Houston tops in population gains in last 5 years

2010 Census Preview

Elizabeth Campbell, Jun 28, 10.

The City of Houston gained more population than any other city from 2005-2009, according to a new Brookings Institution preview of the 2010 census. Texas appears as though it will “surely turn out to be the demographic winner for the decade,” the preview reports. This week, the Census Bureau released the population estimates for cities through 2009, which are the last reported estimates before the actual 2010 headcount is reported in December of this year.

Confirming previously acknowledged trends, the new estimates “not only showed that Texas is likely to gain 4 congressional seats through reapportionment, but also highlighted the abrupt slowdown in late-decade population gains in Sunbelt states (especially Florida) and metropolitan areas (like Phoenix and Las Vegas).” The latter areas felt the effects of the migration slowdown caused by the housing bubble burst and the recent economic recession.

Without a doubt, Texas cities are seeing strong growth rates, Brookings reports.

The new numbers for cities emphasize Texas’ strength relative to the rest of the Sunbelt. From 2005 to 2009, Houston led all US cities with a population gain of 182,000, and three other Texas cities—San Antonio, Forth Worth and Austin—ranked among the top six gainers. The Lone Star city surge was especially pronounced from 2008 to 2009. During that year, five Texas cities, including Dallas, ranked among the top nine in numeric gains, and five—led by Frisco, TX in suburban Dallas—ranked among the top 11 in growth rates. This late decade surge will more than likely make Texas cities the big winners when decade-long trends are tallied with the 2010 Census, with Houston ranking second in gains after New York.

Due to steady urban economies, cities in Texas were relatively insulated from the effects of the housing downturn and the “worst impacts of the Great Recession,” the report says. Indeed, many of Texas’ largest metro areas continue to perform well on various employment and housing indicators.