Houston still ranks fourth nationally in total population with an estimated 2.31 million people as of July 2017. That is an increase of 0.36 percent year over year, down from nearly 1 percent population growth in 2016 and 1.94 percent growth in 2015.
New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago remain the largest U.S. cities ahead of Houston, and San Antonio—No. 7, Dallas—No. 9, Austin—No. 11—and Fort Worth—No. 15—also made the list.
But the Houston metro area was not in the top 15 list of fastest-growing U.S. cities by population increase percentage year-over-year for the first time in several years. According to last year's report, Conroe grew 7.8 percent in 2015-16, more than any other city with a population exceeding 50,000. Conroe or Pearland have been included in every top 15 list of fastest-growing large cities since 2011-12, according to U.S. Census rankings.
Frisco, located in Collin County north of Dallas, grew 8.2 percent between July 2016 and mid-2017, according to U.S. Census estimates, the largest increase in the country. Other Texas cities to make the list of fastest-growing U.S. cities by population percentage increase include New Braunfels—No. 2, Pflugerville—No. 3, Georgetown—No. 6, McKinney—No. 9, Flower Mound—No. 11—and Cedar Park—No. 13.
The state’s overall population grew by nearly 400,000 residents from mid-2016 to July 2017, according to the U.S. Census, for a total of 28.3 million residents.
