New data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that while Houston’s population growth has stagnated, suburban areas in surrounding counties are experiencing rapid expansion. These figures were published last week in the 2023 American Community Survey.
The three counties in southeast Texas with the highest growth between 2022 and 2023 are:
Liberty County (6.15%): from 101,992 to 108,272
Montgomery County (4.84%): from 678,490 to 711,354
Fort Bend County (3.1%): from 889,146 to 916,778
In contrast, Harris County’s population grew by only 1.13%, adding over 54,000 residents, while the City of Houston saw just a 0.31% increase, equating to about 7,000 new people.
Sam Gonzalez Kelly, a demographics reporter for the Houston Chronicle, noted that this trend isn’t unique to southeast Texas. Rising housing costs in urban centers are pushing families toward the suburbs for a more affordable lifestyle.
At the same time, the number of housing units in Houston has increased in recent years. “It may be more single people or couples without children staying in the city, while families are moving to the suburbs,” Kelly explained. He added that suburban school districts and the rise of remote work are also drawing people out of urban areas.
Daniel Potter, from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, pointed out that these outlying counties are developing into self-sufficient areas where residents can live, work, and play. “They’re creating microcosms of economics with everything people need nearby,” Potter said.
Though Houston and Harris County show lower growth percentages, Potter emphasized that they still see substantial increases in population. Given that Harris County has nearly 5 million residents, an increase of 40,000 people represents less than 1%, whereas the same increase in smaller counties results in higher growth percentages.
Kelly also highlighted that Houston’s growth in recent years has been driven by natural births and international migration, while suburban expansion is fueled by domestic migration.
Looking ahead, these trends suggest that Houston could become less affordable for middle-class families, potentially resembling larger cities like New York or Washington, D.C., where urban centers cater to young professionals and high-density housing.
“We might witness Houston evolving into a luxury city, catering to an upper-class clientele,” Potter said. “The concern is whether this will deepen the inequality in a city known for its historically middle-class foundation.”
For more detailed data, visit the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey website.
