Recent long-term demographic projections show that population growth in the 21st century will be highly uneven throughout the United States. While some of the largest metropolitan areas face stagnation or decline due to aging populations, outbound migration, and housing constraints, some urban areas are poised for sustained expansion, forecast to more than double in size.
Population growth is forecast to concentrate disproportionately in the Sun Belt and Mountain West. Of the 40 cities projected to see the largest increases in population through 2100, eight are in Texas, and six are in California. Some are already major cities, while others are fast-growing suburbs in major metropolitan areas. A closer look at the data reveals the cities forecast to gain the most residents over the next 75 years.
To determine the U.S. cities forecast to add the most residents through 2100, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed long-range population projections from the Global 1-km Downscaled Population Base Year and Projection Grids Based on the SSPs from the Depopulation 2100 project at the University of Illinois Chicago. Population forecasts are based on SSP2 in the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways system, a “middle-of-the-road” scenario in which historical demographic trends largely continue. Cities were ranked based on forecast raw population growth from 2020 to 2100. Supplemental data on income, housing, and economic sector concentration are from the U.S. Census Bureau.
40. Sacramento, CA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +268,308 residents (+50.8% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 527,919 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 796,228 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Public administration, utilities, arts, entertainment, and recreation, real estate and rental and leasing, transportation and warehousing
39. Oakland, CA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +271,704 residents (+61.3% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 443,175 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 714,879 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Information, professional, scientific, and technical services, other services, except public administration, arts, entertainment, and recreation, administrative and support and waste management services
38. Colorado Springs, CO
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +280,165 residents (+58.1% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 481,860 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 762,025 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Information, professional, scientific, and technical services, other services, except public administration, finance and insurance, real estate and rental and leasing
37. Madison, WI
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +282,090 residents (+103.9% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 271,573 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 553,663 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Educational services, professional, scientific, and technical services, information, management of companies and enterprises, finance and insurance
36. Denton, TX
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +283,957 residents (+201.6% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 140,864 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 424,821 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Educational services, accommodation and food services, real estate and rental and leasing, transportation and warehousing, retail trade
35. Omaha, NE
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +285,726 residents (+58.4% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 489,147 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 774,874 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Finance and insurance, administrative and support and waste management services, health care and social assistance, construction, professional, scientific, and technical services
34. Lubbock, TX
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +288,145 residents (+111.3% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 258,942 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 547,086 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, educational services, accommodation and food services, wholesale trade, retail trade
33. Boston, MA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +297,975 residents (+43.9% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 679,399 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 977,374 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, finance and insurance, educational services, health care and social assistance, information
32. Fargo, ND
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +302,048 residents (+238.0% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 126,918 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 428,966 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Wholesale trade, health care and social assistance, finance and insurance, management of companies and enterprises, accommodation and food services
31. Orlando, FL
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +306,456 residents (+99.1% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 309,374 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 615,830 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Arts, entertainment, and recreation, real estate and rental and leasing, accommodation and food services, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support and waste management services
30. Henderson, NV
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +311,153 residents (+97.3% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 319,732 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 630,885 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Arts, entertainment, and recreation, real estate and rental and leasing, accommodation and food services, management of companies and enterprises, transportation and warehousing
29. Portland, OR
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +320,901 residents (+48.9% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 656,027 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 976,927 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, information, arts, entertainment, and recreation, utilities, health care and social assistance
28. Atlanta, GA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +333,562 residents (+66.5% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 501,877 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 835,439 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, management of companies and enterprises, information, real estate and rental and leasing, transportation and warehousing
27. Frisco, TX
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +338,056 residents (+167.5% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 201,882 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 539,938 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Management of companies and enterprises, finance and insurance, professional, scientific, and technical services, information, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
26. Lincoln, NE
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +351,534 residents (+119.9% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 293,092 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 644,626 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Finance and insurance, educational services, public administration, retail trade, arts, entertainment, and recreation
25. New Orleans, LA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +351,621 residents (+91.0% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 386,366 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 737,987 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment, and recreation, educational services, management of companies and enterprises, real estate and rental and leasing
24. Nashville, TN
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +358,236 residents (+51.7% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 693,261 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,051,497 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Management of companies and enterprises, arts, entertainment, and recreation, information, real estate and rental and leasing, professional, scientific, and technical services
23. Seattle, WA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +361,246 residents (+48.8% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 740,859 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,102,105 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Information, professional, scientific, and technical services, management of companies and enterprises, real estate and rental and leasing, arts, entertainment, and recreation
22. Oklahoma City, OK
