According to new population projections, 20 counties will gain over 1.2 million new residents each by 2100.
Growth is centering around the urban and suburban cores of large metro areas.
The county with the greatest projected growth will add a net 6 million new residents by 2100.
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While declining fertility rates and an aging population will cause population growth in the United States to slow over the course of the 21st century, a small subset of the country is expected to experience rapid expansion through 2100. Over the next 75 years, trends in mobility and shifts in domestic migration patterns will significantly alter the distribution of population throughout the United States.
Researchers from NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center recently released county-level population forecasts through the year 2100. Projections are based on an SSP2 “middle-of-the-road” scenario of population growth, a widely used demographic pathway that assumes the continuation of existing global and national development trends.
NASA’s forecasts show an overwhelming shift in population to a few key regions in the Sun Belt and Mountain West. There are several counties in Texas, Florida, California, and Arizona forecast to add more than one million residents each by 2100. In some fast-growing metro areas, population counts are expected to more than double. Many of the fastest-growing counties are already economic engines, drawing in new residents with booming real estate markets, robust job growth, and relatively affordable living costs. A closer look at the data reveals the U.S. counties projected to experience the greatest population surges over the next 75 years.
To identify the counties expected to have the largest population increases over the next 75 years, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed data from NASA’s SEDAC U.S. County-Level Population Projections. Counties were ranked based on projected population growth from 2025 to 2100. Population projections are based on SSP2 in the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways system, a “middle-of-the-road” scenario in which historical demographic trends largely continue. Supplemental data on median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey. Economic sector data is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and reflects each county’s largest industry by GDP share.
40. Osceola County, FL
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +822,036 residents
Projected population, 2100: 1,269,660 residents
Current population, 2025: 447,624 residents
Median household income: $68,711
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (27.1% of GDP)
Largest cities: Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Four Corners, Buenaventura Lakes, Celebration, Campbell, Yeehaw Junction
39. Suffolk County, MA
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +833,042 residents
Projected population, 2100: 1,748,505 residents
Current population, 2025: 915,464 residents
Median household income: $92,859
Largest industry: Professional, scientific, and technical services (19.8% of GDP)
Largest cities: Boston, Revere, Chelsea, Winthrop Town
38. Orleans Parish, LA
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +842,584 residents
Projected population, 2100: 1,355,609 residents
Current population, 2025: 513,025 residents
Median household income: $55,339
Largest industry: Government and government enterprises (14.8% of GDP)
Largest cities: New Orleans
37. Lee County, FL
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +854,902 residents
Projected population, 2100: 1,726,848 residents
Current population, 2025: 871,946 residents
Median household income: $73,099
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (26.7% of GDP)
Largest cities: Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, North Fort Myers, Estero, San Carlos Park
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +1,740,160 residents
Projected population, 2100: 4,866,598 residents
Current population, 2025: 3,126,439 residents
Median household income: $68,694
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (17.4% of GDP)
Largest cities: Miami, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Miami Beach, Homestead, Kendall, Doral
13. Collin County, TX
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +1,741,974 residents
Projected population, 2100: 2,952,048 residents
Current population, 2025: 1,210,074 residents
Median household income: $117,588
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (14.9% of GDP)
Largest cities: Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Wylie, Prosper, Celina
12. Broward County, FL
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +1,763,952 residents
Projected population, 2100: 3,970,984 residents
Current population, 2025: 2,207,033 residents
Median household income: $74,534
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (19.9% of GDP)
Largest cities: Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Davie
11. Mecklenburg County, NC
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +1,801,015 residents
Projected population, 2100: 3,106,755 residents
Current population, 2025: 1,305,740 residents
Median household income: $83,765
Largest industry: Finance and insurance (23.3% of GDP)
Largest cities: Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, Matthews, Mint Hill, Davidson, Pineville
10. Fort Bend County, TX
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +1,926,002 residents
Projected population, 2100: 2,930,528 residents
Current population, 2025: 1,004,526 residents
Median household income: $113,409
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (20.7% of GDP)
Largest cities: Sugar Land, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Mission Bend, Fresno, Pecan Grove, Fulshear
9. Orange County, FL
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +1,989,556 residents
Projected population, 2100: 3,607,781 residents
Current population, 2025: 1,618,226 residents
Median household income: $77,011
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (16.2% of GDP)
Largest cities: Orlando, Alafaya, Pine Hills, Horizon West, Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden
8. Clark County, NV
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +2,092,815 residents
Projected population, 2100: 4,596,916 residents
Current population, 2025: 2,504,101 residents
Median household income: $73,845
Largest industry: Accommodation and food services (15.3% of GDP)
Largest cities: Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Enterprise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Paradise
7. Travis County, TX
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +2,256,735 residents
Projected population, 2100: 3,801,868 residents
Current population, 2025: 1,545,133 residents
Median household income: $97,169
Largest industry: Professional, scientific, and technical services (15.9% of GDP)
Largest cities: Austin, Pflugerville, Lakeway, Manor, Wells Branch, Hornsby Bend, Lago Vista
6. Tarrant County, TX
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +2,361,110 residents
Projected population, 2100: 4,741,527 residents
Current population, 2025: 2,380,417 residents
Median household income: $81,905
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (13.9% of GDP)
Largest cities: Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, North Richland Hills, Euless, Grapevine, Bedford
5. Dallas County, TX
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +2,528,885 residents
Projected population, 2100: 5,508,725 residents
Current population, 2025: 2,979,839 residents
Median household income: $74,149
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (13.4% of GDP)
Largest cities: Dallas, Irving, Garland, Grand Prairie, Mesquite, Carrollton, Richardson
4. King County, WA
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +2,831,245 residents
Projected population, 2100: 5,407,730 residents
Current population, 2025: 2,576,485 residents
Median household income: $122,148
Largest industry: Information (26.7% of GDP)
Largest cities: Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Kirkland, Auburn
3. Bexar County, TX
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +3,196,391 residents
Projected population, 2100: 5,533,242 residents
Current population, 2025: 2,336,851 residents
Median household income: $70,571
Largest industry: Government and government enterprises (16.3% of GDP)
Largest cities: San Antonio, Schertz, Timberwood Park, Converse, Universal City, Live Oak, Leon Valley
2. Maricopa County, AZ
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +4,268,236 residents
Projected population, 2100: 9,247,439 residents
Current population, 2025: 4,979,203 residents
Median household income: $85,518
Largest industry: Real estate and rental and leasing (17.0% of GDP)
Largest cities: Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, Peoria
1. Harris County, TX
Projected population decline, 2025-2100: +6,538,465 residents
Projected population, 2100: 12,109,958 residents
Current population, 2025: 5,571,493 residents
Median household income: $73,104
Largest industry: Manufacturing (13.5% of GDP)
Largest cities: Houston, Pasadena, Atascocita, Baytown, Spring, Channelview, La Porte
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