The South on top. It’s where to find the fastest-growing American cities
CHARLOTTE, NC – Charlotte is one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, according to a new U.S. Census report. Between July 2022 to July 2023, the city gained 15,607 people, reaching a population of 911,311. That is third-highest growth in the U.S. trailing only San Antonio and Fort Worth, Texas, the study found. Jacksonville and Port St. Lucie, both in Florida, rounded out the top five. Charlotte also ranked 15th nationally in city populations. Raleigh made the list of fastest-growing cities, gaining 8,872 people, the report said. That put its population at 482,295, 10th on the list of the top 15 fastest-growing cities.
The South Continues to Lead
Overall, the South continued to be the fastest-growing region in the nation, the Census Bureau said. Crystal Delbé, a Census Bureau statistician, stated, “The population growth across the South in 2023 was driven by significant numeric and percentage gains among its cities. Thirteen of the 15 fastest-growing cities were in the South, with eight in Texas alone.”
Growth in Northeast and Midwest
In the Northeast and Midwest, larger cities eked out small gains, reversing a decline in 2022. In the Northeast, cities with populations of 50,000 or more increased by an average of 0.2% in 2023 with Midwestern cities growing by 0.1%, the Census Bureau said.
Expert Analysis
The report confirms the continuation of a long-term population trend in the United States, said Stefan Rayer, Population Program Director of the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research. “The general pattern we have seen for many years – widespread growth in the South and West, and slower growth or population declines in many areas of the Midwest and Northeast – continues,” he told The Center Square. “But this latest release also illuminates the varying demographic fortunes of individual cities and towns, which can be quite different from the larger regional trends.”
Population Rankings
New York City with nearly 8.3 million people remained the nation’s largest city in population as of July 1, 2023. Los Angeles was second at close to 4 million residents, while Chicago was third at 2.7 million.
Growth in Suburban and Exurban Areas
The numbers also show growth in suburban and exurban areas of the South and West, which are often in unincorporated areas of their counties, Rayer said. For example, Celina, Texas, near Dallas grew by 26.6%, more than 53 times that of the nation’s growth rate of 0.5%, the Census said. However, growth in Georgetown, Texas, slowed by more than a fourth from its 2022 population growth in 2022 of 14.4%. It grew 10.6% in 2023, the Census said.
Conclusion
The South continues to be a hub for rapid population growth, with cities like Charlotte and Raleigh leading the way in the latest U.S. Census report. As urban areas in the South flourish, the region solidifies its position as the fastest-growing in the nation, outpacing the Northeast and Midwest in population growth. The demographic landscape of the United States continues to evolve, with varying fortunes for individual cities and towns shaping the overall trends.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.