increasing? ›

2022. The reasons behind Austin's high ranking are unsurprising. The authors cite an influx of heavy-hitting tech companies, a high concentration of venture capital, vibrant cultural offerings and a warm climate all as factors driving up Austin's economic output and population growth.

Is Austin the fastest growing city? ›

Texas cities again lead population growth, and Austin is now country's 10th largest. Texas took four of the 10 top spots among the nation's fastest-growing cities, with the Austin metro area overall seeing some of the most significant growth.

What is the largest city in the world? ›

1. Tokyo, Japan - 37.4 million people.

What is the largest city in the US? ›

New York is the most populated city in the United States. Three cities in California made the top 10 populated cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose. Texas made the list with three cities: Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. Chicago, Phoenix, and Philadelphia also ranked among the 10 most populated U.S. cities.

What is the largest city in the United States by population? ›

New York, NY

Where are most people moving to Austin from? ›

Californians and New Yorkers make up the largest percentage of migration to Austin after Texans. Compared to many other big cities such as New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, California the cost of living in Austin is pocket-friendly.

Why is Austin Texas the best city to live in? ›

Austin is routinely lauded as one of the best places to live in the United States, thanks to its warm weather, thriving economy and bustling cultural scene. But if you're considering moving to Austin, you'll have lots of different options for places to live, from family-friendly suburbs to densely packed urban areas.

Is Austin the best place to live in the world? ›

Austin bumped down to No. 40 spot on U.S. News & World Report's Best Cities To Live 2023-4 ranking. The city of Austin has fallen to the No. 40 spot on the U.S. News & World Report's list of Best Cities to Live in the U.S in 2023-2024.

Why is Texas growing so fast? ›

You said most of this growth is driven by migration. "In fact, in 2022, almost 50% of the growth was due to people moving from other states to Texas," she said. "About 25% was because of people from other countries to Texas; only 25% was due to the natural increase, which was births minus deaths."

Why are all Californians moving to Austin? ›

Pro: Taxes Aren't So Taxing in Texas

One of the BIG reasons to move to Texas from California is the taxes. California state income tax is the highest in the country, on all levels. Californians pay as much as 13.3% in state income tax and, depending on local rates, between 7.25% and 10.75% in sales tax.

What is Austin known for? ›

What is Austin, Texas Best Known For? Known as the Live Music Capital of the World®, Austin, Texas is home to hundreds of live music venues and some of the premier music festivals in the country.

Why Millennials are moving to Austin? ›

AUSTIN, Texas — A new study has found that people in the millennial age group are moving to Austin the most out of any U.S. city. A study by the personal finance website SmartAsset found Austin has a strong economy and standard of living that together are acting like a magnet for those of working age.

How quickly is Austin growing? ›

Population growth rates
2020-20302030-2040
Austin MSA27.8%23.7%
Texas12.9%11.8%

What is the fastest growing city in Texas? ›

Georgetown, Texas, remained the fastest-growing city by percent change in 2022, with the highest rate of growth among all U.S. cities and towns with at least 50,000 people,” Crystal Delbé, a statistician in the Census Bureau's Population Division, said.

Where do billionaires live in Austin? ›

Old Enfield

Old Enfield is the richest neighborhood in Austin. Situated only 2.7 miles north of Downtown, this area's unique character is defined by its historic architecture, elegant estates, and well-furnished public parks.

How many millionaires live in Austin Texas? ›

The city's millionaire residents grew 105% over the last decade to 30,400. Overall, New York remains the wealthiest city in the world, with approximately 340,000 millionaires calling the Big Apple home.

Is Austin Texas a wealthy city? ›

While Austin is now dubbed the fastest-growing wealthy city in America, New York remains the wealthiest city in the world with approximately 340,000 millionaires. Tokyo is the world's second wealthiest city with 290,300 millionaire residents.

What was once the largest city on earth? ›

Babylon, Iraq

The world's largest city for at least two centuries, with a population of up to 200,000, Babylon lies about 50 miles south of Baghdad.

Which city is the center of the world? ›

Expert-Verified Answer. Explanation: According to many geographical sources Istanbul is the city located at the center of the world.

