Texas Leads Nation in Population Growth, Adding 500,000 Residents in 2024

AUSTIN, TX - Texas added more than 500,000 new residents in the past year, surpassing all other states in population growth, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data.

This continues a decade-long trend of significant in-migration and overall expansion.

State Demographer Lloyd Potter attributes the sustained growth to both domestic migration from other states and immigration from across the southern border. The state’s economic opportunities, lack of state income tax, and relatively low cost of living compared to states like California are key factors driving the influx.

The areas experiencing the fastest growth are within the “population triangle” formed by Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston. Suburban counties like Williamson, Hays, and Bastrop have seen particularly rapid increases as jobs and infrastructure continue to expand along the I-35 corridor.

Rural Texas, however, faces contrasting trends. Many rural counties are experiencing population declines due to the out-migration of younger generations and natural decreases, with more deaths than births. Urban areas continue to attract the majority of new residents, creating disparities in growth across the state.

Potter noted that new Census methodologies have highlighted an uptick in immigration, further contributing to the population boom. Despite the state’s rapid expansion, challenges such as water, electricity, and transportation infrastructure could temper future growth.