Texas is the second-largest state in the U.S., and it’s no surprise that it has some pretty big cities. The ten largest cities in Texas are all home to more than one million people. Most of Texas’s large cities are in the state’s eastern half, known as the Gulf Coast region.
These ten largest cities in Texas have a combined population of more than 13 million people, which is more than 1/7th of the entire U.S. population! There are seven major metropolitan areas located within these ten largest cities in Texas, and those metropolitan areas take up about 90% of the population of these large cities. The ten largest cities in Texas are Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, El Paso, Arlington, and Corpus Christi. These other major cities within the Gulf Coast region include Plano and Laredo.
Texas is one of the most popular states for people moving in, and these ten largest cities in Texas are attracting lots of new residents. Many of Texas’s large cities have some pretty diverse populations considering that most people associate Texas with its reputation for being mostly conservative. About 20% of the total population in these ten largest cities is not white, which is the largest proportion in the state. Keep on reading to know more about the largest cities in Texas.
The most diverse of these cities is Houston, which has one of the biggest populations in the U.S. Houston has the largest population in Texas. This city is located along the Gulf Coast region between Austin and Beaumont, and it’s just south of where the border between Texas and Louisiana meets the Gulf of Mexico.
Houston is known for being one of the leading industrial cities in the U.S. and having a large international population and a large Hispanic population. Houston is considered the most diverse city in the United States. After Hispanics and Latinos, the second-largest group living in Houston is African Americans.
Population Houston: 2,359,480
Population growth notes: Due to its abundance of entertainment options, numerous universities, and various cultural attractions, Houston has become one of the most popular cities in the United States. From 2011 to 2012, the city grew by over 34,000 people, which was “the second-highest numerical increase for a city in the country.”
Average Home Price: $287,500
2. San Antonio
San Antonio has the largest Hispanic and Latino community out of all ten of these cities, and it’s tied for being Texas’s second-oldest city. San Antonio is also known for being home to the Alamo, which was built by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century.
San Antonio is located along the Mexican border, just north of where the Rio Grande River meets San Antonio Bay. San Antonio has seen an increase in population over the last couple of years due to its low cost of living and comparatively affordable housing prices, which are pretty high in these other large cities in Texas.
Population of San Antonio: 1,565,929
Population growth notes: San Antonio’s expansion is attributed, in part, to an increase in the number of new residents from other nations and states, as well as to the city’s exceptionally high fertility rate.
Average Home Price: $247,000.
3. Dallas
Dallas is actually located in a separate metropolitan area from the other nine largest cities in Texas, but they are all pretty close together. Dallas has a large Hispanic and Latino population as well as African Americans, who make up about 30% of the total population as of 2016. The tenth-largest city in America is also one of the most popular places in the state for internet startups and technology companies, which is a major reason why Dallas has one of the highest per capita incomes in Texas at almost $74 thousand.
Population of Dallas: 1,379,735
Population growth notes: The Dallas-Fort Worth region is one of the most rapidly developing metros in the United States. In the last 30 years, the population in the area has increased by more than twofold.
Austin is known as the land of live music and hippies, which is why this city was voted as one of the best places to live by U.S. News and World Report in 2016. Austin has a large technology industry presence and about half a million college students who attend the University of Texas at Austin every year, one of America’s largest universities.
Population of Austin:1,001,104
Population growth notes: According to the World Population Review, Austin is currently the fastest-growing city in the United States. Since 2010, the city’s “average annual growth rate has been 2.05%, significantly higher than the national average of 0.61%.”
Average Home Price: $434,400.
5. Fort Worth
Much like Dallas, Fort Worth is located in its own metropolitan area separate from all of these other cities. However, this city is considered to be a suburb of Dallas, and it’s located within the DFW metroplex. Fort Worth is a pretty modern city with a few notable pieces of architecture, including a big museum district called the Cultural District, which houses some famous art galleries and other cultural centers.
