by Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune March 26, 2026 Population growth in Texas is slowing amid a decline in immigration — but the state’s suburbs continue to boom and lead the nation in adding new residents. Texas’ population, now over 31 million, grew by 391,243 or 1.2% between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, census data released Thursday show. Much of the state’s growth in recent years has been in the suburbs outside Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Growth in the state’s most populous cities has started to slow, or in the case of Dallas County, decline. Lloyd Potter, the state demographer, said a 45% decline in residents from abroad is hindering the once-rapid growth in the state’s urban areas, especially as people continue to move to the suburbs. “A lot of urban areas grew rapidly after the pandemic due to international immigration and the flow of refugees at the U.S-Mexico border,” he said. “Now, under the current administration, it has slowed to a trickle, having an impact on the growth rate in these regions.” The slowing of international migration appeared to hit Laredo the hardest. That metro area along the border saw the steepest percentage point decline in populat
