Texas is already big and appears to be getting even bigger by the year. While the largest Texas cities continue to grow at a fast pace, it’s the suburbs that are making the biggest splash with five Texas suburbs ranking among the fastest growing cities in the country according to the population estimates of the U.S. Census Bureau.
While Texas itself gained almost half a million new residents between July of 2014 and July of 2015, the greatest growth was concentrated in Central Texas suburbs, the greater Houston area, and oil towns in West Texas.
GROWTH RATES
The U.S. Census Bureau compiled a list of the 15 fastest growing cities between July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015 with populations of 50,000 or more on July 1, 2014. Five Texas cities appeared on that list with Georgetown and New Braunfels taking 1st and 2nd place, Frisco taking 4th, Pearland taking 7th, and Pflugerville taking 11th place.
The 15 Fastest-Growing Cities Between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, with Populations of 50,000 or More on July 1, 2014.
| City | Percent Increase | Total Population |
| 1. Georgetown city, TX | 7.8 | 63,716 |
| 2. New Braunfels, city, TX | 6.6 | 70,543 |
| 3. Ankeny city, IA | 6.5 | 56,764 |
| 4. Frisco city, TX | 6.3 | 154,407 |
| 5. South Jordan city, UT | 6.0 | 66,648 |
| 6. Dublin city, CA | 5.5 | 57,721 |
| 7. Pearland city, TX | 5.3 | 108,821 |
| 8. Milpitas city, CA | 5.3 | 77,604 |
| 9. Broomfield city, CO | 5.2 | 65,065 |
| 10. Mount Pleasant town, SC | 4.7 | 81,317 |
| 11. Pflugerville city, TX | 4.5 | 57,122 |
| 12. Fort Myers city, FL | 4.4 | 74,013 |
| 13. Murfreesboro city, TN | 4.4 | 126,118 |
| 14. Goodyear city, AZ | 4.3 | 79,003 |
| 15. Buckeye town, AZ | 4.3 | 62,138 |
GEORGETOWN AT #1
The mayor of Georgetown, Mayor Dale Ross, isn’t surprised at the growth of the city, commenting on its ability to maintain small town charm amidst huge growth. “We have successfully built a bridge between the past and future which has allowed Georgetown to become the best city in the United States to live, work, play, raise kids, and retire,” he said.
POPULATION
While the fastest growth rates were seen mostly in suburban cities, it was the five biggest cities in Texas that actually added the most people – Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Austin all held a place among the 15 cities with the largest numeric increase.
Houston with a population of 2,296,224, San Antonio with a popular of 1,469,845, and Austin with a population of 931,830 were are all among the 15 most populous cities in the United States.
HOUSING UNITS
Texas gained 162,000 new home construction units between 2014 and 2015, which is more than any other state in the country. Dallas-Ft. Worth is now actually the country’s highest U.S. single family home building market.
What Do These Numbers Indicate?
A strong economy and increased employment rates in North Texas are certainly contributing to these rapid growth numbers, with North Texas being responsible for nearly 29,000 of the 162,000 new houses during this time period.
It’s also interesting to note that nearly 500,000 people moved to Texas from another state during this time period which is more than any other state. Perhaps the reason for this migration is that Texas has been named as the nation’s best state to do business for 12 years in a row. Between 2008 and 2014, 219 corporations either expanded their operations into Texas or moved their headquarters to the state from another state.
As the economy continues to expand, Texas is likely to continue to see positive housing numbers similar to what has been seen in recent years.
