Creditnews Research focused its analysis on the top 50 metro areas by population because first-time homebuyers are more likely to move for work, and typically seek out larger cities for employment.

The survey from the bureau found that 86.4% of the country’s population lived in metro areas in 2024 and that the overall population living in metro areas was roughly 293.9 million people.

Prior census estimates showed New York and Chicago lost population in the year ended in June 2023, but the new numbers indicate that both metro areas actually added people during that period.

Population growth in U.S. metro areas outpaced previous years and is largely being fueled by international migration, the Census Bureau found. A report released Thursday by the bureau found major c… ...

Of the 52 biggest metro areas in the U.S., Grand Rapids-Wyoming ranked no. 48 for total population, coming in just ahead of Buffalo, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut.

The New York City, Newark and Jersey City metro region leads the nation in population growth between 2023 and 2024, signaling a post-pandemic recovery, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

While would-be homeowners bide their time, Creditnews Research looked at America's 50 largest metro areas to uncover housing markets that are still attractive for first-time buyers. Our ranking ...