Metropolitan areas in the United States saw year-to-year growth that outpaces the country as a whole, mostly backed by international migration to those parts of the country.

After populations in several metropolitan areas took a dip during the pandemic earlier this decade, 2024 was a boon for populations across the densely populated areas. Census Bureau data released Thursday showed that there was a positive net international migration from 2023 to 2024 in all 387 metro areas nationwide.