Austin, Texas – The City of Austin's Communications Director, Spencer Schumacher, recently addressed public perception regarding the city's population trends, clarifying that while growth has "slowed," the city is not shrinking. Schumacher stated in a tweet, "That's just not true. The City's growth slowed to .5% last year but we're not shrinking. And Austin is still one of the fastest growing Metros in the US." This statement aims to provide clarity amidst discussions about the pace of the region's demographic expansion.
Official data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) added over 50,000 residents between 2022 and 2023, reflecting a growth rate of approximately 2.1% to 2.3%. This growth positioned the Austin MSA as the seventh-largest numeric increase in population during that period, solidifying its standing as a rapidly expanding urban center.
Despite this continued expansion, the Austin metro area recently concluded a 12-year streak as the fastest-growing large metropolitan area in the United States. Recent estimates place it among the top contenders, such as fourth fastest-growing from July 2023 to July 2024, but no longer at the very top. This slight deceleration is primarily attributed to a decrease in domestic migration, with fewer people relocating to the area from other parts of Texas and the U.S.
The City of Austin's demographer, Lila Valencia, acknowledged this trend, noting that while the metro area's growth pace has softened, it still represents a "strong and rapid" increase. Travis County, which encompasses much of Austin, experienced a net loss in domestic migration, although international migration to the region has remained robust. The overall population of the City of Austin itself increased by over 13,000 residents from July 2023 to July 2024, reaching nearly 993,588, further refuting any claims of shrinkage.
The nuanced picture reveals that while Austin's explosive growth rate has tempered slightly, particularly within the city proper, the broader metropolitan area continues to attract new residents and remains a significant hub for population expansion in the nation. The shift highlights evolving migration patterns and the region's ongoing demographic evolution.