Census shows population growth slowing in U.S. metro areas. Here's where the steepest declines are.

Key Points:

• U.S. metro population growth slowed nationwide in 2025, with border areas experiencing the steepest declines due to reduced immigration and hurricane-related outmigration, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• The average metro growth rate dropped from 1.1% in 2024 to 0.6% in 2025, reflecting the impact of immigration crackdowns during President Trump's second term and ongoing demographic shifts like aging and lower birth rates.
• Border metro areas such as Laredo, Yuma, and El Centro saw significant growth rate declines, primarily driven by decreased immigration after previous years' influxes, highlighting the central role of international migration in these regions.
• Hurricanes Helene and Milton in late 2024 caused substantial population losses in Gulf Coast counties, notably Pinellas County, Florida, which lost nearly 12,000 residents, and other affected areas in Florida and North Carolina also experienced outmigration.
• Despite overall slower growth, some metros like Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and several midsize Florida and South Carolina areas saw rising populations, driven by domestic migration to far suburbs and exurbs facilitated by remote work and housing affordability pressures.