San Antonio soon to overtake spot of nation's sixth-largest city, and Philly is crashing out about it

Does Philly really want to mess with the Alamo City? Credit: Shutterstock / 4kclips

San Antonio may soon become the nation’s sixth-largest city in the nation, U.S. Census data shows.

That’s because the Alamo City’s burgeoning growth is unmatched by the relatively stagnant population of Philadelphia, which currently holds the sixth spot.

And upon hearing that news, the Philadelphia Inquirer is apparently having a meltdown.

In an article published Thursday, the paper accused San Antonio of coming for its spot through “questionable methods” — namely, by annexing territory.

As of July 2025, the Census Bureau estimated Philly’s population at 1,574,281 and San Antonio’s at 1,548,422 — a difference of roughly 26,000 residents. That span has narrowed rapidly since 2020, when it was roughly 162,000.

“They’re increasing the square footage of the city over time, which does increase, often, the population,” Katie Martin, lead researcher at the Pew Charitable Trust’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative, told the Inquirer. Martin added that Philadelphia has been “the same city we have been for 150 years.”

The Inquirer explained that “[w]hile Philadelphia leverages its old-school charm (brick facades), striking good looks (public art) and alluring persona (locals known for their gruff exteriors but soft interiors) to attract new residents and keep existing ones sticking around, San Antonio has been incorporating the demographic equivalent of steroids.”

Does Philly actually want to go to war with the Alamo City?

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, only Philly has old-school charm, public art and locals that at best are characterized by the paper as nice “once you get to know them.”

Tell me you haven’t been to San Antonio without telling me you haven’t been to San Antonio.

Philly may be the “birthplace of America” but this is the Alamo City, where historic neighborhoods such as King William have houses more than a century old that ooze Victorian charm with their stately columns and wraparound porches.

San Antonio also has one of the most robust public art programs in the state, celebrating its colorful Mexican American heritage with murals as vibrant as its people.

Also, our locals are actually nice as opposed to Philly’s locals, who sound more like an acquired taste. Which is why we’re consistently ranked one of the friendliest cities in Texas.

All of these factors may be why San Antonio was the nation’s third most moved-to city in 2025, meaning our population boom isn’t purely annexation.

Turns out, we’re a draw too.

Annexation is a real practice that’s been employed by the City of San Antonio, to the protest of some in the surrounding area who don’t want to be incorporated into city bounds.

So, the Inquirer’s characterization of San Antonio’s population explosion as ill-gotten through controversial means is accurate. It just doesn’t tell the whole story.

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