Where To Find the Fastest Growing Cities in the US: A 2025 Analysis

When searching for the fastest growing cities in the US, the real estate and relocation landscape has shifted dramatically over the past five years. A comprehensive GOBankingRates study examining population trends and affordability metrics through 2025 reveals a compelling picture of urban expansion across America. The research identified 50 metropolitan areas that combine rapid demographic growth with reasonable living costs—a combination increasingly difficult to find in today’s market.

The data paints a clear picture: if you’re looking at where Americans are actually moving and establishing roots, certain states and regions are experiencing unprecedented growth while maintaining affordability. This isn’t random migration—it reflects deliberate choices by families and professionals seeking value without sacrificing opportunity.

Which US Cities Are Growing Fastest and Why?

The fastest growing cities in the US share common characteristics: strong job markets, reasonable housing costs, and quality of life indicators that appeal to young families and professionals alike. The study analyzed cities with populations exceeding 100,000, comparing 1-year and 5-year growth rates against national averages, then cross-referenced living expense data from multiple authoritative sources including Zillow, the Federal Reserve, and the Census Bureau.

What emerged was striking: while some regions experienced modest growth, others saw explosive expansion. Cities like Frisco, Texas recorded a 26.9% population increase over five years—far exceeding national growth rates—while simultaneously maintaining annual living costs that don’t require six-figure salaries to survive comfortably.

Texas Leads the Fastest-Growing Cities Rankings with 12 Entries

Texas dominates this year’s list of fastest-growing cities in the US, claiming 12 of the top 50 positions. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone tracking migration patterns over the past decade. The state’s combination of no state income tax, booming job markets, and relatively affordable real estate (compared to coastal alternatives) continues to attract newcomers at unprecedented rates.

The Texas contingent includes both mega-growth cities and more measured developers. Frisco ranks number one nationally with its 26.9% five-year population surge and reasonable cost structure. McKinney, Allen, League City, Lewisville, Round Rock, and others continue the Texas trend, each capturing significant migration flows while maintaining housing affordability that would seem impossible in equivalent-sized metros elsewhere.

Beyond Texas, Arizona and Florida have emerged as secondary growth engines. Goodyear, Arizona ranks second nationally with 32.8% five-year growth. Multiple Arizona cities—Chandler, Peoria, Surprise—fill additional top-50 slots, reflecting the broader Sunbelt migration trend that’s reshaped American demographics since 2020.

The Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities for Affordable Living

The leaders among fastest growing American cities reveal the winning formula: strong population growth, median household incomes allowing for actual savings, and housing costs that align with regional income levels.

Tier One Champions:

• Frisco, Texas (#1): 26.9% five-year growth. Median household income $146,158. Annual living costs for renters run $46,718; homeowners budget $72,262. Average home value $678,435.
• Goodyear, Arizona (#2): 32.8% five-year growth. Median household income $101,814. Rental costs $49,011 annually; ownership costs $58,494. Average home $478,276.
• McKinney, Texas (#3): 16.6% five-year growth. Median income $120,273. Rental costs $45,023; ownership $58,907. Average home $512,667.

Tier Two Contenders:

• Fishers, Indiana: 13.8% five-year growth
• Allen, Texas: 8.5% five-year growth, lowest median income among tier-one cities at $129,130
• Carmel, Indiana: 11.5% five-year growth
• League City, Texas: 13.9% five-year growth with particularly affordable housing
• Lewisville, Texas: 22.5% five-year growth—one of Texas’s explosive developers
• Olathe, Kansas: 5.7% five-year growth, bringing Midwest representation
• Round Rock, Texas: 3.4% five-year growth but strongest 1-year performance at 3.2%

Together, these fastest growing cities showcase the diversity of opportunity available to relocating Americans—from Texas’s no-tax advantage to Indiana’s suburban stability to Kansas’s affordability.