What is bigger than a city? ›

Megalopolis or Megacity – a supercity consists of a group of conurbations, containing more than ten million residents in total. Conurbation or Global city – an extremely large city consists of a group of metropolises, containing between three and ten million residents.

What is the fastest growing city in the US? ›

Georgetown, Texas, remained the fastest-growing city by percent change in 2022, with the highest rate of growth among all U.S. cities and towns with at least 50,000 people.

What is the largest city in the US by economy? ›

America's Economic Hubs

As the graphic above makes obvious, NYC's GDP towers over the rest. The Big Apple is the nerve center for a number of high-impact industries, including finance and media.

Where is the largest city in the US by land? ›

Sitka, Alaska is the city with the largest land area in the United States, having a land area of approximately 2870 square miles or 7400 square kilometers. This makes Sitka one of the least densely populated cities in the US, as it has a population only around 8,880 people.

What city is in all 50 states? ›

According to a common factoid, there's a community called Springfield in all 50 states, but the U.S. Board on Geographic Names says that's not true: only 34 states have a Springfield. The real champ is Riverside. Unless you live in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, or Oklahoma, there's at least one Riverside in your state.

How many US citizens are there? ›

The current population of the United States of America is 336,676,730 as of Thursday, June 8, 2023, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.

How many cities are in the world? ›

Comprehensive: Over 4 million unique cities and towns from every country in the world. Accurate: Cleaned and aggregated from official sources. Includes latitude and longitude coordinates.

Where is best to live in Austin? ›

Best Neighborhoods in Austin
  • Tarrytown.
  • Downtown Austin.
  • East Austin.
  • Travis Heights.
  • Mueller.
  • Barton Hills.
  • Bouldin Creek.
  • Zilker.
Jan 6, 2023

Are people moving away from Austin? ›

In 2021, close to 24,000 millennials moved to Austin from a different state. With about 13,400 millennials moving out of Austin to a different state, there was a net migration of about 10,500. Millennials have flocked to Denver, Colorado in recent years.

Why is Austin so expensive? ›

Why is Austin getting so expensive? ​ A big reason this city has seen such a boom in prices lately is the announcement of some of the major tech companies moving here. Tesla, Google, Apple, and others have opened headquarters in and around Austin in the last few years.

Why do people visit Austin? ›

Austin, TX, is one of America's most unique and interesting destinations. The city has a lot to offer for locals and visitors alike. You can enjoy some of the best food in the US, drink craft beer at over 50 breweries, take in some live music performances, or go on outdoor adventures like kayaking down Lady Bird Lake.

Is Austin TX cheap to live? ›

The cost of living in Austin, TX is 9% higher than the state average and 1% higher than the national average. Austin, TX housing is 16% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 6% less pricey.

Is LA or Austin better? ›

Both cities are health and fitness oriented and Whole Foods is a staple in both locations. One of the largest reasons Austin has a higher quality of life than LA is that the cost of living is significantly reduced in Austin over LA with Austin boasting a higher per capita income and a much lower price to own a home.

What's the crime rate in Austin Texas? ›

Austin had a total score of 39.82, and ranked out of 45: 26th – Homicides per Capita in Q1 2023. 8th – Change in Homicides per Capita (Q1 2023 vs. Q1 2022)

Is Austin considered high cost of living? ›

AUSTIN, Texas — The overall cost of living in Austin is above the national average, according to data gathered and analyzed by Apartment List. Apartment List analyzed prices of specific goods and services in Austin compared to the average prices across the country.

Why are all moving to Texas? ›

State leaders pointed to a number of reasons why people — mainly millennials — have been so attracted to Texas. There's no state income tax and the cost of living is lower than the national average. Plus, there are plenty of business-friendly policies.

Will Texas surpass California? ›

The big picture: Texas has the second largest population in the U.S. and is on track to surpass California in the 2040s, the Economist reports. That will enable Texas to become even more influential in the country's politics, economy and transition to renewable energy.

What makes the Texas economy so strong? ›

As the 9th largest economy among the nations of the world, Texas offers a combination of unique competitive business advantages that no other state can claim: a business-friendly climate—with no corporate or personal income tax—along with a highly skilled and diverse workforce, easy access to global markets, robust ...

