The Youngest Cities in the United States

Not all cities across the United States have similar youth populations, and there can be a variety of factors for this. Such factors include high birthrates, immigration among others. Many large cities in the US are considered to be "young cities" because they have big populations of young people. According to data provided by the Big Cities Health Coalition, these are the cities with the highest populations of residents under 18.

US Cities With the Biggest Population of Youth

Why Do Some Cities Have More Young People Than Others?

Many young people move from their place of origin to another with specific hopes in mind, or to chase employment opportunities. Education is another motivational factor. There are a number of factors that contribute to some cities in the US having a younger population than others. Higher birthrate and lower infant mortality rate is one of the reasons why some cities have a higher percentage of young people than others. Another significant reason is immigration as the numbers of youths migrating into the US is high. Most importantly, cities with better and cheaper living standards together with economic opportunities tend to be a nesting place for young families thus contributing to the increase in the young population.

According to data provided by the Big Cities Health Coalition, below are some of the cities with the highest populations of residents under 18.

Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth is the fifth largest city in Texas and the 16th largest in the United States. According to the 2004 census, Forth Worth was among the top 20 most populous cities in the US and the top five cities with the largest population increase. Fort Worth has the largest proportions of people under the age of 18 in the entire United States at 27%. At the time of the 2010 census, Forth Worth had a population of 741,206 and from 2000 to 2010 the city’s population increased by 206,512 people, which represents an increase of about 20,650 people per year or a 3.9% increase annually. The high birth rate accounts for the high proportion of the young people in the city.

Dallas, TX

Dallas is a major metropolis located in the state of Texas, US. With a population estimate of 1,300,092, Dallas has a youth population of 27% making it the second US city with the largest population of youths. Dallas is home to various immigration groups such as Filipino, Chinese, Hispanics, Japanese, Ethiopians, and Somalis among others and this has prompted the continued growth of the youth population. In 2014, Dallas was rated among the most attractive cities in the world for young people.

San Jose, CA

San Jose, the political, cultural, and economic center of Silicon Valley is the third most populated city in California and the tenth in the United States with a population estimated at 1,026,908 inhabitants. With 24% of the total population being individuals below 18 years, San Jose is the tenth city in the United States with the highest number of the youth population. San Jose is considered to be the fastest growing city whose growth is attributed to young tech workers who are attracted to the region.

Future urban population growth

Given the present economic situation in the top metropolitan areas are expected to continue growing, it can be assumed that the youth populations will continue to drive this growth.