Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities in the US (2025 Update)

The United States keeps adding people, and certain places pull in newcomers faster than anywhere else.

This article lists the fastest growing cities in the US, explains why the numbers keep climbing, and shows how you can pick fastest growing US cities that still feel good to live in.

What Defines a “Fast-Growing” City?

A fast-growing city adds people at a speed that beats the national average by a wide margin. The Census Bureau looks at the percent change in total residents from one July to the next. If a metro area gains more than two percent in a single year, most planners call it fast.

Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities in the US

The ten places below added the largest share of new residents between July 2023 and July 2024. Each of the fastest growing city in the US sits in a metro area that now leads the nation in growth rate. The list moves from ten to one, so you can see which area tops the country.

1. Fort Myers, Florida

Fort Myers led the nation with 4.1 percent growth, the fastest growing city in the us for 2025. Hurricane Ian caused a brief dip, but rebuild dollars poured in and construction jobs exploded. Southwest Florida International Airport keeps adding non-stop routes, so tourists and movers arrive daily. Median age stays under forty in Cape Coral and Estero, proving the region draws families, not just retirees. Home insurers raised rates, yet prices still sit well below Miami levels, so the influx shows no sign of slowing.

2. Boise, Idaho

Boise shot up 3.0 percent, the quickest rate outside the South. Remote workers flee coastal costs and discover they can buy a four-bedroom house for under five hundred thousand. Tech firms such as Micron and HP still provide high-paying jobs, while new hospitals add health-care openings.

3. Austin, Texas

Austin expanded 2.7 percent, the fastest clip among metros already over two million. Tesla, Samsung, and Oracle pour billions into plants and towers south and east of town. Live music, barbecue, and a major university keep the culture young even as home prices climb. City council rewrites zoning rules to allow taller apartments along major corridors, yet demand still beats supply. Even with the price surge, families arrive from California and New York every day.

4. Denver, Colorado

Denver added 2.5 percent even after years of steep price gains. Aerospace, cannabis, and software firms hire faster than the national pace. Union Station links the city to Boulder and the airport by rail, so many workers skip cars. New state laws allow more accessory-dwelling units, and that policy adds small rentals in old neighborhoods.

5. Tampa, Florida

Greater Tampa jumped 2.4 percent as families left cold northern states. MacDill Air Force Base provides stable federal jobs, and a growing port moves more cargo each quarter. The waterfront condos in the Channelside and Westshore areas are selling quickly, but in inland suburbs like Riverview, three-bedroom homes are still priced close to three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. There is no state income tax, and warm Gulf beaches make the relocation pipeline not empty, even with the mortgage rates exceeding seven percent.

6. Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte expanded by 2.3 percent and is still the second-largest banking centre after New York. Bank of America and Truist continue to recruit tech employees, and fintech start-ups occupy repurposed warehouses in the South End. The extensions of the light rail are being opened every other year, and therefore, commuters do not pay highway tolls. Home prices increased by nine percent, but they remain approximately one hundred thousand dollars lower than those in Austin or Denver. NFL and NBA teams provide the city with sports vitality throughout the year, which is liked by newcomers.

7. Raleigh, North Carolina

The Research Triangle contributed 2.2 percent, putting the metro above one and a half million. Apple, Google, and Meta all opened new data centers or office campuses within a thirty-minute drive of downtown. North Carolina State, Duke, and UNC provide the region with a constant supply of new graduates who tend to remain and start up their own businesses.

8. Nashville, Tennessee

Music City expanded 2.1 percent and cracked the two-million mark for the first time. Health-care giants HCA and Vanderbilt University add thousands of clinical and research jobs each year. No state income tax on wages helps workers keep more of every paycheck. Broadway’s nightlife scene draws tourists, and the visitors support restaurants that stay packed even on weeknights. New condos rise in Germantown and East Bank, yet prices sit roughly thirty percent below the national median for large metros.

