These Four Texas Counties Are Leading the Nation in Fastest Growth

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DALLAS — While Texas continues to gain population more slowly compared to earlier periods, numerous regions within the state remain robustly growing.

Between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, Kaufman County, located east of Dallas, experienced the highest growth rate among all counties within the state and ranked as the second-quickest expanding county nationwide, according to data published Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. This region saw its populace expand by 6%, only surpassed by Dawson County in Georgia. Since 2020, the resident count in Kaufman County surged past 50,000 individuals, marking over a thirty percent rise—the most substantial boost for any Texas county during this timeframe.

The proximity to significant employment hubs within the broader Dallas-Fort Worth area has been crucial for the county’s expansion, according to Kaufman Mayor Jeff Jordan. Data from the Census indicates that a considerable portion of the county’s population consists of commuters—over half of Kaufman County’s residents work outside their own county, whereas only around 27% of those living in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro do so.

I believe many individuals are drawn to that quaint small-town atmosphere," Jordan stated. "These are folks who value this lifestyle and wish to become an integral part of it.

Anne Glasscock, who serves as the CEO of the Kaufman Chamber of Commerce, noted that Kaufman County has drawn more residents due to its relatively affordable housing market. According to data from Zillow and Texas A&M University, homes in Kaufman County tend to be less expensive compared to those found in other parts of North Texas.

"It truly represents the next frontier," Glasscock stated.

Out of the top 10 fastest-growing counties from 2023 to 2024, four were located in Texas: Kaufman, Liberty, Montgomery, and Caldwell counties. Both Georgia and Florida claimed two spots each within this group, with South Carolina securing one position alongside them.

Harris County, which leads Texas in population density for an urban area, saw the highest increase in inhabitants nationwide during this period, with a growth of 105,852 individuals from July 1, 2023, through July 1, 2024. Following closely behind was Collin County, adding almost 47,000 residents within those dates and ranking as the fourth-fastest-growing county nationally. Rounding up the list were Montgomery and Tarrant counties, securing spots near the top ten.

In the list of significant urban centers within the state, the Midland and Odessa areas topped the charts for population expansion from 2023 to 2024 with a growth rate of 2.8%, making them the sole Texan regions to secure spots among the nation’s ten most rapidly expanding metropolitan zones.

The significant urban centers within the state continue to see an influx of hundreds of thousands more inhabitants. Over a certain period, the population of the Houston metropolitan area expanded by 198,171 individuals, marking the second-highest numeric growth amongst all U.S. metropolitan regions. Right after Houston, the Dallas-Fort Worth area saw an addition of 177,922 newcomers.

The rate of population increase in Texas has decelerated; however, it exceeded 31 million people last year. The number of individuals relocating to Texas from other parts of the U.S. has decreased compared to the period during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet it continues to lead the nation in terms of internal migration. This reduction in pace could be seen when examining demographic data at both the county and metropolitan levels.

The main factor contributing to the increase in population within the state’s urban centers was international migration. From 2023 to 2024, approximately 309,506 new residents moved into the state’s metropolitan areas from foreign countries, representing over fifty percent of total population growth in these areas during this period.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University has provided financial support to The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan journalistic entity that receives funding through member contributions, foundation grants, and sponsorships. However, these financial backers do not influence the Tribune’s reporting. For more details, please see the full list. list of them here .

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