Eight of the 15 cities or towns with the largest population gains were located in the South in 2017, with three of the top five in Texas, according to new population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
“San Antonio, Texas, tops the list with the largest population gain with an increase of over 24,200 people, an average of 66 people per day between 2016 and 2017,” said Amel Toukabri, a demographer in the Population Division of the Census Bureau. “That’s a growth rate of 1.6%. This growth was enough to push San Antonio's population above the 1.5 million mark.”
Some of the other cities with the largest population gains were Phoenix, Ariz. (24,000); Dallas, Texas (18,900); Fort Worth, Texas (18,700); Los Angeles, Calif. (18,600); Seattle, Washington (17,500); and Charlotte, N.C. (15,600).
Regarding percentage change in population, 10 of the 15 fastest-growing large cities were located in the South, with seven in Texas. Between 2016 and 2017, Frisco, Texas (near Dallas), was the fastest-growing large city (population of 50,000 or more) at 8.2%, making its growth rate more than 11 times faster than the nation’s growth rate of 0.7%.
Fort Worth, Texas, surpassed Indianapolis, Ind., becoming the 15th largest city in the United States with a population of 874,168. Indianapolis has a population of 863,002. The 14 largest U.S.cities have not changed since 2016.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
While the main focus of this release has been on the 3.9% of cities with populations of 50,000 or more, the United States is a nation of small towns. Of the nation’s 325.7 million people, an estimated 205.0 million (62.9%) live within an incorporated place as of July 1, 2017. Of approximately 19,500 incorporated places, about 76% had fewer than 5,000 people and nearly 50% had fewer than 1,000 people.
Regional Growth
The West had the highest share of its population living within an incorporated place (76.7%), followed by the Midwest (71.4%) as of July 1, 2017. The Northeast had the smallest population of its residents living in incorporated places (51.4%).
The South had the most city dwellers of any region at 67.9 million. However, this accounted for only 54.9% of the South’s 123.7 million total population. Since the 2010 Census, large cities in the South and West have led the nation in population growth, with an average increase of 10.0% (16,206) and 7.8% (12,256), respectively. By comparison, those in the Northeast and Midwest grew on average by 2.2% (9,104) and 3.0% (3,942), respectively.
The nation’s housing stock grew by more than one million last year, reaching over 137 million units. The growth rate of 0.8% from 2016 to 2017 was slower than the 1.4% a decade ago between 2006 and 2007.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Housing unit growth last year remained below 2007 levels in nearly all states except North Dakota (up 1.0% last year, compared to a 0.9% increase in 2007); the District of Columbia (up 1.1%, compared to a 0.9% increase in 2007); South Dakota (up 1.4%, compared to a 1.2% increase in 2007); Iowa (up 0.9%, compared to a 0.7% increase in 2007); and Nebraska (returned to the 2007 growth rate of 0.8%).
Between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, Utah was the fastest-growing state in terms of housing units, with an increase of 2.1%. Idaho and Colorado were the second- and third-fastest growing states with increases of 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively. West Virginia and Rhode Island were tied as the slowest-growing states with increases of 0.2%.
The nation’s housing stock increased by 5.7 million units (4.3%) since April 1, 2010. North Dakota was the fastest-growing state in terms of housing units, with an increase of 18.0% during the same period. Rounding out the top five states in percent gain were Utah (10.7%), Texas (9.6%), Idaho (8.1%) and South Dakota (8.0%).
Fourteen states added more than 100,000 housing units between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2017. In terms of the largest numeric increase, the top five were Texas (955,000), California (497,000), Florida (452,000), North Carolina (295,000) and New York (219,000).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Related Stories
Contractors | Oct 19, 2023
Crane Index indicates slowing private-sector construction
Private-sector construction in major North American cities is slowing, according to the latest RLB Crane Index. The number of tower cranes in use declined 10% since the first quarter of 2023. The index, compiled by consulting firm Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), found that only two of 14 cities—Boston and Toronto—saw increased crane counts.
Market Data | Oct 2, 2023
Nonresidential construction spending rises 0.4% in August 2023, led by manufacturing and public works sectors
National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.4% in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.09 trillion.
Giants 400 | Sep 28, 2023
Top 100 University Building Construction Firms for 2023
Turner Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., STO Building Group, Suffolk Construction, and Skanska USA top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest university sector contractors and construction management firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes revenue for all university/college-related buildings except student residence halls, sports/recreation facilities, laboratories, S+T-related buildings, parking facilities, and performing arts centers (revenue for those buildings are reported in their respective Giants 400 ranking).
Construction Costs | Sep 28, 2023
U.S. construction market moves toward building material price stabilization
The newly released Quarterly Construction Cost Insights Report for Q3 2023 from Gordian reveals material costs remain high compared to prior years, but there is a move towards price stabilization for building and construction materials after years of significant fluctuations. In this report, top industry experts from Gordian, as well as from Gilbane, McCarthy Building Companies, and DPR Construction weigh in on the overall trends seen for construction material costs, and offer innovative solutions to navigate this terrain.
Data Centers | Sep 21, 2023
North American data center construction rises 25% to record high in first half of 2023, driven by growth of artificial intelligence
CBRE’s latest North American Data Center Trends Report found there is 2,287.6 megawatts (MW) of data center supply currently under construction in primary markets, reaching a new all-time high with more than 70% already preleased.
Contractors | Sep 12, 2023
The average U.S. contractor has 9.2 months worth of construction work in the pipeline, as of August 2023
Associated Builders and Contractors' Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 9.2 months in August, down 0.1 month, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Aug. 21 to Sept. 6. The reading is 0.5 months above the August 2022 level.
Contractors | Sep 11, 2023
Construction industry skills shortage is contributing to project delays
Relatively few candidates looking for work in the construction industry have the necessary skills to do the job well, according to a survey of construction industry managers by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Autodesk.
Market Data | Sep 6, 2023
Far slower construction activity forecast in JLL’s Midyear update
The good news is that market data indicate total construction costs are leveling off.
Giants 400 | Sep 5, 2023
Top 80 Construction Management Firms for 2023
Alfa Tech, CBRE Group, Skyline Construction, Hill International, and JLL top the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Sep 5, 2023
Top 150 Contractors for 2023
Turner Construction, STO Building Group, DPR Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., and Clark Group head the ranking of the nation's largest general contractors, CM at risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.