What We're Showing
This graphic shows population growth across major North American cities from 2005 to 2024, with percentage increases shown on the map and absolute increases in the bar chart below.
The data, sourced from the U.S. Census, StatCan, and the St. Louis Fed via Hanif Bayat shows how urban growth patterns have varied across regions.
Key Takeaways
- Charlotte experienced the fastest growth at 93%, rising from 1.5 to 2.9 million residents—the highest percentage gain among major Canadian and U.S. cities.
- Houston and Dallas led in absolute growth, each adding over 2.5 million people, while Detroit was the only city to decline at -2% as it lost 100K people.
- Western and southern metros like Phoenix (+33%) and Orlando (+53%) outpaced northern counterparts such as New York (+6%) and Chicago (0%), underscoring a southward population shift.
