Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Austin metro area from 1950 to 2025.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Austin population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of Austin across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of Austin was 979,882, a 0.46% increase year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, Austin population was 975,418, an increase of 0.60% compared to a population of 969,608 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Austin increased by 304,512. In this period, the peak population was 979,882 in the year 2023. The numbers suggest that the population has not reached its peak yet and is showing a trend of further growth. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Austin is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Austin population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Austin Population by Year. You can refer the same here

These are the data for displayed in the Demographic Profiles displayed on austintexas.gov/demographics. These profiles were published in 2024, but display data from 2022 and 2023. Most data are from the 2022 American Community Survey (the most recent available at the time of publication), but some data have other sources. All data come from the American Community Survey estimates except for: Total Population - City of Austin Planning Department (2023) Population Low-Moderate Income - Dept. of Housing and Urban Development LMISD Summary Data (2022) Occupied Housing Units - City of Austin Planning Department (2023) Median Home Closing Price - Austin Board of Realtors (2023) Average Monthly Rent - Austin Investor Interests (Q4 2023) Income Restricted Units - City of Austin Affordable Housing Inventory Housing Units-City of Austin Planning Department (2023) Population Density - Esri Updated Demographics Daytime Population Density - Esri Updated Demographics Selected Land Use Percentages - City of Austin Land Use Inventory Transit Stops - Capital Metro (2023) City, County, and MSA data are 1-Year ACS estimates. Council Districts are 5-year ACS estimates. More information and links to these alternate sources, when available, can be found at austintexas.gov/demographics. These profiles are updated annually. City of Austin Open Data Terms of Use – https://data.austintexas.gov/stories/s/ranj-cccq

These are the data for the Demographic Profiles displayed on austintexas.gov/demographics. These profiles were published in 2025, but display data from 2023 and 2024. Most data are from the 2023 American Community Survey (the most recent available at the time of publication), but some data have other sources. All data come from the American Community Survey estimates except for: Total Population - City of Austin Planning Department (2023) (City and Council Districts only) Population Low-Moderate Income - Dept. of Housing and Urban Development LMISD Summary Data (5 year 2016-2020) Occupied Housing Units - City of Austin Planning Department (2023) (City and Council Districts only) Median Home Closing Price - Austin Board of Realtors (2024) Average Monthly Rent - ApartmentTrends.com by Austin Investor Interests (Q4 2024) Income Restricted Units - City of Austin Affordable Housing Inventory (March 2025) Housing Units - City of Austin Planning Department (2023)(City only) Population Density - Esri Updated Demographics (2024) (County, MSA, Council Districts) Daytime Population Density - Esri Updated Demographics (2024) (County, MSA, Council Districts) Population Density - Calculation derived from 2023 Population Estimates, City of Austin Demographics & Data Division (City only) Daytime Population Density - 2023 Population Estimates, City of Austin Demographics & Data Division (City only) Selected Land Use Percentages - City of Austin Land Use Inventory (2024) Transit Stops - Capital Metro (January 2025) City, County, and MSA data are 1-Year ACS estimates. Council Districts are 5-year ACS estimates. Some datapoints may not be available for all geographies. More information and links to these alternate sources, when available, can be found at austintexas.gov/demographics. These profiles are updated annually. City of Austin Open Data Terms of Use – https://data.austintexas.gov/stories/s/ranj-cccq

The City of Austin’s “DTI 2060 Population and Employment Forecast” is a long-range, small-area population and employment forecast produced by the Demographics and Data Division in the Planning Department in conjunction with representatives from multiple City departments making up the DTI Work Group. DTI stands for Delphi, Trends, and Imagine Austin, and the "DTI 2060 Population and Employment Forecast” is an update to the "Population Projections 2040". The DTI work group produced population and employment forecasts within each polygon in the study area for the year 2025 and the decades from 2030 to 2060, using the year 2020 as the baseline and half of 2010’s migration trends. Potential population and employment growth were forecast within Imagine Austin activity centers and along mixed-use corridors using City staff knowledge of the trends within current development patterns and practices. The DTI 2060 forecast incorporates urban-centric future growth and development and accounts for widely-dispersed, low-density suburban development.

This data set contains EIIHA populations who received services funded by Ryan White Part A Grant. EIIHA is Early Identification of Individuals with HIV/AIDS (EIIHA) The special populations (EIIHA) with HIV are: Black MSM = Black men and Black transgender women who have sex with men. Latinx MSM = Latinx men and Latinx Transgender women who have sex with men. Black Women - Black women Transgender - Transgender men and women. These populations have the biggest disparities of people living with HIV. Other data is the number of clients and units used in each service category in the Ryan White Part A, a grant that provides services for those with HIV.

