Full Breakdown
Texas Suburbs Top U.S. Growth
5/15/2026, 12:11:52 AM
Fastest-Growing Texas Cities
U.S. Census estimates for July 2024-July 2025 list eight of the nation’s fifteen fastest-growing Texas cities. Celina, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, grew 24.6 %—about 12,700 residents—becoming the fastest city nationwide. Princeton, Melissa, Anna and Fulshear each grew 15-25 %.
Regional Drivers
Analysts attribute the surge to a regional job market, lower housing costs, and a slowdown in international migration after the 2024 immigration crackdown. Fewer newcomers to coastal hubs are prompting families to move to affordable suburbs in Texas Triangle.
Leaders and Demographic Insights
State demographer Lloyd Potter notes Texas still outpaces other states despite lower birth rates and higher death counts. Celina Mayor Ryan Tubbs says the city draws young families and aims to attract major employers. Cullum Clark of the George W. Bush Institute’s Economic Growth Initiative cites suburb “newness” as a key lure.
Growth Numbers
- Celina: +24.6 % (+12,700 residents) – fastest nationwide.
- Fulshear: second-fastest, ?+11,000 residents.
- Fort Worth: +19,512 residents, second highest numeric gain nationally.
- Houston, San Antonio, Austin: each added 10,000-15,000 residents; Austin passed 1 million.
Implications for State Economy
Suburban growth reshapes Texas’s urban hierarchy, moving new residents into areas with newer schools, lower housing costs and proximity to job centers. The influx supports local tax bases and fuels competition among suburbs for corporate campuses, while core cities face declining populations that could erode fiscal capacity.
Official Responses
Potter said declining births and rising deaths temper growth but affirmed Texas will retain its lead. Tubbs outlined Celina’s plan to move beyond a bedroom community by courting major employers. Clark highlighted suburb “newness” as the primary draw for families seeking safety and modern amenities.
Criticism Over Suburban Expansion
Critics warn rapid suburb growth may strain transportation and push home prices higher; Celina’s median home value now exceeds $500,000. The loss of residents in Dallas, El Paso and other core cities highlights a widening gap between affordable suburbs and increasingly costly urban cores.
Reporting Variances
ABC News listed Celina’s numeric gain as 12,700 residents, while the Texas Tribune reported 12,710. Both agree on a 24.6 % growth rate, indicating a minor reporting discrepancy but no substantive conflict over the overall trend.
Direct Voices
- “Texas is still growing more than any other state,” Potter said. “I don’t really think that we’re going to all of a sudden make a turnaround and Texas is going to start losing population or [that growth] is to slow really dramatically.” — Lloyd Potter, State Demographer
- “It attracts a lot of like-minded young families that want to be in new communities,” Tubbs said. — Ryan Tubbs, Mayor of Celina
- “Celina aims to enter the highly competitive arms race among Dallas suburbs for major employers.” — Ryan Tubbs, Mayor of Celina
- “Families are drawn to Celina for our outstanding schools, safe neighborhoods, and dynamic community life, while businesses recognize the strategic advantages of our location, robust infrastructure, and supportive environment.” — Ryan Tubbs, Mayor of Celina (statement to WFAA)
- “The newness is the attraction.” — Cullum Clark, Director, George W. Bush Institute Economic Growth Initiative
