The United States experienced a moderation in population growth rates for its metropolitan areas during the year ending July 1, 2025, a trend mirrored in Texas, which surpassed 31 million residents. This slowdown is primarily attributed to a decline in international immigration and, in some regions, the impact of natural disasters.
While suburban areas, particularly in Texas, continued to expand significantly, growth in major urban centers decelerated, with some experiencing population decreases.
National Population Trends
Moderating Metropolitan Growth
U.S. metropolitan areas recorded an average population growth rate of 0.6% for the year ending July 1, 2025, a notable decrease from 1.1% in the preceding year. This moderation followed a period where increased immigration had contributed to urban area recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of International Migration
International immigration, a significant factor in U.S. population growth given an aging population and declining birth rates, saw a reduction during this period. Counties home to major cities such as Houston, Miami, and Los Angeles, while remaining top destinations for immigrants by overall numbers, registered a notable decrease in arrivals.
Three metropolitan areas along the U.S. southern border experienced significant declines in population growth rates during 2025:
- Laredo, Texas, saw its growth rate decrease from 3.2% to 0.2%.
- Yuma, Arizona, declined from 3.3% to 1.4%.
- El Centro, California, moved from a 1.2% growth rate to -0.7%.
These regions had previously experienced growth in 2024, attributed to an increase in immigrants.
Natural Disasters' Toll
Beyond migration trends, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which impacted Florida's Gulf Coast in fall 2024, caused extensive damage and led to resident departures. Pinellas County, which includes St. Petersburg, recorded a loss of nearly 12,000 residents, marking the second-highest loss nationally after Los Angeles County.
Taylor County, a rural community heavily affected by the hurricanes, experienced the steepest growth rate decline among U.S. counties, falling by 2.2%. The effects extended to Buncombe County, North Carolina, where more than 2,000 residents departed following the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
Texas Specific Trends
Texas' population exceeded 31 million, growing by 1.2%, or 391,243 residents, between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. This growth rate reflected a slowdown, which the state demographer, Lloyd Potter, linked primarily to a 45% decline in international immigration.
The state's population expansion was predominantly observed in suburban areas surrounding major cities, including Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Growth in these primary urban centers began to decelerate, with some areas like Dallas County experiencing a population decrease.
Waller County's Surge
Waller County, northeast of Houston, was identified as the fastest-growing county in Texas and the second-fastest in the U.S. during the reporting period, with a 5.7% population increase. Since 2020, Waller County's population increased by over 13,000 residents, from 56,769 to 69,858.
Factors contributing to this growth included:
- Availability of land for home and infrastructure development.
- The addition of nearly 10,000 jobs.
- Strategic highway access to Houston, Austin, and College Station.
- Reported resident preferences for more space and lower density.
Four of the top ten fastest-growing counties in the U.S. between 2024 and 2025 were located in Texas: Waller, Kaufman, Liberty, and Caldwell counties, reflecting a nationwide trend of growth in exurban and suburban areas.
Dallas County's Decline Amidst Regional Growth
Dallas County, the state's second most populous county, ranked ninth nationally for numeric population decline, with a net loss of 2,616 residents between 2024 and 2025. This trend occurred even as the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region continued to grow. Analysis suggests residents relocated to surrounding communities due to limited and costly housing options within the urban core.
Despite the moderation in international migration compared to previous years, Texas' major urban areas continued to attract a substantial number of residents, maintaining the second-highest total for international migrants in the nation at 167,475.
- The Houston metropolitan region recorded the largest numerical increase among U.S. metro areas, adding 126,720 people.
- The Dallas-Fort Worth region followed with 123,557 new residents.
- Harris County recorded the largest increase among U.S. counties, adding 48,695 residents.
- Collin, Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Williamson counties were also among the top ten U.S. counties for new residents.
State demographer Lloyd Potter indicated that Texas' current population and rate of family creation are expected to mitigate significant declines in its major metropolitan areas, even amidst declining birth rates and international immigration, with Dallas County noted as a potential exception.
Natural Increase and Overall Growth Leaders
Demographics Driving Growth
The New York metropolitan area led the nation in natural increase (births outpacing deaths) by over 32,000 residents, but experienced a slide to 13th in overall growth due to a decrease in international migration.
Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas were among the national leaders in overall population growth, followed by Atlanta, Phoenix, and Charlotte, North Carolina. These Texas metros also ranked highly in natural increase, a factor attributed to their relatively young populations and a large proportion of residents in childbearing ages, resulting from decades of in-migration.
Conversely, several areas, including Pittsburgh and Florida communities such as Sarasota, Daytona Beach, and Tampa, recorded more deaths than births, reflecting older demographic profiles.
Midsize metros in Florida and South Carolina recorded high growth rates, including Ocala, Florida (3.4%), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Lakeland, Florida, and Punta Gorda, Florida. Sunbelt exurban areas, including Collin County (TX), Montgomery County (TX), Pinal County (AZ), and Pasco and Polk counties (FL), were significant destinations for domestic movers.