Population Growth
Everything is bigger in Texas: Houston is second-fastest growing city in the nation
With a low unemployment rate, the largest medical center in the world, a fabled museum district, one of the nation's youngest and most diverse populations, and a wide range of professional sports teams, why wouldn't you want to live in Houston?
Apparently a lot of people agree. The Bayou City is the second-fastest growing big city in the nation, according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau Thursday.
From 2011 to 2012, Houston grew by 34,625 people, trailing only New York, which led with growth of 67,058.
From 2011 to 2012, Houston grew by 34,625 people, trailing only New York, which led with growth of 67,058.
Half of the top 10 cities that added the most people are in Texas. San Antonio ranked No. 4 in growth, adding 25,400, followed by Austin (No. 5, with 25,395), Dallas (No. 7, with 23, 341) and Fort Worth (No. 10, with 16,328).
While impressive, the population growth was not enough to bump Houston up on the list of largest cities. It remains the nation's fourth largest city, with 2,160,821 people, trailing Chicago, with 2,714,856. Austin moved up two spots to No. 11.
Also, eight of the 15 fastest growing cities in the United States were located in Texas. San Marcos tops the list of cities over 50,000, with a 4.91 percentage increase and a population of 50,001. Conroe was No. 10, with a 4.01 percent growth rate and a 2012 population of 61,533.