The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2021 population estimates for U.S. cities with a population of over 50,000. Eight of the ten largest cities lost population in 2021. In total, nearly a half million people moved out of the ten largest cities.

New York City was far and away the largest, losing over 300,000 residents, about 3.5% of its population. Only two cities on the top ten list, Phoenix, and San Antonio, managed to post gains, with each growing just under 1%.
Houston, after seeing its population growth slow significantly in the last five years, suffered its first decline in population in decades, losing about 11,000 residents (.5%). The Census Bureau also estimated that Harris County’s population slightly declined (-4,461, .1%) but that the Houston SMSA continued to grow, adding almost 70,000 new residents for a 1% increase over 2020. Most of the growth took place in Montgomery and Fort Bend counties.
The Census Bureau estimates that the total US population grew just under 400,000 (.1%), which is the slowest growth rate in the country’s history. Texas grew by 1.1% (310,000), which was far and away the largest gain of any state. Florida was second with a 1% increase (211,000). New York, California and Illinois together lost nearly 700,000 residents.
Of the major cities in Texas, only Fort Worth, in addition to San Antonio, increased its population. Austin and El Paso were unchanged while Dallas lost over 1% of its population. Most of the population increase occurred in suburban and exurban counties with Collin, Fort Bend, Williamson, Denton, Montgomery, and Hayes leading the way.
One big red flag on these numbers is the Census Bureau’s estimates on international migration. It estimated that Texas’ population only increased by 27,000 due to international migration. Almost all of the border counties saw very modest population increases. I don’t see how you can square those estimates with what is going on at border. The estimates are made as of July 1 each year, so perhaps that was before the big surge of border crossings really got underway. But it certainly raises the question of whether the Census Bureau is accurately taking illegal immigration to the US into account in its estimates.
COVID clearly had some effect on the total population. During that period (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021), the CDC estimates that there were about 500,000 excess deaths in the US. So, that alone would have cut the growth rate by about half. If we see some mortality displacement, as some epidemiologists and demographers believe, we may have some tail wind on population growth over the next couple of years.
Nonetheless, it is clear that the U.S. is seeing the same long-term trend as other developed countries. Couples are having fewer children and the days of robust population growth is over. Some states, like Texas and Florida, will continue to see comparatively more growth. But even there, growth will slow. There are many implications of a long-term slowdown in population growth. There are many benefits, like less strain on the planet’s resources, but there will also be many challenges. Most of our economic and civic institutions are geared for steady and robust population growth the world has seen since the late 18th Century. Remaking those for the new paradigm will, in many cases, be disruptive and painful. More on that soon.
As someone with retirement on the horizon, I have to ask “why would anyone live in Houston if they didn’t have too?”
– The summers are brutal, and we spend all August and September wondering which one of the hurricanes currently in the Gulf is going to hit us.
– If the hurricanes don’t get you, the thunderstorms will flood you.
– Pervasive crime and poverty. Houston is a poor city now – – just look at the Kinder Institute maps.
– Corrupt (at the highest levels) and inefficient city and county government.
– Ridiculous property taxes. Like carrying a second mortgage on your home.
– Terrible infrastructure. The water system leaks like a sieve, roads are in horrible shape and under-built, ERCOT, etc.
People who can afford to leave will start leaving, likely me included, leaving an even poorer city with fewer resources.
None of the top ten cities in population, save San Jose, are on US News and World Reports’ list of best places to live. That list is topped by Huntsville, Al (yes – that’s right – – Alabama) a city of 215K. They are followed by Colorado Springs and Green Bay. San Jose ranked #5, but who can afford to live there?
It’s looking really, really bad for my long-term future in Houston or Harris County. What’s a yellowhammer, anyway? 😉