Texas Dominates List of Nation’s Fastest-Growing Cities

Texas Growth Leads the Nation

The latest Census Bureau estimates confirm what many real estate professionals in Texas already suspected: the state is the undisputed leader in urban population growth, per RealPage.

From 2020 to 2024, US population rose just 2.6%, yet many Texas cities far exceeded that average, fueled by migration, development, and economic expansion.

Houston Suburb Takes the Crown

Fulshear, located west of Houston in the Rosenberg/Richmond submarket, ranked #1 nationally with an explosive 210.1% population gain, growing from around 17,600 in 2020 to over 54,600 in 2024. It was the only Houston-area city to make the national top 15.

Dallas Suburbs Dominate the Top 10

Following Fulshear, the next six fastest-growing cities are all in the Dallas metro:

• Celina (#2): Grew nearly 190% to reach 51,700 residents.
• Princeton (#3): Population more than doubled to 37,000.
• Royse City (#4), Melissa (#5), and Anna (#6): Each posted growth between 82% and 92%.
• Forney (#7): Gained 61.3% in population, reaching nearly 38,600.
  

Even Prosper, ranked #15 nationally, saw 44.4% growth during the four-year span.

These suburban cities lie in high-growth submarkets such as Frisco, Allen/McKinney, and Rockwall/Rowlett/Wylie, all key players in Dallas’ north and east expansion corridors.

Austin Sees Steady Climb

Three Austin-area cities also made the top 15:

• Manor (#8): Population increased 52.6%.
• Hutto (#9): Grew by 51.9%.
• Georgetown (#13): Added 47.5% more residents.

All are in submarkets that have seen significant housing and infrastructure investment in recent years, especially East Austin.

Outside Texas

Only three cities outside Texas cracked the top 15:

• Haines, FL (#10): 50.5% population growth.
• Saratoga Springs, UT (#11): 49.9% population increase.
• Amherst, MA (#14): Up 47.4% since 2020.

Growth Mirrors Multifamily Development Boom

It’s no coincidence that the fastest-growing cities are also located in submarkets with major multifamily development. Eight of the 10 submarkets housing these cities ranked among the top 25 nationally for apartment inventory growth between 2020 and 2024.

• Frisco: Apartment stock surged 238% in the past decade.
• Rockwall: Up 234%.
• East Austin: Logged 87% growth from 2020 to 2024, and a 155% increase over 10 years.

Even amid national headwinds for multifamily, these markets continued to draw both developers and residents.

Looking Ahead

As migration patterns favor Sun Belt metros and suburban nodes, Texas cities remain well-positioned for continued population and housing growth. For developers, investors, and planners, the alignment of residential demand with robust multifamily construction presents both opportunity and challenge in the years to come.