Wondering when the population boom in Austin is going to slow down? If the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau are any indication, the answer is … probably not anytime soon. According to data released in March, Austin’s metro population (comprised of Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, and Caldwell counties) reached 2,111,827 last year, up from 2,060,558 in 2016. The increase represents 2.7% growth — the ninth fastest growth rate in the nation — behind only St. George, Utah (4%); Myrtle Beach, North Carolina and South Carolina (3.7%); Greeley, Colorado (3.5%); and a few other U.S. cities.
That means that we added 55,269 people last year, or more than 151 people each day, only slightly down from the 159 people added per day during 2016. According to the Austin Business Journal, once you factor in births versus deaths and newcomers minus people leaving, that figure represents a net migration of about 105 people per day in 2017. And it keeps Austin metro in the No. 1 spot in the nation in population growth rate over the past seven years.
Austin’s not the only Texas city that’s experiencing massive growth, either; sheer-numbers-wise, Dallas metro’s population increase of 146,000 people last year represented the highest of any metro area in the country. From July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017, six of the top 10 largest-gaining counties were in Texas.
For a closer look at the census data, click here.
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