Local leaders and community members are often heard touting Frisco as the “fastest-growing city in the nation.” But is it true?
It depends on how you look at it.
U.S. Census data show that hundreds of U.S. cities outperformed Frisco’s growth in both percentage rate and net gain. For example, several small cities — including Fulshear, Texas — grew by more than 1,000 percent over the last decade.
But in the bureau’s most recent study of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, it only included those that had more than 50,000 residents, eliminating thousands of cities from consideration.
Using this same population rule, here’s where Frisco stands in terms of the “fastest-growing” label:
No. 2 fastest-growing in the U.S.
A U.S. Census Bureau study in May 2020 named Frisco the nation’s fastest-growing city due to its 71.1 percent population growth rate between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2019.
But new Census data show that it fell to second place after Buckeye, Arizona, reported a rapid net gain of nearly 12,000 residents between July 1, 2019, and Oct. 15, 2020.
Buckeye’s 10-year growth skyrocketed from 56.6 percent to 79.9 percent in just over 15 months, soaring above Frisco, whose growth increased only slightly to about 71.4 percent during the same period.
Fastest-growing city in Texas
Frisco is the state’s fastest-growing city with a population of more than 50,000. Between April 1, 2010, and Oct. 15, 2020, its population increased from 116,989 to 200,509.
Additionally, Frisco reported the state’s second-highest city population growth between January and April this year. Overall, Texas reported a net gain of about 12,700 residents early this year, reflecting a less than 0.05 percent growth rate, while Frisco saw an increase of 1.2 percent, or nearly 2,100 incoming residents.
It’s worth noting that Frisco’s smaller neighbors — Little Elm and Prosper — have also experienced a major population boom, growing by 220.2 percent and 79.9 percent, respectively, over the last decade. Both still report a population of fewer than 50,000 residents, according to recent Census data.
Fastest-growing city in Texas for sociodemographic and economic expansion
Frisco is also Texas’ fastest-growing city — and No. 6 nationwide — in terms of sociodemographic and economic expansion, according to a study published by personal finance website WalletHub.
The rankings were determined by population growth, job growth, income growth, poverty rate, employment rate and similar metrics over a seven-year period.
