Maricopa County among nation's biggest population growth in 2024, census figures show

By Jeff Gifford

Metro areas grew faster than other places around the United States last year, and fewer locales exemplified that trend more than the Valley.

The new Vintage 2024 Population Estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that Maricopa County had the third largest numeric growth between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024, with 57,471 new residents in the county during that period — significantly more than the approximately 30,000 people new residents from the previous annual period.

Only Harris County, Texas — where Houston is located — and Miami-Dade County, Florida saw larger numbers last year, with 105,852 and 64,211 new residents, respectively.

Including relocations and births, that means the county saw 173 new residents, each and every day during that 12-month period.

As of July 1, 2024, Maricopa County remained the fourth most-populous county in the nation, with 4,673,096 residents. That was surpassed only by Los Angeles County, California (9,757,179); Cook County, Illinois (5,182,617); and Harris County (5,009,302).

The latest findings come months after the Census Bureau released numbers showing that Arizona had grown by nearly 6% since the 2020 census to nearly 7.6 million residents, making the Grand Canyon State the eighth-fastest growing in the nation in raw numbers. Many of those newcomers hail from California, which has sent an estimated 630,000 people into Arizona over the past decade, equivalent to 173 per day.

Looking beyond just the county level, the Census Bureau latest numbers show its Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro designation as a whole grew by 84,938 residents to a total of 5,186,958. That put the whole Phoenix metro at sixth for numeric growth, behind New York City (213,403), Houston (198,171), Dallas-Fort Worth (177,922), Miami (123,471) and Washington, D.C. (90,608).

Breaking it down, that means the Valley gained roughly 232 new residents per day, including relocations and births.

Pinal County sees big percentage growth gains

That overall metro Phoenix growth was helped by numbers in Pinal County, which also made its mark in the new figures by registering the fifth-highest percentage growth in the nation. The county ranges from south of Phoenix to parts of the southeast Valley and grew by 5.6%, adding 27,467 residents to end up with 513,862 at the start of last July.

The Census Bureau said metro areas as a whole grew faster than they did the previous year, adding that they grew faster than the rest of the nation and accounted for 96% of the nation’s total population growth. In fact, more than 3.2 million people moved into metro areas, growing those areas by 1.1%, outpacing the total U.S. population growth rate of 1.0%.

As of July, 293.9 million of the nation’s more than 340 million people live in one of its 387 metro areas. Nearly 90% of those metro areas grew between 2023 and 2024, which is more than the previous year.

A key driver of the metro growth was positive net international migration between 2023 and 2024. Nearly 2.7 million of new metro populations were part of this trend.

“Increasingly, population growth in metro areas is being shaped by international migration,” said Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division, in a statement. “While births continue to contribute to overall growth, rising net international migration is offsetting the ongoing net domestic outmigration we see in many of these areas.”

The Census Bureau said its Population Estimates Program uses current data on births, deaths and migration to calculate population change since the most recent decennial census in 2020. That data is used to produce an annual time series of estimates of population, the bureau said. Each new year’s estimates revises past years going back to the last census.

Final Thoughts

Maricopa County’s surge in population growth isn’t just a statistic—it’s a testament to the Valley’s thriving economy, desirable climate, and endless opportunities. Whether you’re relocating for career prospects, a lower cost of living, or simply to enjoy Arizona’s vibrant lifestyle, the Phoenix metro area continues to be a top destination. With nearly 232 new residents arriving daily, now is the time to explore what makes this region one of the fastest-growing in the nation. If you're considering making Maricopa County your home, connect with a local real estate expert to find the perfect place for you!