To determine displacement risk, researchers at the University of Texas conducted a three-part analysis: the presence of vulnerable populations, residential market appreciation, and demographic change. To determine vulnerable populations, the authors used indicators to identify residents who, according to academic research, are least able to absorb housing costs, which includes: communities of color, low-income households, heads of households without a bachelor's degree or higher, families with children in poverty, and renters. In 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024 the City of Austin Housing and Planning staff updated the data and simplified the categories below. Vulnerable: Vulnerable populations present, no significant demographic change, some tracts are near or contain high-value and high-appreciation areas. Active Displacement Risk: Vulnerable populations present, active demographic change, accelerating or appreciating housing market. Chronic Displacement Risk: Vulnerable populations have been displaced, demographic change has occurred and the housing market is high value and appreciated or appreciating. Historic Displacement: Tracts previously identified as at-risk to displacement in earlier Uprooted models (2016, 2019)

This dataset includes the Fiscal Year actuals for PARD's eCOMBS measure #3033 - Number of City park acres per 1,000 population.

"Number of city park acres per 1,000 population" is a crucial metric that quantifies the availability of green spaces relative to the size of our community. Prioritizing this metric shows PARD's commitment to providing residents with access to recreational areas, promoting physical and mental well-being, and enhancing the overall quality of life.

For more information, visit the associated story page: https://datahub.austintexas.gov/stories/s/xib2-kf6u

A new component of fair housing studies is an analysis of the opportunities residents are afforded in “racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty,” also called RCAPs or ECAPs. An RCAP or ECAP is a neighborhood with significant concentrations of extreme poverty and minority populations. HUD’s definition of an RCAP/ECAP is: • A Census tract that has a non‐white population of 50 percent or more AND a poverty rate of 40 percent or more; OR • A Census tract that has a non‐white population of 50 percent or more AND the poverty rate is three times the average tract poverty rate for the metro/micro area, whichever is lower.

Why the 40 percent threshold? The RCAP/ECAP definition is not meant to suggest that a slightly‐lower‐than‐40 percent poverty rate is ideal or acceptable. The threshold was borne out of research that concluded a 40 percent poverty rate was the point at which a neighborhood became significantly socially and economically challenged. Conversely, research has shown that areas with up to 14 percent of poverty have no noticeable effect on community opportunity. (See Section II in City of Austin’s 2015 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice: http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/NHCD/Reports_Publications/1Analysis_Impediments_for_web.pdf)

This dataset provides socioeconomic data on protected classes from the 2008-2012 American Community Survey on census tracts in Austin’s city limits and designates which of those tracts are considered RCAPs or ECAPs based on these socioeconomic characteristics. A map of the census tracts designated as RCAPs or ECAPs is attached to this dataset and downloadable as a pdf (see below).

A census tract is a geographic area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purpose of collecting and analyzing demographic data. Typically, a census tract contains a population of about 1,200 to 8,000 people and is designed to reflect homogenous social and economic characteristics. Tracts are used in various statistical analyses and are updated every ten years with the decennial census, allowing for a detailed understanding of population trends, housing, and economic conditions within specific communities.

These files do not include demographic data, but they contain geographic entity codes that can be linked to the Census Bureau’s demographic data, available on https://data.census.gov.

Terms of Use This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries. This product has been produced by the US Census for the sole purpose of geographic reference. No warranty is made by the City of Austin regarding specific accuracy or completeness.

This database includes data used in the Project Connect Anti-Displacement Dashboard. The file includes 2020 decennial population and housing unit counts at the Block level, combined with 2020 ACS data at the Census Tract level that was used in the 2020 Displacement Risk map. To determine displacement risk, researchers at the University of Texas conducted a three-part analysis: the presence of vulnerable populations, residential market appreciation, and demographic change. To determine vulnerable populations, the authors used indicators to identify residents who, according to academic research, are least able to absorb housing costs, which includes: communities of color, low-income households, heads of households without a bachelor's degree or higher, families with children in poverty, and renters. In 2020, the City of Austin Housing and Planning staff updated the data and simplified the categories. The data sources include the 2020 Census, 2016-2020 ACS 5-year Estimates, and City of Austin Affordable Housing Inventory. This file also includes the total income restricted units from the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Directory (CAHD) and City of Austin Affordable Housing Inventory (AHI) as of 8.22.2022.