Texas' urban population growth hits I-35 corridor
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Texas is home to America's fastest-growing large counties, per an Axios analysis of the latest census data.
Why it matters: This zoomed-in view offers a close look at population change within individual states — for instance, there's huge growth around Texas' major cities, but many of its rural counties are shrinking.
By the numbers: Kaufman County (35.2% more people in 2019–2023 compared to 2014–2018), Comal County (+29.2%) and Hays County (+25.6%) — all in Texas — are the country's fastest-growing counties with more than 100,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019–2023 five-year American Community Survey.
- Bexar County's population grew 5.8% from 2014–2018 to 2019–2023. Kendall County grew 11.9% and Guadalupe County 15% in the same time frame.
The big picture: Between 2023 and 2024, Texas had the largest numeric increase in new residents, adding nearly 563,000 people, per a separate Census Bureau release. The state's total population was more than 31 million last year.
- Texas also saw the highest natural increase in population, meaning births outnumbered deaths in the state.
Between the lines: Although many Americans move domestically in search of better jobs, lower costs and so on, migration from outside the country is the main driver of national population growth.
- Texas ranked No. 3 in the nation last year for largest migration gains from people moving into and out of the U.S.
- Migration "accounted for 84% of the nation's 3.3 million increase in population between 2023 and 2024," the Census Bureau said in a recent write-up.
- "This reflects a continued trend of rising international migration, with a net increase of 1.7 million in 2022 and 2.3 million in 2023."
What's next: Population trends could be affected by President-elect Trump's plan to deport millions of people.