Despite other areas seeing a decline in population, Florida is home to five of the nations’ fastest growing metropolitical statistical areas. A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau finds this is part of a growing trend of Americans flocking to the southern areas of the U.S. The southern part of the U.S. is home to 10 of the fastest growing metro areas between 2022 and 2023. 

In January 2023, VMAIL reported that the U.S. was seeing a surge in population despite falling birth rates globally. 

Areas in Florida that are seeing the largest population increases include, Wildwood-The Villages, recently named the nation's fastest growing metro area, saw its population rise by 5 percent to 151,565. It was followed by Lakeland Winter Haven, which saw growth of 4 percent and Ocala and Port St. Lucie, which had a population increase of more than 3 percent. 

Significant growth also occurred in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, which saw an increase in popularity of nearly 55,000, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater grew by more than 51,000. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area saw growth of more than 43,000 people.

Other areas in the U.S. experiencing significant growth include several regions in Texas. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington grew by more than 152,000, while Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands saw a population increase of more than 139,000. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos grew by more than 50,000 and San Antonio-New Braunfels grew by more than 48,000 people.

“Domestic migration patterns are changing, and the impact on counties is especially evident,” said Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Branch. 

“Areas which experienced high levels of domestic out-migration during the pandemic, such as in the Midwest and Northeast, are now seeing more counties with population growth. Meanwhile, county population growth is slowing down out Westin places like Arizona and Idaho.”

Sixty-two percent of counties, up from 60 percent in 2022, experienced positive net domestic migration in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Experts believe there are several factors contributing to the surge in growth in the southern U.S., including an increase in net domestic migration. In Texas, a natural increase and positive net migration drove population growth. 

In the Dallas-Fort Worth region, growth was driven by both domestic and international migration, along with more births than deaths.