Census data: Nashville among fastest-growing U.S. cities -- but some top competitors are even faster

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Nathan Morgan | Nashville Business Journal

Nashville is the ninth fastest-growing big city in the U.S., according to new Census data.

E.J. Boyer

Staff Reporter- Nashville Business Journal

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Boomtown!

This should come as no surprise, but let's make it official: Nashville is the ninth-fastest growing big city in America since 2000, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Great, but tell me something I don't know!

Ok. Despite our recent surge, Nashville lagged behind peer cities Charlotte and Austin, which ranked at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, according to the data. Oklahoma City, which has been getting lots of hipster and business cred as of late, edged in ahead of Nashville as well, at No. 7.

The new data, from the 2013 five-year American Community Survey, shows Nashville with an estimated population of 614,908 in 2013, up from 554,524 in 2000, a 12.7 percent increase.

In comparison, Austin grew by 27.5 percent and Charlotte grew by 40 percent. Oklahoma City grew by 16.8 percent.

Fort Worth topped the list, with 42.3 percent growth in population. Columbus, Ohio, rounded out the Top 10 with 12.5 percent growth. Nashville did beat out Portland and Denver, which ranked Nos. 11 and 12, respectively, according to the data.

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E.J. Boyer covers the Music City's tourism, hospitality and music business.