WACO, TX — In Central Texas, it's no surprise that cities like Waco are growing, but are they keeping up with the rest of the state?
Baylor University's Larry Lyon said not quite yet, but Waco is close.
Lyon said in the last five years, Waco has come close to matching the rest of Texas' population growth rate of about 1.4% per year. Waco's population growth rate was 1.3%.
"Everything we see looks like we are in the early stages or residential growth spurt for McLennan County," said Lyon.
Lyon predicts that gap will only get smaller thanks to new projects, from revitalizing downtown to Chip and Joanna Gaines' future hotel.
"Yeah you either change and grow or you stay and decline, and Waco has been fighting a decline for a long time," said Lyon.
Lyon said that growth could help everyone from students at Baylor University to people in low income areas.
