Fort Worth ranked 10th largest city in U.S. with 1.03M population, Census finds

Census Bureau data also shows continued rapid growth across North Texas communities.

Fort Worth is now the 10th largest city in the United States, according to new population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.

“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.”

Cowtown’s population has grown to more than 1 million residents. Fort Worth now trails Dallas, ranked ninth on the list, by about 300,000 people. This ranking made the city the fourth Texas city to join the top 10, trailing behind Houston and San Antonio as well. Fort Worth surpassed the population of previously 10th-ranked Jacksonville, Florida, by more than 10,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Census Bureau data also shows continued rapid growth across North Texas communities. Celina, north of Dallas, remains the fastest-growing city in the country. Princeton, Melissa and Anna also ranked among the top five fastest-growing cities nationwide.

Fort Worth is considered somewhat of an anomaly in that category, as other big cities saw their growth slowed significantly between 2024 and 2025, with some major hubs even seeing small declines, according to Matt Erickson, a statistician in the Census Bureau’s Population Division.

“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.

“This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.”