Phoenix & Maricopa County Are Fastest Growing, Again

For 15 years, In&Out Magazine has been the definitive source of “Everything that’s going on” in and out of the community. We thank you, our readers, as well as the businesses that support the magazine through advertising, for that opportunity. But with little going on, and many businesses suspending or canceling their ads during the Covid-19 crisis, we are suspending publication of the magazine and web sites for the month of May. 


Phoenix grew by 25,288 people between 2017 and 2018, the most of any U.S. city, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, released today. Phoenix’s population now stands at 1,660,272, the fifth most in the country. It’s the third year in a row the city takes the fastest-growth title.

The next four fastest-growing cities: San Antonio, Texas (up by 20,824); Fort Worth, Texas (19,552); Seattle, Wash. (15,354); and Charlotte, N.C. (13,151). The new data, involving estimates through July 1, 2018, find that 39 percent of U.S. residents live in cities with populations of 50,000 or more.

The 10 most-populous cities:

  1. New York, 8,398,748
  2. Los Angeles, 3,990,456
  3. Chicago, 2,705,994
  4. Houston, 2,325,502
  5. Phoenix, 1,660,272
  6. Philadelphia, 1,584,138
  7. San Antonio, 1,532,233
  8. San Diego, 1,425,976
  9. Dallas, 1,345,047
  10. San Jose, 1,030,119

On a percentage basis, Buckeye, Arizona was the fastest-growing city in the nation, with an 8.5 percent to 74,370 total residents.

Meanwhile, Maricopa County continued its leading role in growth, according to data released last month. Maricopa County—which includes Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Buckeye and other areas—added 81,244 residents from July 2017 to June 2018. It remained the fourth most populous county in the country with 4,410,824 residents. Likewise, it’s the third year in a row Maricopa County takes this title.

Robert Roy Britt
NoPho resident Robert Roy Britt has written for In&Out publications since its inception in 2005. Britt began his journalism career in New Jersey newspapers in the early 1990s. He later became a science writer and was editor-in-chief of the online media sites Space.com and Live Science. He has written four novels. .

Robert Roy Britt

NoPho resident Robert Roy Britt has written for In&Out publications since its inception in 2005. Britt began his journalism career in New Jersey newspapers in the early 1990s. He later became a science writer and was editor-in-chief of the online media sites Space.com and Live Science. He has written four novels. .

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