AUSTIN, Texas — The numbers are out from the U.S. Census Bureau, and Central Texas has several cities that stand out.
According to new census data, Austin is now the 10th most populous city in the U.S., with a population just shy of 1 million people.
For now, Austin remains the fourth-largest city in Texas, trailing Houston (2.3 million), San Antonio (1.5 million) and Dallas (1.3 million). Austin also sits just three spots ahead of Fort Worth nationally.
Below is the full list of the most populous cities and their population numbers, following New York and Los Angeles:
- Chicago: 2.7 million
- Houston: 2.3 million
- Phoenix, Ariz.: 1.6 million
- Philadelphia: 1.6 million
- San Antonio, Texas: 1.5 million
- San Diego: 1.4 million
- Dallas: 1.3 million
- Austin, Texas: 1 million
- Jacksonville, Fla.: 1 million
- San Jose, Cali.: 1 million
- Fort Worth, Texas: 1 million
- Columbus, Ohio: 907,971
Austin isn't the only Central Texas city getting recognition. New census data also showed the fastest growing cities. Topping the chart was Georgetown, with Kyle and Leander also in the top five.
Georgetown reported a 14.4% year-over-year (YOY) growth, and Kyle and Leader each reported 10.9% YOY growth. Round Rock was listed at 86th on the report with 2.1% YOY growth.
“Job growth in Georgetown and across the Austin metro continues to bring new residents to our city,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “People are moving here for the same reasons that brought many of us to Georgetown – wonderful and safe neighborhoods, fantastic parks and events, and welcoming people. We continue to adjust our plans and build new infrastructure to maintain the great quality of life for all of us who are proud to call Georgetown our home.”
Georgetown has been in the top 10 fastest-growing cities since 2015 and topped the list in 2016 and 2022.
Overall, the Austin metro moved up to 26th place from 28th, with 2.42 million people according to the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), moving up two spots passing Sacramento and Pittsburgh.
The Lone Star State is also the only state to have nine cities listed among the 15 fastest-growing largest cities and the most populous cities.
The census report also showed that the housing stock also grew by about 1.6 million units. Two Texas counties are among five counties with the largest numeric gains in housing units between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022. Travis County reported 27,927 units and Harris County reported 32,694 units.
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.