U.S. Population Growth Slows to 0.5% as Midsize Cities Outpace Larger Peers
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 14
U.S. Population Growth Slows to 0.5% as Midsize Cities Outpace Larger Peers
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 14
U.S. population rose by about 1.8 million to nearly 342 million in the year to July 1, 2025, while midsize cities largely held steady and grew faster than nearby large cities, Census Bureau estimates showed.
Fort Mill, South Carolina, led growth among midsize cities, up 6.8% to 38,673 residents, outpacing nearby Charlotte even as average growth in the biggest cities fell sharply.
The slowdown reflected weaker immigration under tighter border policies late in the Biden administration and more aggressive Trump-era enforcement, alongside record-low fertility rates.
Average growth rates in the largest cities fell by at least half from a year earlier, with the steepest drop-offs in the Northeast, underscoring how immigration cutbacks are hitting major urban centers first.
Midsize cities are booming. Can their infrastructure handle the explosive growth, or are they creating the next urban crisis?
With America's workforce shrinking, which industries face the biggest labor crisis and how can they adapt to survive?