Texas is one of the U.S. states where most people stay and don’t move away

Texas leads the nation in population retention

Texas is a place where people love to plant roots and stay for many years. As of January 22, 2026, the state ranks second in population among the states. It currently has a massive population of 31 million residents living within its borders.

Between the years 2020 and 2024, the state grew by an impressive 2.1 million people. This growth shows that Texas is a top choice for families. Most people born in Texas choose to stay there because they enjoy the opportunities.

Strong domestic migration fuels the Texas boom

The state remains a magnet for people moving from other parts of the United States. On January 6, 2026, a significant report on moving revealed that Texas is the No. 1 growth state for the seventh time in 10 years.

This ranking is based on the number of one-way moving trucks entering the state. Many of these new residents are moving from California and New York to find better jobs.

Because they find cheaper homes, these new Texans often decide to never leave the state again.

Texas attracts the highest net domestic migration

Recent migration trends show that more people are choosing Texas over other popular states. In 2024, the state saw a net domestic migration increase of 85,267 people.

This number was significantly higher than the 64,017 people who moved to Florida during the same period. Even though the pace has slowed from the 222,000 net movers seen in 2022, Texas still leads the country.

This flow of new residents helps the economy grow. Most of these newcomers find that Texas offers a high quality of life for their families.

International migration adds to the diverse population

Transitioning to late 2025, the state’s growth was also driven by many people moving from other countries. By the end of 2024, a report showed that Texas had 5.8 million foreign-born residents.

These individuals currently account for 18.4 percent of the state’s total population. Many of these new residents are finding work in high-tech industries, such as computer chip manufacturing.

This helps them build long-term lives in the state. International migration is a key reason the population remains young, even as other countries age.

Cities cross major population thresholds

The urban centers in Texas are reaching new milestones as people settle permanently in the state. Between July 2023 and July 2024, Fort Worth became the next Texas city to cross the 1 million population threshold.

During that same one-year period, Houston saw the state’s most significant numeric gain, adding 43,217 residents. These growing cities provide the jobs and services that keep people from moving away.

As these cities expand, they offer more cultural and economic benefits to everyone who calls the Lone Star State their home.

Suburban growth outpaces the state average

While big cities are popular, the fastest growth is occurring in suburban towns near the major metros. Princeton, Texas, was the fastest-growing city in the nation in 2024 with a 30.6 percent growth rate.

This small Dallas suburb has more than doubled in size since 2020, growing from 17,000 to 37,000 residents. These areas offer families more space and newer schools while remaining close to big-city jobs.

This trend of suburban expansion is a primary reason why families decide to stay in Texas for many years.

Housing stock expands to accommodate new residents

To help more people stay in the state, Texas is building homes faster than almost anywhere else. In 2024, the state’s total housing stock reached 12.6 million units.

This makes Texas the state with the second-largest number of houses in the entire country, behind only California. Even with so many new homes, the demand remains high because so many people are moving in and staying.

Builders are focused on creating new neighborhoods in the suburbs to meet the needs of growing families who want to plant roots in the state.

Birth rates contribute to the internal growth

Natural growth within the state also helps keep the population high and healthy. In late 2025, data showed that a new baby is born in the state every 90 seconds. This means that about 1,000 babies are born across the state every single day.

Having so many young families ensures a new generation of residents to keep the state strong. These children will grow up in Texas schools and eventually join the local workforce. This cycle of life helps the state maintain its very unique culture.

Migration patterns shift toward international sources

Migration has become the most critical part of the state’s growth as other factors change. Between July 2023 and July 2024, Texas added 319,569 new residents from international migration.

This was a significant increase and represented the highest number of international arrivals since the pandemic. While domestic migration from other states has slowed down slightly, the total number of people moving in still remains very high.

This shift shows that Texas is a global destination. People from all over the world are choosing the state as their new permanent home for work and family.

Texas leads in supplying residents to other states

Even though it has the most growth, Texas’s large size also sends many people to other states. In 2026, data revealed that Texas was the top source of new residents for nine other states.

This list includes neighboring states like New Mexico and Oklahoma, as well as California. Because Texas has 31 million people, it is natural for many to move out even as more move in.

This constant exchange of people keeps the state connected to the rest of the country while it continues to expand.

Future projections show a massive population increase

The state is making big plans because the population is expected to keep going up for many decades. Researchers at the Texas Demographic Center project that the state’s population will reach 42.6 million by 2060.

This would be a massive increase of over 11 million residents from the current levels seen in 2026. Most of these new residents are expected to live in the “Texas Triangle” between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

Planning for this growth helps the state build the infrastructure needed to keep everyone safe.

Aging trends will change the state demographics

As the state grows, its residents’ ages are also changing as the “baby boomer” generation ages. Between 2023 and 2050, the number of Texans aged 65 and older is expected to increase by 88 percent.

During that same period, the group aged 45 to 64 will grow by 57 percent. These changes mean that the state will need to provide more healthcare and senior services in the future.

Even though the state is getting older, the steady move of young adults to Texas helps keep it younger than most other states.

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Diversity remains a hallmark of Texas growth

The demographic makeup of Texas continues to shift as the state enters the mid-2020s. Hispanics are now the largest ethnic group in the state and accounted for nearly 50 percent of the growth between 2010 and 2020.

By 2050, Hispanics are projected to be the largest group in every age category. This diversity is a significant part of the state’s economic and cultural strength.

As more people from different backgrounds move to and stay in Texas, the state becomes a more vibrant and enjoyable place to call home.

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What do you think keeps so many people staying in Texas? Share your thoughts below.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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