After years of jockeying with San Jose, case-pleading, and rationalizing its also-ran status, Austin is, for now, the 10th largest city in the United States.
Recently released 2022 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau report the city's estimated population as 974,447 — allowing it to edge out Jacksonville, Fla., which landed in the 11th spot. Dallas, in ninth place, has an estimated citizenry of almost 1.3 million, so it will likely be a while before Austin overtakes it on the list.
Austin increased its population by 12,547 residents, growing at a rate of 1.3 percent, according to the data.
The story in the large Austin metro area (beyond city limits) is a mixed bag. While the sprawl would seem to indicate otherwise, the metro's population of a little over 2 million puts it at 26th on the U.S. Census Bureau's list, with the sixth largest numeric increase in population between 2021 and 2022.
On the other hand, a look at population change during that period reveals Georgetown, about 30 miles north of Austin, to be the fastest-growing city in the country. It's population increased at a rate of 14.4 percent from 2021 to 2022, outpacing its 10.5 percent rate from the previous year. The bureau estimates Georgetown’s population reached 86,507, increasing by 10,887 in 2022.
Not to be outdone, nearby cities Kyle and Leander were third and fourth on the growth list. Kyle's total population in 2022 was just under 57,500, while Leander's reached 74,375 residents. Both grew at a rate of 10.9 percent that year.
