Population boom

Dallas-Fort Worth population headed toward jaw-dropping milestone by 2028

The Metroplex's population in the next five years could balloon to nearly 8.5 million people.

Dallas drivers, prepare to share the roads with nearly a million more people. A new analysis predicts Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington's population could cross the 8 million threshold in the next five years, swelling to nearly 8.5 million total residents.

According to a new study by Site Selection Group, the Metroplex is tracking as the fifth fastest-growing large metro area in the country by 2028. DFW's 2023 population adds up to 7.8 million people, and the area has a projected population growth rate of 8.64 percent.

To be precise, the analysis forecasts DFW's population as 8,479,851 in 2028.

The new report comes on the heels of a recent survey predicting DFW could become the biggest metro area by the year 2100. Another recent report declared Dallas has usurped Austin as the No. 1 destination for California movers.

A continued population boom seems inevitable.

"Most population growth is occurring across the Sun Belt," the Site Selection Group report's author says. "Specific to the large metro areas, eight of the top 10 growth markets are located within the Sun Belt [such as] Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas."

The report was used to determine the American metro areas that will have the most "favorable long-term labor conditions." Each metro area was categorized into one of three groups based on overall population size: large (over 1 million people), mid-size (between 500,000 and 999,999 people), and small (between 250,000 and 499,999 people).

"Although population growth does not guarantee success with hiring and retaining employees, it does provide validation that labor conditions could be trending in a more favorable direction," the report says.

Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land landed at the top of the list for the predicted fastest growing large metro areas. Austin's population could climb to over 2.7 million residents with a 13.55 percent growth rate, and Houston could expand 9.62 percent to over 8 million people by 2028.

The top 10 fastest-growing large metro areas by 2028 are:

No. 1 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown
No. 2 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
No. 3 – Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee
No. 4 – Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
No. 5 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
No. 6 – Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
No. 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah
No. 8 – Charlotte-Concord-Castonia, North Carolina-South Carolina
No. 9 – Jacksonville, Florida
No. 10 – Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington

texas population growth reports dallas fort worth arlington

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Editor's note: The top Dallas news of the week includes the passing of a local restaurant legend and the reveal of the new Michelin Guide. Plus, future plans for Dallas' beloved Neiman Marcus bridal salon and restaurant. Read on for our most popular stories, then plan your weekend right here.

1. Restaurateur Mico Rodriguez, 'Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex,' dies at 68. Dallas restaurant legend Michael "Mico" Rodriguez, dubbed the "Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex," died on October 1; he was 68.

2. Get Tex-Mex and bargain margs at Alexander's Cantina in North Dallas. A Mexican restaurant with a killer happy hour has debuted in North Dallas. Alexander's Cantina & Cocina, a family-owned restaurant and bar, has opened at 4805 Frankford Rd. #105, a space most recently occupied by Casa Don Luis Tex-Mex.

Great Tex-Mex and Mex-Mex at Alexander's Cantina Cocina. Photo courtesy of Alexander's Cantina Cocina

3. 2 Dallas neighbors top list of safest cities for new homeowners. Roughly 15 miles separate two fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, McKinney and Frisco. Yet they share highly coveted territory in the safety department.

4. Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon and Zodiac Room live on at NorthPark Dallas. The Neiman Marcus flagship store in downtown Dallas closed its doors for good on September 30. But there's a ray of light for those mourning the loss: Some of the most most beloved "downtown Neiman's" traditions are getting a second life at NorthPark.

5. Michelin adds 5 Dallas restaurants to 2026 Texas guide. The Texas restaurant scene is once again in the international spotlight with the reveal of the 2026 Michelin Guide. Three new Texas restaurants were granted Michelin stars.