Why are so many companies moving to Austin? ›

Many businesses are fleeing California for Texas, and here's why: The business regulatory environment in California is stifling. The cost of living in California is sky-high. There is a shortage of affordable skilled workers in California.

Where are all the Californians moving to in Texas? ›

Travis County — home to Austin — attracted the largest group of California residents, according to the Express-News data analysis. And it's not just residents leaving the Golden State. According to news channel CBS 13, 153 California companies relocated from California to other states in 2021.

What Texas city are Californians moving to? ›

From his research, Clark has found that Californians are almost exclusively moving to Texas' four large metro areas — Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin.

What is unique about Austin Texas? ›

Austin is the only city in the world known to still operate a system of Moonlight Towers, 165-foot tall structures from the 19th century, to light up the city at night.

What is UT Austin top 10%? ›

The “Top 10 Percent Law” is the common name for Texas House Bill 588, the state law passed in 1997 that guarantees Texas students who graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class automatic admission to all state-funded universities.

What is considered top 1 percent in Austin? ›

According to the analysis, which considered census and income data, you need to make more than $142,000 to be considered rich in Austin. The study also lists Austin's median income as $72,000 and says you have to earn $424,507 to be included in the top 1 percent.

Is Austin the 11th largest city? ›

Among the 50 biggest U.S. cities, Austin's growth rate of 21.7% between 2010 and 2020 was the second-largest in the nation, trailing only Fort Worth, Texas, which grew by 24%. As of last July, Austin was the 11th most-populous city in the U.S.

Is Austin or Houston bigger? ›

The population of Houston as compared with Austin is significantly higher. Houston is a much larger city in terms of population.

What is Texas Austin the ranking? ›

UT Austin's ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #38. Its in-state tuition and fees are between $10,314 - $11,852; out-of-state tuition and fees are between $36,716 - $42,082.

What is Texas at Austin ranked? ›

University of Texas at Austin Rankings

University of Texas at Austin is ranked #38 out of 443 National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

What is the top 1 income in Texas? ›

In Texas, an annual income of $641,400 will land you at the top, while $258,400 only gets you to the top five percent.

What is a high income in Texas? ›

Median Household Income: $67,321. Average Household Income: $94,115. Per Capita Income: $34,255. 8.7% of Households in Texas are High Income Households that make over $200,000 a year.

What is the average salary in Austin Texas? ›

As of April 2023, the median salary in Austin, TX is $58,000, with 80% of salaries falling between $31,200 and $144,000. In Austin, TX average wages are trending up.

What is the richest city in Austin Texas? ›

Richest Neighborhoods in Austin
  • Old Enfield is the richest neighborhood in Austin. ...
  • The second-richest neighborhood in Austin is Bryker Woods. ...
  • South River City is another one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Austin.
Feb 24, 2023

Why is Austin City Limits so famous? ›

The longer answer is that ACL is the longest-running music program in television history, the only television show to have been awarded the National Medal of the Arts, and was recently recognized by Time magazine as one of the 10 most influential music programs of all time.

Is Austin or Boston bigger? ›

Boston Geography & Population

While the metro area of Boston is similar in size to Austin at 4,500 sq. miles, the population density in the metro area is nearly double. The entire Boston metro population is over 4.9 million people resulting in a significantly higher density.

Is Austin or Atlanta bigger? ›

Atlanta has a population of 507,000 in 137 square miles with a metro population of 6 million. The population density is 3,670 people per square mile. By comparison, Austin is home to 790,000 people in 326 square miles with a metro population of 2.2 million.

Is Austin or Houston better? ›

Both cities offer their own unique attractions. Moving to Austin makes sense if you're looking for a more laid-back vibe, with lots of live music, great food, and outdoor fun. On the other hand, if a vibrant multicultural dining and entertainment scene is what you're after, then moving to Houston might be in the cards.

Which is hotter Austin or Houston? ›

Houston's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico makes their heat feel hotter, whereas Austin's inland location keeps it remarkably drier during those summer months.

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