Texas Population Surpasses 31 Million Amid Continued Influx Driven by Job Opportunities

Texas's population has exceeded 31 million residents, cementing its status as a leading destination for internal migration, largely attributed to its robust job market and historical affordability. This trend aligns with observations made by commentator Steve Faktor, who noted, "Likely not changing anytime soon. Only mitigating strategy is for people to move to affordable places with job opportunities. Why Texas is seeing a huge influx." The state added over 562,941 residents between July 2023 and July 2024, leading the nation in population growth.

The sustained growth in Texas is primarily fueled by a strong economy and significant job creation. The state added 284,200 nonfarm jobs from December 2023 to December 2024, outpacing the national growth rate. This economic dynamism, coupled with the absence of a state income tax, has historically drawn individuals and businesses seeking better opportunities and a lower cost of living compared to other major U.S. states.

While Texas continues to attract new residents, particularly through international migration, the pace of domestic migration has seen a slight slowdown. State demographer Lloyd Potter suggests that many individuals most likely to move to Texas from other states may have already done so, indicating a potential reliance on international migration to meet labor demands in a booming economy. The state's labor force reached a new record high of 15.57 million in December.

However, the rapid influx has begun to strain one of Texas's traditional advantages: housing affordability. Post-pandemic, housing affordability has deteriorated, especially in metropolitan areas, with the share of homes affordable to a median-income household declining significantly. For instance, the average housing affordability in major Texas metros dropped to 32% in late 2023, down from 60% pre-pandemic. This emerging challenge could impact the state's long-term appeal if not addressed.