The study showed that Houston is growing at a strong pace, with more than 43,000 new people moving there in 2024, bringing the city’s population to 2,390,125 people.
HOUSTON — On Monday, the Greater Houston Partnership released a new future economic growth study.
The study showed that Houston continues to lead the nation in population growth, with over 91,000 new people moving to the city since 2020.
“You know, you look at commute times in Houston compared to other major metros. We’re still at the lower end of that. You look at the overall infrastructure improvements and investments that have been made. I mean, we’re almost through with the third loop around Houston, so we’ll have the Grand Parkway in place,” Craig Rhodes said.
Rhodes is the senior vice president of economic development at the Greater Houston Partnership.
The study also showed that the city is growing at a strong pace, with more than 43,000 new people moving to Houston in 2024, bringing the city’s population to a record 2,390,125 people.
“I think quality of life and quality of places is a big reason why people are choosing where they want to be. Certainly, job opportunities are another major factor. But when we look at the top ten largest metros across the U.S., Houston’s the only one below the national average in overall cost of living. And when we look at the cost of housing, you know, the top 20 metros in the US, I think Houston is the lowest of any of the top 20 largest metros,” Rhodes said.
The senior vice president of economic development said Houston’s overall population is one of the few big cities adding people to the 0 to 18 years old population category.
“Working age is for future employers. Those are all areas where Houston’s larger in those populations than the U.S. average. So, all of that really bodes well for our ability to meet, and not just current workforce needs, workforce needs, but also has the pipeline of talent, long term, for these companies to tap into,” Rhodes said.
He also said Houston’s international makeup is booming, too.
“65% of the growth last year overall in Houston was from international migration into the Houston metro. I think that’s part of the unique fabric of Houston that makes this region so dynamic. And we know companies want to attract a diverse and talented workforce,” Rhodes said.
No surprise there since one in four residents is foreign born in Houston. Based on last year’s growth rates, Houston is projected to overtake Chicago as the third-largest U.S. city by 2037.
You can explore how demographic shifts across the region are fueling future economic potential in the latest Economy at a Glance by clicking here for the full study.