AUSTIN, Texas — Austin has been usurped as the fourth-largest city in Texas.
New data shows that Fort Worth has taken over the fourth spot as both cities race to a population of 1 million.
The Texas Demographic Center’s 2023 population estimates have Fort Worth at nearly 999,000 residents, which is around 3,000 more than Austin.
The data also shows Fort Worth is growing at warp speed by comparison. Fort Worth’s population increased by nearly 8%, while Austin only saw 2.6% growth, pushing the capital city to fifth.
Houston still reigns supreme as the biggest city in the Lone Star State, with more than 2.3 million people. San Antonio holds steady in second with nearly 1.5 million residents, followed by Dallas with just over 1.3 million people.
The race to 1 million
Census tracking data over the last few years shows the growing trend behind Fort Worth’s boom.
From July 2021 to July 2022, Fort Worth added more residents than any other big city in the nation, with an estimated 19,000 people moving to the area in that time.
Fort Worth expects to exceed 1 million people before the end of the decade, which experts say matters from marketing and branding standpoints for a city that wants to grow.
Some factors contributing to the growth include affordability and room for growth, an advantage Austin doesn’t have.
In May, the U.S. Census Bureau released new data that showed Austin also dropped from the list of the top 10 largest cities in the country, replaced by Jacksonville, Florida. However, Austin’s suburbs continue to thrive as the city’s population declines.