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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ population increased more than any other state between 2023 and 2024, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The state’s overall population grew by 562,941 people between July 2023 and July 2024, but some counties grew at much faster rates than others. The Census Bureau published updated population estimates for every county in the country Thursday.
Of the 254 counties in Texas, 188 saw an increase in population since July 2023, while 65 had a population decline. King County, east of Lubbock, had no change.
Kaufman County, southeast of Dallas, is once again the fastest-growing county in the state, with a population increase of 6%. That makes the county the second-fastest-growing in the country, behind only Dawson County, Georgia, which grew by 6.4%.
Liberty and Montgomery counties also appear in the top 10 fastest-growing counties in the country, growing by 5.4% and 4.8%, respectively. Statewide, Texas’ population grew by 1.8% between 2023 and 2024.
Kenedy County, south of Corpus Christi, had the largest decrease in population, declining by 6% from 351 to 330 total residents. The population of Kent and Jeff Davis counties also dropped by more than 3% over the one-year period.
When looking at raw numbers, 14 counties added more than 10,000 residents between July 2023 and July 2024. Harris County, home to Houston, added the most — more than 105,000 new residents — more than any other county nationwide.
Collin County, north of Dallas, added almost 47,000 new residents, while Montgomery, Tarrant, Denton and Fort Bend counties each added more than 30,000 new residents in total.
All of the 10 counties that added the most new residents are in the Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio metro areas.
Potter County, home to Amarillo, lost the most residents in the one-year period, with a population decrease of 660. Hutchinson, Newton, Runnels and Brooks counties each lost more than 150 residents.
Texas county rankings
Harris County remains the largest in the state, accounting for 16% of Texas’ population, down slightly from 16.2% in the 2020 Census. In the new estimates, the county became the first in Texas to surpass 5 million residents. Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and Travis comprise the rest of the top five largest counties in the state.
None of the top 25 largest counties in the state changed rankings, but there was more movement in less-populated counties.
Burleson County, southwest of College Station, jumped four spots compared to 2023, becoming the 122nd-larget county in Texas. Chambers, Live Oak and Donley counties each jumped three spots. Meanwhile, Potter, Brown and Hartley counties each dropped three places.
Loving County remains the smallest county in Texas, and the country, with just 48 residents, down from 63 in the 2020 Census.
Migration vs. births
Among the state’s 10 largest counties, migration accounted for the majority of the population increase. In Collin County, for example, 84.7% of the increase was due to people moving into the county from elsewhere, while just 15.3% was from natural change, i.e. births in the county.
El Paso County was the notable exception. That county saw a net decrease in migration, meaning more people moved out than in. El Paso County still saw an overall population increase thanks to the number of births.
There are some noticeable exceptions though. Dallas, El Paso and Travis counties saw a net decrease in migration, meaning more people moved out than in. All three counties still saw overall population increases thanks to the number of births.
Counties in the KXAN viewing area
The 15 counties in the KXAN viewing area added more than 60,000 new residents between July 2023 and July 2024, according to the new estimates.
Caldwell County is the fastest-growing county in the area, with a population increase of 4.6%. Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties each grew by more than 3%. Travis County’s population growth was slower, at 1.2%.
San Saba County was the only local county to see a decrease in the number of residents, down 0.6% from 5,543 to 5,508. Fayette County grew by just 0.01%, with an increase in population of just three.
When it comes to the actual number of residents, Williamson County added the most, with more than 25,000, accounting for 42.4% of all growth in the area. Travis County added more than 15,000 residents, while Hays County grew by more than 10,000.
Inward migration continues to drive much of the population growth in the Austin metro area, which officially includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.
In Caldwell County, 91.9% of all population growth was due to people moving into the county from elsewhere. Migration accounted for 88.4% of growth in Bastrop County, 84.5% in Hays County and 83.7% in Williamson County.
Travis County was the only county in the Austin metro to see a larger increase from natural change rather than migration. Natural change — births in the county — accounted for 61.8% of Travis County’s population increase.
In the metro as a whole, 72.2% of the population increase came from migration.
