Reports

Migration from outside of Texas drives population growth in the state's major metropolitan areas, with immigration accounting for approximately 12% of external in-migration. Immigrants tend to settle in the most populous county of each metropolitan area. The concentration of immigrants in urban cores has increased over time, and their diversity has grown, with Asian immigrants outnumbering Mexican immigrants in Texas. This population redistribution within metropolitan areas has the potential to reshape political and cultural boundaries.

External migration significantly contributes to the growth of Texas' metropolitan areas, with a substantial number of net migrants coming from domestic migration and immigration. Non-metro areas also experience growth from external migration, but to a lesser extent. Overall, migration rates in metro areas are higher than in non-metro areas, resulting in greater urban growth. These trends highlight the population divide between urban and rural Texas, where external migration fuels urbanization and amplifies demographic differences between the two areas.

Texas has experienced significant population growth, particularly between 1980 and 2010. Recent growth remains strong, with the state adding 433,000 people between 2015 and 2016. However, the growth is uneven, favoring urban areas over rural ones. Migration is a key factor in urban growth, transforming the state's largest metropolitan areas. Smaller urban areas are declining, and many rural areas have low or negative growth rates, potentially limiting access to essential services.

Texas experiences concentrated population growth in its metropolitan areas. The state's population has gradually shifted from non-metropolitan to metropolitan counties, resulting in 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio have been the main drivers of urban growth. Future projections indicate that 95% of Texas' growth will occur in metropolitan counties. However, sustaining this growth poses challenges that require strategies to balance increased population densities and mitigate negative urban impacts.

This brief explores migration in Texas counties, emphasizing the differences between large and small population counties, as well as the unique migration patterns of the Border Counties. Larger counties experience higher mobility rates, significant migration volumes, and stronger connectivity, primarily from outside Texas. Smaller counties often face out-migration to other Texas counties with lower rates of domestic and international migration. Border Counties exhibit low internal and domestic migration but high immigration rates, leading to rapid population growth.