This city is known for being home to the Stockyards National Historic District, which was established in the late 19th century. This district features many different attractions like several museums and restaurants that are surrounded by cattle yards and other historical buildings.
This city has one of the biggest seaports in America, which means that this coastal city is responsible for moving a lot of goods coming to and from Texas. This port is responsible for bringing in about 20 percent of all the crude oil that’s used in America.
Population of Fort Worth: 913,939
Population growth notes: The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis is one of the fastest developing in the United States, with no indications that it will cease to grow any time soon.
People sometimes mistake El Paso as being a part of Mexico because it’s located along the Rio Grande, but it actually belongs to Texas and is considered one of its largest cities. This city is located about an hour away from the Mexican border, and it’s pretty close to another large city in Texas called Las Cruces.
Population of El Paso: 696,610
Population growth notes: According to The World Population Review, a substantial portion of El Paso’s population increase is due to people moving from outside cities into the city’s huge urban core.
Located between Dallas and Fort Worth is the city of Arlington, which is considered to be a suburb of both cities. This city has one of the most famous athletic venues in the entire state due to its world-renowned Cowboys Stadium. This venue is one of the biggest places for sporting events in all of Texas, and it is even big enough to hold more than 100 thousand people every time there’s a game or another kind of major event going on with these teams.
Population of Arlington: 401,047
Population growth notes: According to World Population Review, the population of Arlington is expected to rise by 7.5 percent in the next decade and “is on track to reach nearly 400,000 people.”
Average Home Price: $297,000.
8. Corpus Christi
This is the largest city in the Gulf Coast region, and it’s located just south of where Padre Island ends. Corpus Christi has one of the biggest seaports in America, which means that this coastal city is responsible for moving a lot of goods coming to and from Texas. This port is responsible for bringing in about 20 percent of all the crude oil that’s used in the United States.
Population of Corpus Christi: 329,423
Population growth notes: According to World Population Review. However, surrounding cities in South Texas have seen a rise in people due to gas and oil drilling, Corpus Christi has stayed untouched.
Average Home Price: $220,000
9. Plano
Plano is one of the wealthiest cities in Texas, and it’s located just outside of where Dallas ends. This city is known for its high-quality schools funded not only by taxes but also by other businesses that want to contribute to this public education system through fundraisers. Plano has a strong professional presence as well, but it’s more known for its proximity to ranches and farms, which is why it was voted the best place to raise a family in America by “Forbes” magazine.
Population of Plano: 294,478
Population growth notes: According to the World Population Review, Plano’s population increased by “nearly 10%” between the 2010 and 2016 census estimates, which means it is currently experiencing the largest population increase out of all other cities in Texas.
Average Home Price: $375,000
10. Laredo
Compared to all of the other large cities in Texas, Laredo is one of the least known and most underrated. This city has historically been a major stopping point for those traveling between America and Mexico, but its significance has waned because it’s so close to another much larger city called El Paso. Even with its reduced significance, Laredo is still considered the largest city in Texas, located along the U.S. border.
Population of Laredo:264,473
Population growth notes: Even though Laredo’s population is growing slower than in years past, the city continues to experience significant development, according to World Population Review.
As you can see, Texas is home to some of the largest cities in America. Each of these cities has its unique history and culture, making it a great place to live, work, or visit. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to check out some of these amazing places for yourself!
The state capital is Austin, which has a population of 990,714. Texas’s largest city is Houston, with 2.32 million residents. San Antonio is the U.S.’s 7th biggest city, with 1.55 million people.
What is the most populated city in Texas? Houston is both the largest and most populous city in Texas, with 2.1 million residents. Other large cities include San Antonio (1.4 m), Dallas (1.3 m), Austin (912,791), Fort Worth (820,000), El Paso (650,495).
Alex Sherr is the founder of My Long Distance Movers, a blog that provides moving information and resources for people who are relocating. He has more than two decades of experience in the moving and relocation industry, and he is passionate about helping people relocate smoothly and efficiently. When he's not writing or blogging, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.
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