Dallas — Census numbers confirm that DFW is booming, but that’s not all when it comes to Dallas.
Despite being the second most populous county in the state, experts say the census highlights trends that should concern city and county leaders.
This is not a story of two cities, but many cities. Dallas isn’t responsible for North Texas’ population boom, and recent census data show that the state actually experienced a population decline, dropping by just under 5,000 residents from 2020 to 2023. Callum Clark, director of the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, said he was not surprised.
“A big theme in North Texas, and in metropolitan areas across the country, is fast-growing suburban areas and relatively slow, or in some cases shrinking, growth in core cities,” Clark said. .
There’s a similar story in Dallas County. More than 34,000 residents relocated last year, making it the eighth-worst county in the nation for net internal displacement.
So where do they go? Three of the top 10 fastest growing counties in the United States are in North Texas: Kaufman County (#1), Rockwall County (#2), and Ellis County (#8).
“I think people want to live in the city of Friday Night Lights,” said Dallas Coslam, president of Master Plans. “It’s quality of life, and people are voting with their wallets, and now in Dallas they’re deciding they don’t like what they’re seeing and making a different choice.”
While some factors, such as the cost of living and lack of affordable housing, are challenges for all major cities, he believes the city needs to continue to focus on money spent well, such as on parks and schools. I am.
“I think the city of Dallas needs to treat its citizens like customers, because they actually are customers. I don’t think that’s happening right now,” Kaslam said.
Clark believes remote working remains a factor in the transition as well. And these trends are still early enough to be reversed, he says.
“The story hasn’t been written yet,” Clark said. “Dallas simply cannot afford to take steps that double down on what has made it a great place to live for decades.”