Texas continues to top the nation in net domestic migration, according to the latest Census Bureau data. The report shows nearly 612,000 people moved to the state in 2023, while approximately 478,000 left.
California, New York, and Florida were the leading states contributing to Texas’ population growth, based on an analysis by the Texas Demographic Center. People from Louisiana, Illinois, Washington, and Oregon also moved to Texas the past year. Meanwhile, Texans who left went to Colorado, Georgia, and North Carolina.
The Texas Triangle region, encompassing cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, has been the epicenter of population expansion since 2000. Contributing factors include a robust economy, a relatively low cost of living compared to other large states, and business-friendly policies.
Following the 2020 Census, Texas gained two new congressional seats, increasing its total to 38 seats and 40 electoral votes—the only state to receive more than one seat. However, the Census Bureau later acknowledged an undercount of over 500,000 people, which cost the state a potential third seat.
As Texas continues to attract new residents, the state faces the dual challenge of maintaining its economic momentum while addressing affordability and infrastructure needs.
Helen You, a researcher at the Texas Demographic Center, explained that many migrants are younger working-age individuals seeking better job opportunities and quality of life. “People moving to Texas often have families and are drawn by the state’s economic prospects,” she told KERA News.
Texas also saw increased domestic migration after the pandemic, reversing the lower migration trends during 2020 and 2021. “Migration flows have rebounded strongly and are now higher than some pre-pandemic years,” You noted.
Texas has led the nation in population growth for decades, with Lloyd Potter, director of the Texas Demographic Center and a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, noting that the state adds roughly 400,000 residents annually.
“Counties surrounding the urban cores of Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio/Austin—often called suburban ring counties—are growing the fastest,” Potter told Newsweek. Kaufman County experienced the most rapid growth with a 26% population increase, followed by Rockwall (20%), Comal (18%), Liberty (17%), and Parker (16%).
With an annual growth rate of 1.6%, Texas remains a magnet for people seeking opportunities, maintaining its status as a rapidly expanding state.
