Cowtown Kicks Growth Into Gear With Fort Worth Becoming 12th-Largest U.S. City

Traffic congestion, crowded venues, and certainly the housing market pointed to it, but now it’s been confirmed — Fort Worth is an immensely popular place to live.

According to the latest population reports from the U.S. Census Bureau, Fort Worth had the second-largest population gain nationwide in 2023, with more than 21,000 new residents. Only San Antonio’s growth outnumbered Fort Worth with nearly 22,000 new residents. 

Those new inhabitants make Cowtown the 12th largest city in the U.S., one of five Texas cities in the top 12 nationally.

The rankings are:

• New York, NY (8.3 million)
• Los Angeles, CA (4 million)
• Chicago, IL (2.7 million)
• Houston, TX (2.3 million)
• Phoenix, AZ (1.7 million)
• Philadelphia, PA (1.6 million)
• San Antonio, TX (1.5 million)
• San Diego, CA (1.4 million)
• Dallas, TX (1.3 million)
• Jacksonville, FL (986,000)
• Austin, TX (980,000)
• Fort Worth, TX (978,000)

Fort Worth’s boom puts it close to the 1 million mark because it gained 21,000 new inhabitants in 2023.  Fort Worth is gaining on Austin, which counted about 2,000 more residents. All those increased numbers could make finding a dwelling more complicated in Tarrant County.

Affordable Housing Adds to Popularity

“One of the things that has made Fort Worth such an appealing place to live is the relatively low cost of housing compared to other large cities in Texas,” said Blake Barry, president of the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors. “While it’s great to have so many people discovering all that we have to offer, it also means more people will be looking for housing.”

The North Texas housing market remains hot by multiple accounts, and measurable stats back that up. According to the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors’ April housing report, closed sales increased year over year in both Fort Worth and Tarrant County by 8.7 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively. Last month the days on the market in Fort Worth decreased to 45 days, a decrease of nine days, as compared to April last year.

“Inventory in Fort Worth – and across the country – has been historically low for years. It will take a lot of work in the realm of new construction to accommodate this growing population,” Barry said in a written statement.

Fort Worth Active Listings Up in 2024

Homebuyers have more opportunities in 2024 because active listings grew in Tarrant, Johnson, and Parker Counties, compared to 2023. For example, housing inventory climbed to 2.8 months in Fort Worth and expanded by 0.8 months from April 2023. 

According to Barry, Realtors stand ready to help find housing solutions.

“I think it’s important to focus on additional options for affordable housing, as the increase in demand will likely increase home prices,” he said. “Realtors are acutely aware of these needs in our community, and we will continue to advocate for smart solutions as we grow.”