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +386,023 residents (+56.4% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 684,962 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,070,985 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, public administration, retail trade, accommodation and food services, other services, except public administration
21. Chicago, IL
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +387,654 residents (+14.0% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 2,762,336 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 3,149,990 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, finance and insurance, transportation and warehousing, real estate and rental and leasing, administrative and support and waste management services
20. Denver, CO
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +401,165 residents (+55.7% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 719,587 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,120,752 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, information, real estate and rental and leasing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, management of companies and enterprises
19. Philadelphia, PA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +405,055 residents (+25.1% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 1,613,041 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 2,018,096 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Health care and social assistance, public administration, educational services, transportation and warehousing, professional, scientific, and technical services
18. Raleigh, NC
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +411,851 residents (+87.5% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 470,498 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 882,350 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, information, finance and insurance, real estate and rental and leasing, arts, entertainment, and recreation
17. Jacksonville, FL
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +422,245 residents (+44.2% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 954,611 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,376,856 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Finance and insurance, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support and waste management services, accommodation and food services, retail trade
16. Indianapolis, IN
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +433,843 residents (+48.6% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 893,014 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,326,858 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, administrative and support and waste management services, wholesale trade, manufacturing, health care and social assistance
15. Columbus, OH
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +437,372 residents (+48.0% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 910,856 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,348,228 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Finance and insurance, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support and waste management services, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance
14. San Francisco, CA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +470,523 residents (+53.5% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 878,773 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,349,296 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Information, professional, scientific, and technical services, management of companies and enterprises, finance and insurance, real estate and rental and leasing
13. San Jose, CA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +570,112 residents (+55.9% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 1,019,185 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,589,297 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Information, professional, scientific, and technical services, management of companies and enterprises, manufacturing, administrative and support and waste management services
12. Charlotte, NC
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +577,770 residents (+65.7% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 879,684 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,457,453 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Finance and insurance, management of companies and enterprises, professional, scientific, and technical services, transportation and warehousing, real estate and rental and leasing
11. San Diego, CA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +608,007 residents (+43.6% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 1,394,816 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 2,002,823 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, management of companies and enterprises, arts, entertainment, and recreation, real estate and rental and leasing, information
10. Las Vegas, NV
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +614,266 residents (+95.1% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 646,158 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,260,425 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Arts, entertainment, and recreation, accommodation and food services, administrative and support and waste management services, real estate and rental and leasing, transportation and warehousing
9. Fort Worth, TX
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +633,232 residents (+68.5% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 924,461 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,557,693 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, construction, finance and insurance, management of companies and enterprises
8. Washington, DC
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +683,878 residents (+98.6% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 693,646 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,377,524 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Public administration, professional, scientific, and technical services, other services, except public administration, information, real estate and rental and leasing
7. San Antonio, TX
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +791,037 residents (+54.8% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 1,442,754 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 2,233,791 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Accommodation and food services, finance and insurance, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, construction, administrative and support and waste management services
6. Austin, TX
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +815,690 residents (+84.3% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 967,556 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 1,783,246 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Professional, scientific, and technical services, information, real estate and rental and leasing, public administration, arts, entertainment, and recreation
5. Phoenix, AZ
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +942,518 residents (+58.3% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 1,617,503 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 2,560,021 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Finance and insurance, administrative and support and waste management services, management of companies and enterprises, construction, real estate and rental and leasing
4. Los Angeles, CA
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +990,166 residents (+25.2% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 3,922,520 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 4,912,686 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Information, arts, entertainment, and recreation, real estate and rental and leasing, other services, except public administration, administrative and support and waste management services
3. Dallas, TX
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +1,340,025 residents (+102.1% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 1,312,702 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 2,652,726 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Management of companies and enterprises, real estate and rental and leasing, construction, finance and insurance, administrative and support and waste management services
2. Houston, TX
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +2,763,315 residents (+119.1% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 2,319,493 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 5,082,809 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, management of companies and enterprises, construction, administrative and support and waste management services, wholesale trade
1. New York, NY
- Forecast population growth, 2020-2100: +2,989,776 residents (+33.8% increase)
- Current population, 2020: 8,856,032 residents
- Forecast population, 2100: 11,845,808 residents
- Most concentrated economic sectors: Information, real estate and rental and leasing, finance and insurance, health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, and recreation
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