Summary: Fort Worth has elbowed its way to the 4th largest city in Texas... and wrangled spots on the "most fun cities" and "best cities to celebrate Christmas" in the U.S. And remember, what happens in Forth Worth does not stay in Forth Worth.
Latest Update: 30 December, 2024
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Fort Worth is now the 4th largest city in Texas.
Fort Worth has elbowed its way to the 4th largest city in Texas... and wrangled spots on the "most fun cities" and "best cities to celebrate Christmas" in the U.S.
Austin is no longer the fourth-largest city in Texas; that honor now belongs to Fort Worth. As of January 1, 2024, Fort Worth boasted a population of 989,878, marking a significant 7.7% growth since the 2020 Census.
[1, 2]
"Fort Worth has been one of the fastest-growing large cities for several years," says Director of Texas Demographic Center. [2]
To compare, Texas has grown about 7% to a population of 30.7 million residents; it's grown by 1.6 million residents since 2020, likely thanks to all those out-of-state transplants. [2] And since 2000, the United States has grown by almost 58 million, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 0.8%. [4]
"It's just the latest accolade for Fort Worth, which recently made its to the top as a city to celebrate Christmas and one of the most fun cities." [2, 3]
Willow Park Civics Sources and Resources
[1] Fort Worth Overtakes Austin as Texas' Fourth-Largest City, Fort Worth Magazine, 23 December 2024
Fort Worth has surpassed Austin as Texas’ fourth-largest city, driven by rapid growth and a thriving community, while Austin faces challenges from slower growth and rising costs.
For years, Austin was the darling of Texas. It had the music, the tech scene, and the vibe. But according to the Texas Demographic Center’s 2023 Population Estimates Report, released in November, the city that seemed unstoppable has hit a new note: Austin is no longer the fourth-largest city in Texas. That honor now belongs to us here in Fort Worth.
Cowtown's rise isn’t just a flash in the pan either. As of January 1, 2024, the city boasted a population of 989,878, marking a significant 7.7% growth since the 2020 Census, according to the TDC’s report. In a state where population growth is a given, Fort Worth’s surge has outpaced many of its peers, solidifying its place as Texas’ new No. 4.
Austin, meanwhile, saw a more modest growth of 2.6% over the same period, bringing its population to 986,928. It’s close, sure, but in the numbers game, close doesn’t keep the crown.
At the top of the chart, Houston remains the reigning champion, with an estimated population of 2,318,657 — a slight but steady 0.6% increase since 2020. San Antonio follows at No. 2, with its population rising by 4.3% to reach 1,496,876. Dallas, the perennial No. 3, clocks in at 1,308,404, showing a minimal growth of 0.3%.
Fort Worth’s growth story is as Texan as it gets: big opportunities, a sense of community, and room to breathe. Our city has seen an influx of new residents attracted by its affordability, thriving job market, and less congested vibe compared to other major metros. It’s a city that’s grown without losing its charm — something Austin might be struggling with.
Austin, once a haven for those seeking a lower cost of living and vibrant culture, has faced mounting challenges. Housing prices have skyrocketed, traffic has become a constant headache, and some of its charm seems to have been lost in the shuffle of rapid growth. According to PODS’ annual moving trends report, Austin ranked No. 5 among U. S. cities with the highest number of move-outs in 2024.
[2] Fort Worth elbows past Austin in ranking of biggest cities in Texas, Culture Map Fort Worth, 27 December 2024, Excerpts
Fort Worth is climbing up the list of the biggest cities in Texas. According to a report from the Texas Demographic Center (TDC), Fort Worth is now the fourth largest city, with a population of nearly 1 million people.
According to the center's Texas Population Estimates report, which was released in November, Fort Worth's population measured more than 989,878, with an increase of 7.7 percent, or 70,963 people between 2020 and 2024.
The increase nudges Fort Worth past Austin, which previously held the No. 4 spot. According to the TDC, Austin's population is now at 986,928.
Houston takes the top spot, with 2.3 million residents, followed by San Antonio and Dallas. These top 5 cities are also the same cities where CultureMap has a bureau.
Texas overall has grown to a population of 30.7 million residents. It's grown by 1.6 million residents since 2020, likely thanks to all those out-of-state transplants who now call the state home.
This revelation comes months after Fort Worth claimed a spot as the 12th largest city in the U. S., based on the U. S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2023 Population Estimates. The TDC study was conducted between July 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024 and also tracked age, sex, and race/ethnicity by county.
"Fort Worth has been one of the fastest-growing large cities for several years," says Director of Texas Demographic Center Lloyd Potter in an email. "Although historically, Fort Worth has been growing steadily, the speed and size of growth have increased recently. While we do not have estimates of components of change for places, about half of Tarrant County’s population change can be attributed to net in-migration and about half to more births than deaths (natural change) between 2020 and 2023."
Here are the following top ten largest cities in the state and their populations:
Houston - 2,318,657
San Antonio - 1,496,876
Dallas - 1,308,404
Fort Worth - 989,878
Austin - 986,928
El Paso - 672,802
Arlington - 414,344
Corpus Christi - 317,742
Plano - 292,485
Lubbock - 266,289
[3] Fort Worth wrangles spot on new list of most fun cities in U.S., Culture Map Fort Worth, 17 December 2024
[3] Festive Fort Worth makes new list of top cities to celebrate Christmas, Culture Map Fort Worth, 24 December 2024
[4] U.S. Population Grows at Fastest Pace in More Than Two Decades, The Census Bureau, 19 December 2024, Excerpts
New 2024 Population Estimates Show Nation’s Population Grew by About 1% to 340.1 Million Since 2023
Following historically low growth at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U. S. population grew substantially by almost 1% since 2023, outpacing average annual growth since 2000 and signaling a significant turnaround from the meager population gains at the start of this decade.
The U. S. Census Bureau today released July 1, 2024, population estimates for the nation and states. The U. S. population reached 340.1 million, up 0.98% from 336.8 million on July 1, 2023 — the highest year-over-year increase since a jump of 0.99% between 2000 and 2001.
Population Trends Since 2000
Since 2000, the nation has grown by almost 58 million, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 0.8%. The most robust growth occurred between 2001 and 2008, fueled by changing migration trends and higher birth rates.
However, population trends have fluctuated over the past two decades, reflecting how major world and national events can influence population growth.
For instance, national security concerns immediately following 9/11 resulted in fewer migrants, slightly tempering population growth between 2001 and 2003.
Similarly, the financial crisis which started in 2008, dubbed “The Great Recession,” impacted both fertility and immigration in the United States. Between 2008 and 2009, births dipped by nearly 3% and net international migration fell almost 12%.
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