Austin, which last year celebrated its ascent to become the 10th largest city in the U.S., has been nudged out of the top 10 to occupy the 11th spot, according to new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Lone Star State's capital now trails behind Jacksonville, Florida, after the Floridian city experienced a population swell that boosted its numbers to 985,843, overtaking Austin's count of 979,882, as reported by KXAN.
In a display of Texas's urban might, other cities in the state continue to outpace Austin, with Dallas at No. 9, San Antonio grabbing the No. 7 rank, and Houston sitting comfortably as the fourth-largest city in the nation. This shift comes in spite of a net gain of 4,464 new residents for Austin from July 2022 to July 2023. Austin's population grew at a modest rate of 0.42%, just shy of the national growth rate, but its pace wasn't quick enough to fend off Jacksonville's rise.
City demographer Lila Valencia pointed to a variety of factors contributing to the city's slowed growth. "For decades, the red-hot regional economy coupled with a relatively lower cost of living yielded substantial population growth in Central Texas," Valencia said, "However, with volatility rattling the tech sector, housing costs rising post-pandemic, and more opportunities for remote work, it’s not surprising to see population growth slowing and Austin slipping back into position as the 11th largest city," as KXAN reports.
Despite the mild setback for Austin, its surrounding suburbs have continued to sprawl and attract new residents. Notable increases were observed in cities like Dripping Springs and Liberty Hill, boasting growth rates of over 14%. Georgetown, formerly one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities, slowed but still managed a notable 10.6% increase, per Austin Business Journal. However, Austin suburbs did not escape the nationwide trend of cooling expansion rates, and Georgetown's position as growth leader slipped from the top spot down to 8th place nationally.
Overall, Texas continues to boom, with a statewide population crescendo of nearly 475,000 during the year marked by the U.S. Census Bureau. Kaufman County, located to the southeast of Dallas, snagged the title of the fastest-growing county in Texas and even outstripped the rest of the nation with a population leap of approximately 7.5%. Texas's robustness in numbers stands as a stark contrast to many regions grappling with stagnation or decline. Yet, the redistribution of its residents within its own borders indicates a changing landscape of urban and suburban growth.
