Fort Worth now 10th largest city in U.S.

Fort Worth now 10th largest city in U.S.

Published on May 14, 2026

Fort Worth's population grew to 1,028,117, propelling Cowtown among the 10 largest cities in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest data.

Fort Worth surpassed the population of previously 10th-ranked Jacksonville, Florida, by more than 10,000 people. Following Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, Fort Worth remains the fourth-largest city in Texas. The population of Fort Worth trails No. 9 Dallas by 300,000 people.

"Fort Worth is booming for the right reasons," said Mayor Mattie Parker. "As we celebrate our top 10 ranking, it's more important than ever that we continue to lead with smart policies, smart investments and smart planning to ensure the city we love thrives long into the future."

The Vintage 2025 population estimates released this week date to July 2025.

More data points

• Fort Worth had the second-largest numeric population increase between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025: 19,512 new residents. Charlotte, North Carolina, had the largest numeric increase.
• Fort Worth is somewhat of an anomaly among the nation's largest cities. "Big-city growth slowed significantly between 2024 and 2025, with some major hubs even seeing small declines," said Matt Erickson, a statistician in the Census Bureau's Population Division. Growth slowdowns in the nation's largest cities were most pronounced in the Northeast.
• The top five fastest-growing cities in the nation with populations of 20,000 or more were all in Texas, with four of them clustered in the suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area and the fifth located outside Houston. Celina, north of Dallas, was the fastest-growing city in the nation, surging by a notable 24.6%.

"Substantial growth like we're seeing in Fort Worth doesn't just happen," Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa said. "The City of Fort Worth is extremely fortunate because over several decades we have been led by public servants who prioritize fiscal discipline, continuous improvement of our City services, and a focus on delivering a high quality of life for our residents. Being among the top 10 largest cities is an important reminder to all of us that our work matters, and we have a responsibility to continue stewarding this phenomenal growth into the future."

15 largest cities stay the same

The 15 largest cities in 2025 remained the same as in 2024, with a couple of rank changes. New York City remained the nation's largest city, with over 8.5 million people, followed by Los Angeles, which reached 3.8 million people.

Other most populous cities in 2025:

3. Chicago (2.7 million)

4. Houston (2.3 million)

5. Phoenix (1.6 million)

6. Philadelphia (1.5 million)

7. San Antonio (1.5 million)

8. San Diego (1.4 million)

9. Dallas (1.3 million)

10. Fort Worth (1 million)

11. Jacksonville (1 million)

12. Austin (1 million)

13. San Jose (989,000)

14. Charlotte (964,000)

15. Columbus (935,000)

What's next?

Population growth influences key decisions about how the City plans, budgets and delivers services. By analyzing population data, the Fort Worth Lab and the Planning Office will collaborate to help City leaders understand where and how growth is occurring, and where additional resources or policies may be needed to maintain a high quality of life for all residents.

"Our Top 10 ranking reflects not just growth, but increased complexity." said Christianne Simmons, Fort Worth's chief transformation officer. "As Fort Worth becomes a bigger city, the questions get tougher - questions about infrastructure, public services and how to make limited dollars go further. FWLab is here to help the City navigate those challenges with data-driven tools and strategic, future-forward planning."

What's behind the growth?

The growth in Fort Worth and across Texas can be attributed to various factors, including a strong economy, a comparatively low cost of living and a favorable business climate. Fort Worth's population growth, economic expansion and changing demographics highlight the city's ongoing appeal as a place to live and work, as well as the larger trend of Texas' rapid population growth.

Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau produces and publishes estimates of the population for the nation, states, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, counties, state/county equivalents and Puerto Rico. The population estimate starts with a population base (the last decennial census or the previous point in time series), adds births, subtracts deaths and adds net migration (both international and domestic).

Learn more about Fort Worth population and demographics.

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