'Texas is growing at a rate like California never did': Abbott boasts about population increase in Texas

New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Texas is leading the country when it comes to population growth, with more people moving into the state in the last decade. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) took to social media to express his excitement over the figures that showed several million people have moved into his state since the last census in 2010.

"Census survey says: Texas leads all states in population growth, adding nearly four million new Texans since 2010 and growing at a far faster rate than California and New York — combined," Abbott wrote in an Aug. 16 tweet. 

Home to nearly 30 million people, Texas ranks as the second most populous state in the nation, but University of North Texas professor Lauren Fischer said that could soon change, CBS DFW reported. 

“Texas is growing at a rate like California never did," Fischer told CBS DFW. "That is setting a standard where Texas might surpass California in 20 to 30 years rather than 50."

According to the same report, the population in Texas grew by about four million in just 10 years. And although it's not known for sure which state these new Texans moved from, data from other states have shown a population decline which leaves room for interpretation. 

“We do know that California and New York, at a state level, are losing population," Fischer told CBS DFW. "We are seeing some of those numbers turn up in Texas."

Recent census figures showed Frisco, McKinney, Conroe and New Braunfels were four areas of Texas included in the country's 10 fastest-growing municipalities, according to NBC DFW. 

NBC DFW reported Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio saw an increase of 100,000 people as a result of figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

According to the same report, Texas will now gain two additional U.S. House seats as a result of the population growth.