According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, Texas and Florida have taken the lead as homes to some of the fastest-growing cities in the United States from 2023 to 2024. The surge in population across these states has reaffirmed a major demographic shift to the southern and western regions of the country. Among the most dramatic examples is Princeton, Texas, a Dallas suburb, which recorded an astonishing 30.6% population increase making it the fastest-growing city in the U.S. for 2024.
The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 estimates indicate that cities across all size brackets saw notable growth during this period. However, cities in the South and West grew at a particularly rapid pace, both in percentages and raw numbers. Princeton’s rise is especially striking, as it more than doubled its population since 2020, growing from about 17,000 residents to over 37,000 in just four years.
Other cities showing strong growth include Fulshear and Celina in Texas, and Leesburg in Florida. These cities have become attractive hubs due to a mix of affordable housing, proximity to metro areas, and expanding infrastructure. Their growth reflects broader migration patterns, with Americans moving away from more expensive urban centers in the Northeast and West Coast toward more affordable and livable communities in the Sun Belt.
Big Population Milestones and Urban Trends
In addition to percentage growth, several U.S. cities reached important population milestones. Fort Worth, Texas, and Jacksonville, Florida, both surpassed the one million resident mark for the first time. Fort Worth’s population hit 1,008,106, while Jacksonville climbed to 1,009,833. This development puts both cities in an elite tier of U.S. metropolitan areas.
Meanwhile, New York City led the nation in absolute population gains, adding over 87,000 residents during the same period. Los Angeles, California, returned to the list of top gainers for the first time since 2016, with more than 31,000 new residents. Washington, D.C., also posted strong growth, nearly doubling its population gains compared to 2023 with almost 15,000 new residents.
Seven U.S. cities crossed the 100,000 population threshold. In the South, these include Georgetown, Texas (101,344), San Angelo, Texas (100,159), Deltona, Florida (100,513), Plantation, Florida (100,694), and Sunrise, Florida (100,128). Two cities in the West Tracy, California (100,136) and Federal Way, Washington (100,252) also hit six-figure populations.
The Census data revealed nuanced patterns in city growth based on population size. Smaller cities with under 5,000 residents grew by an average of 0.3%, while mid-sized cities between 10,000 and 49,999 grew at a stronger rate of 1.1%. Cities with populations over 50,000 saw an average growth rate of 1.0%, indicating consistent expansion across urban America. This trend underlines a continued shift in where Americans choose to live, driven by a combination of economic opportunity, housing availability, and quality of life. With Texas and Florida leading the way, this wave of urban expansion shows no signs of slowing, setting the stage for further demographic transformation in the years ahead.
