Mayor Kirk Watson | City of Austin website
Mayor Kirk Watson | City of Austin website
AUSTIN, TX - Since the 2020 Census, Austin expanded its population by 12,547 residents, growing at a rate of 1.3%. The 2022 Census Bureau population estimates for U.S. cities and metro areas follow the release of county and state level estimates released earlier this year. This release also includes estimates of housing units for counties, states, and the nation. Austin is now the 10th largest U.S. city, surpassing San Jose, CA, with an estimated population of 974,447.
“These population estimates show the city of Austin gaining momentum in population growth and continuing to contribute to the rapid growth in the region,” explains City of Austin Demographer Lila Valencia. “Although these gains are smaller than we have seen for the city in the past, they represent an uptick in rate of growth relative to the Census Bureau’s 2021 estimates, when the city was estimated to have added just over 1,000 residents since the 2020 Census.”
Metro-level Population Estimates
For the 12th consecutive year, the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metro area was the fastest-growing region in the country, among large metros. The Austin metro area added nearly 63,000 residents between 2021 and 2022, growing at a rate of 2.7%. The Austin metro is the 26th most populous metro area in the country and saw the 6th largest numeric increase in population between 2021 and 2022.
Place-level Population Estimates
Suburban cities are driving population growth in the region and the country. Georgetown, TX was once again the fastest-growing city in the nation, growing at a rate of 14.4% between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022. Georgetown expanded by 10,887 residents to a total population of 86,507. Kyle, TX and Leander, TX were the third and fourth fastest-growing cities.
“These population estimates show a continued trend of strong and rapid population growth for the Austin Metro Area and the city,” said City of Austin Demographer Lila Valencia.
Texas was the only state that had more than three cities on both the 15 fastest-growing large cities and towns by numeric change and by percent change lists.
Housing Unit Estimates
Travis County saw the third largest numeric gain in housing units between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, adding 27,927 new units during this time.
The newly released data is crucial in determining how the federal government proportionately distributes billions of dollars in grants and program funding for social services, community development, and the construction of schools, roads, and hospitals.
Data from the Census also play a central role in redrawing boundaries for representative districts for the U.S. Congress, Texas Legislature, and Austin City Council districts. Next month, the U.S. Census Bureau will release estimates with demographic detail for counties, states, and the nation.
For more quick facts, maps, and data analysis, visit AustinTexas.gov/Demographics.
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About the City of Austin Housing and Planning Department
The City of Austin Housing Department and Planning Department provides resources related to planning, zoning, housing, and community development to enhance the quality of life of all Austinites. Equitable, efficient, and comprehensive planning with displacement prevention as a prioritized focus is the Department’s core charge in delivering housing services to the community.
Original source can be found here.