The metropolitan area added nearly 3.2 million people between 2023 and 2024, led by overseas arrivals, according to the Census Bureau.
“Increasingly, the population growth in metropolitan areas is shaped by international migration,” said Christie Wilder, demographicist in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. She said the births still add people, but higher net international migration offsets continued net domestic participation.
Net International Migration contributed to nearly 2.7 million residents from 2.2 million the previous year. The natural increase – subtracting deaths from the outbreak – was about 600,000.
Key facts from the latest data reveal that 60% of individual metro areas experience a “natural increase” and about 59% experience net domestic migration, while US subway regions have experienced domestic foreign countries overall.
Of the 10 fastest growing metropolitan areas each year, nine were in the south and one in the west. The two fastest growing metros were both in Florida. Seven of the 10 fastest growing microareas (populations ranging from 10,000 to 49,999) were located south, and were the fastest growing over a period in Georgia and Florida.
Almost 90% of the country’s 387 metro areas have acquired residents, up from 82% the previous year. New York City, Newark Jersey, Washington, Arlington, Alexandria, San Francisco, Oakland and Fremont have returned to growth.
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Numbers, the biggest metro profits were New York, Newark Jersey City (213,403), Houston Pasadena-Woodlands (198,171), Dallas-Fort Arlington (177,922), Miami-Fort Lauderdale West Palm Beach (123,471), and Washington-Earlington-Earlingan (123,471).
The leader measured by growth rate was Ocala, Florida, 4%. Panama City Panama City Beach, 3.8%. Myrtle Beach Conway North Smartle Beach, 3.8%. Lakeland Winter Haven, Florida, 3.5%. Provo Oremrehi, Utah, 3%.
The county showed a similar pattern. 65.3% of the country’s 3,144 counties had an increase in population. Large counties, defined as people with more than 100,000 residents, increased by 1.1%, while the smallest counties on average lost residents.
As of July 1, 2024, the 10 most populous counties in the country was Los Angeles County (9,757,179). Cook County, including Chicago (5,182,617); Harris County, including Houston (5,009,302). Maricopa County, including Phoenix (4,673,096); San Diego County (3,298,799); Orange County, California (3,170,435); Miami-Dade County (2,838,461); Dallas County (2,656,028); Kings County, New York (2,617,631); Riverside County, California (2,529,933).
Harris County recorded a maximum numerical gain of 105,852, followed by Miami-Dade County (64,211). Maricopa County (57,471); Collin County, Texas (46,694); Clark County, including Las Vegas (44,586).
Counties with a population of at least 20,000 or more were Dawson County, Georgia (6.4%), Kaufman County, Texas (6%), Jackson County, South Carolina (5.9%), Jackson County, Georgia (5.8%), and Pinari County, Arizona (5.8%) (5.6%).
Not all areas have grown. Shelby County, Tennessee, including Memphis, lost the most residents with 3,379 people, while Yazoo County, Mississippi, saw the sharpest percentage of losses at 6.4%.
The Census Bureau is set to release population estimates for individual cities and towns for July 1, 2024, and will take a closer look at post-management migration and birth trends continuing to restructure communities.
