Atlanta's sprawling metropolitan expanse has nudged its way up the charts to become the sixth-largest metro region in the nation, muscling past both Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. The U.S. Census Bureau's latest headcount reveals that the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area is now a bustling hub of 6.3 million residents, as mentioned in a FOX5 Atlanta report published on March 14th.
Between 2022 and 2023, nearly 68,585 folks have flocked to the region, seeking its temperate climes and thriving economic opportunities. It's a number that places Atlanta's growth third in the nation for metros inflating their populations—only Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth have seen larger surges according to the same FOX5 report.
Atlanta's population boost edges it just ahead of D.C. by about 3,000 souls, as Axios reported.
In a sprawling state of 11 million, two of Georgia's counties rank among the nation's top 10 in terms of speedier growth, with Jackson and Dawson Counties experiencing over 5% growth each. The climb in residents has not only swelled the city's suburbs but also propelled Jefferson to the top spot as the U.S. micro area with the most significant percent increase, ballooning by 5.5%.
However, this influx comes with its set of challenges. As metro Atlanta balloons with newcomers, home buyers find themselves grappling with steep price climbs—requiring nearly $60K more in earnings to afford a home in 2024 compared to just four years prior, according to the same FOX5 article.
According to census analysis, the COVID-19 pandemic played pied piper, leading more than 200,000 people to call metro Atlanta home since April 2020.