9. Dallas, Texas

Dallas County itself grew more slowly, but the wider metro shot up 2.0 percent. Corporate relocations from California added headquarters jobs in tech, finance, and insurance. DFW Airport offers non-stop routes to five continents, so global firms pick the region for travel ease. Apartment complexes with seven hundred units apiece open every quarter along the light-rail lines. Median household income passed seventy-eight thousand dollars, beating the state average by ten thousand.

10. Phoenix, Arizona

Greater Phoenix expanded by 1.9 percent and received approximately ninety-five thousand inhabitants. Engineers are recruited into Semiconductor factories under construction on the western side of town, and call centers and warehouses recruit employees every week.

Home builders issued twenty-eight thousand single-family permits, the most in the valley since 2006. Rents rose seven percent, yet they still sit far below Los Angeles or Seattle levels. Sun Belt winters, direct flights to most big cities, and no state tax on Social Security keep retirees on the move as well.

Top 10 Fastest Growing Small Cities in the US

Big metros grab headlines, yet many small cities grow even faster in percentage terms. A small city holds between fifty thousand and two hundred thousand residents inside its corporate limits. The ten fastest growing cities in US below outpaced every large metro on a percentage basis from 2023 to 2024.

1. Leander, Texas

Leander led all small cities with 6.2 percent growth, the fastest growing city in the us under two hundred thousand people. The city sits on a new MetroRail line that reaches downtown Austin in forty-five minutes, so commuters keep Austin salaries while paying Hill Country prices. Master-planned communities offer pools, trails, and schools within walking distance. Tech workers and teachers alike line up for lots that cost one hundred thousand less than Austin suburbs, only fifteen miles away.

2. Sherman, Texas

Sherman soared 5.1 percent after a ten-billion-dollar semiconductor plant broke ground. The factory will employ three thousand workers at above-average wages, and suppliers follow close behind. State Highway 75 widens to six lanes, cutting drive time to Dallas to one hour. Home builders cannot pour slabs fast enough, yet prices still hover near two hundred fifty thousand for a new three-bedroom house.

3. Idaho Falls, Idaho

Idaho Falls leaped 4.8 percent as the Idaho National Laboratory hires hundreds of engineers for clean-energy projects. The Snake River greenbelt gives the small downtown a postcard look, and new restaurants open every quarter. Median household income tops sixty-five thousand, high for a city under one hundred fifty thousand people. Yellowstone Park lies two hours north, so weekend tourism boosts hotels and shops.

4. Greeley, Colorado

Greeley expanded 4.6 percent on the back of new meat-packing plants, wind-turbine factories, and oil-field services. Weld County issues more single-family permits than Denver and Boulder combined, so builders keep plenty of lots ready. The University of Northern Colorado supplies teachers and nurses who stay in town after graduation. Home prices sit about one hundred thousand below metro Denver, so commuters willing to drive an hour save big on mortgages.

5. Logan, Utah

Logan shot up 4.5 percent as Utah State University adds engineering programs that partner with nearby aerospace plants. Cache Valley offers safe neighborhoods and mountain views without the crowds of Salt Lake City.

6. Bend, Oregon

Bftnd grew 4.4 percent in the High Desert beside the Cascade Mountains. Remote tech workers move in with Oregon paychecks and find homes for half of Portland prices.

7. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach added 4.3 percent thanks to beach tourism and low property taxes. New York and Ohio buyers snap up condos near the ocean, then rent them out for summer income. Airport expansion brings Midwest visitors in under two hours. Service wages remain low, yet the cost of living still beats most coastal towns by a wide margin.

8. The Villages, Florida

The Villages rose 4.2 percent and remains the nation’s largest age-restricted community. Golf carts outnumber cars on separate paths that link town squares with nightly free entertainment. Health-care buildings open faster than any other small metro because seniors need clinics close by.

9. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Coeur d’Alene grew 4.1 percent beside a sparkling lake that offers boating all summer. Remote workers leave Seattle and keep big-city wages while paying half for housing. The downtown resort fills up every weekend, so service jobs multiply. Forests and ski hills sit within a ninety-minute drive, giving residents four clear seasons without big-city smog.

10. St. George, Utah

St. George expanded 4.0 percent, adding roughly six thousand people. Red-rock scenery, mild winters, and no rush-hour traffic attract retirees from Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Dixie State University keeps the median age low and adds rental demand near campus. New golf communities open each year, yet water supply questions linger as the desert keeps growing.

Stay safe in these cities by installing security cameras. CCTV lets you monitor your home or business from anywhere, whenever you need.

Regional Growth Trends in Fastest Growing US Cities

Growth does not spread evenly. Each region shows a different pattern that explains why people pick one area over another. The bullet list below breaks down the trends that now shape the fastest growing city in US.

• Northeast: Boston, Portland, Maine, and Allentown gained small numbers, but the region still lags the national pace. High home prices, cold winters, and slim vacant land keep many metros near flat growth. Remote work lets some residents leave for cheaper states, so the Northeast shows the slowest rise among the four regions.

• Midwest: Columbus, Indianapolis, and Grand Rapids add people at close to the national rate. Manufacturing hubs now diversify into tech and health care, drawing graduates from Big Ten universities. Land stays cheap, so builders keep starter homes near two hundred fifty thousand dollars. Growth runs steady rather than explosive, but the region no longer loses residents like it did twenty years ago.

• South: The South dominates every growth chart. Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee metros claim eight of the top ten fastest growing cities in the us. Warm weather, low taxes, and wide open land let builders keep up with demand. Airports add direct flights each year, so business travel no longer requires a connection through Atlanta or Dallas. The region shows no sign of slowing down through 2030.

• West: Mountain states lead the West. Boise, Logan, and Coeur d’Alene post rates above four percent as remote workers chase scenery and lower costs. California coastal cities lose people, but inland valleys such as Fresno and Riverside still inch up. Water supply and fire risk now shape building permits, so growth stays strong but more careful than in the South.

How to Find a Fast-Growing but Livable City in the US?

A fast pace does not always equal a good life. Use the checklist below to spot growing cities in US that will grow and still feel like home.

• Check job mix: Look for at least three strong industries, not just one big employer. A varied job base cushions you if a single sector slows down.
• Test commute times: Use an online map at rush hour to see real drive times. A city can sound great on paper, but drain your day in traffic.
• Compare home prices to incomes: Divide the median home price by the median household income. If the ratio tops four, you may feel house-poor even with a raise.
• Look at water and climate risk: Read local hazard plans for drought, flood, or fire zones. Growth can stall if insurance costs spike or if water supply tightens.
• Visit on a weekday and a weekend: Walk downtown, shop for groceries, and drive to a park after dark. You will sense noise, safety, and crowd levels that stats never show.

FAQs on Fastest Growing City in the US

What are the fastest growing cities in the US?

Fort Myers, Boise, Austin, Denver, Tampa, Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville, Dallas, and Phoenix make the 2025 top ten list based on new Census data.

What is the fastest growing city in America in 2025?

Fort Myers, Florida, grew 4.1 percent from July 2023 to July 2024, the fastest rate among all large metros in the United States.

What is the next up and coming city?

Sherman, Texas, looks poised to keep climbing because a new chip factory will hire thousands, and suppliers are already buying land nearby.

Conclusion

The fastest growing cities in the us share three clear traits: jobs that pay well, homes that cost less than coastal peaks, and airports or highways that keep them connected. Fort Myers leads today, but Sherman, Leander, and Idaho Falls show that small cities can outrun big names when industry and lifestyle line up.

Use the tips above to check commute times, job variety, and climate risk before you join the flow. If you already live in one of these boom towns, share your view on how growth feels on the ground. Your story helps others decide whether to pack a box or stay put.