Chicago is now one of the Top 10 fastest-growing metro areas in the country, according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin region ranked 9th in the nation for numeric growth, adding 70,762 residents between 2023 and 2024. The area’s population rose from 9,337,814 to 9,408,576 during that time.
Chicago experienced a slight decline in numeric growth during the pandemic years, according to the census bureau’s report, but has steadily rebounded since 2023.
Chicagoland’s population gains over the past two years are on par with those seen in other major metros, including Atlanta, Seattle, and Phoenix.
Here are the Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Numeric Growth:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
As for what’s fueling Chicago’s population growth, the reasons are still up for debate. Reddit users have pointed to Illinois’ lack of a retirement income tax as a potential factor.
View the census bureau’s full report here.