Deep Dive: 50 Fastest Growing Cities Across America

The complete ranking extends well beyond the obvious leaders, revealing hidden gems across 20+ states. Positions 11-50 feature diverse geographies reflecting regional economic strength:

Southeast Representation: Murfreesboro, Tennessee (20.3% five-year growth), Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida demonstrate the Southeast’s emergence as a growth zone. The region combines lower living costs with increasing job diversity—no longer purely service-based, now attracting tech and professional services.

Mountain West Growth: Nampa, Idaho and Rio Rancho, New Mexico bring affordability to the western growth narrative. Nampa’s 16% five-year growth on median household income of just $72,122 represents genuine opportunity for middle-income families seeking expansion space.

Florida’s Distributed Growth: Beyond major metros, Florida’s smaller cities—Palm Bay, Lakeland, and Orlando—demonstrate the state’s appeal beyond Miami and Tampa. Distributed growth suggests sustainable expansion rather than concentrated boom-bust cycles.

Midwest Stability: Madison, Wisconsin and Sioux Falls, South Dakota offer slower but steady growth with strong livability metrics. These aren’t explosive developers but reliable communities attracting professional class migration.

California’s Selective Representation: Bakersfield and Visalia bring California into the mix—not the coastal metros but inland cities offering California opportunity at non-coastal prices. Both cities show 8%+ five-year growth with more reasonable housing economics than Bay Area or Los Angeles alternatives.

Finding Your Perfect City: Analysis by Region

Selecting among the fastest growing cities requires understanding regional trade-offs:

Best for No-Tax Living (Texas Leaders): If state income tax avoidance drives your relocation decision, Texas’s dozen entries dominate. Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Lewisville, and Round Rock cluster near Dallas with interconnected job markets. League City, Pearland, and Fort Worth anchor Houston’s expansion. The trade-off: Texas property tax rates run higher than many states, offsetting income tax savings.

Best for Affordability (Southwest/South Leaders): Edinburg, Texas ranks 43rd despite lowest median income ($57,789) because living costs align with earnings. Fort Worth, Broken Arrow (Oklahoma), and Clarksville (Tennessee) deliver genuine affordability for working-class families—annual homeownership costs under $45,000.

Best for Professional Class (Upper Midwest/Mountain): Carmel, Indiana, Fishers, Indiana, and Madison, Wisconsin attract six-figure household earners seeking communities with strong schools and cultural amenities. These markets command higher home values but deliver quality-of-life intangibles.

Best for Young Professionals (Arizona/Nevada): Chandler, Sparks, Reno, and Henderson appeal to younger demographics. Lower housing costs relative to income potential, emerging cultural scenes, and outdoor recreation access create powerful draws.

Complete City Rankings: Your Reference Guide

Beyond the top 10, the complete list spans from position 11 through 50. Pearland, Texas ranks 11th with 6.9% growth and $112,470 median income. Nampa, Idaho follows at 12th with 16% growth but lower income ($72,122). Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Peoria, Arizona, and Rio Rancho, New Mexico round out positions 13-15.

The mid-range entries (positions 20-35) include Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Palm Bay, Florida; Henderson, Nevada; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Clarksville, Tennessee; Fort Worth, Texas; Madison, Wisconsin; and Huntsville, Alabama. Each represents regional variation—from Midwest stability to Florida opportunity to Oklahoma affordability.

Later entries maintain growth momentum if at lower absolute rates. Austin, Texas (position 35) shows 3.4% five-year growth despite its prominence. Reno, Nevada; Lakeland, Florida; Bakersfield, California; Oklahoma City; and Visalia, California fill positions 36-40. Fargo, North Dakota (position 41) brings the Great Plains into focus.

Final entries 42-50 include Charlotte, North Carolina; Edinburg, Texas; Billings, Montana; Orlando, Florida; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Raleigh, North Carolina; Aurora, Colorado; Killeen, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida. Even at position 50, Jacksonville maintains 9.4% five-year growth—suggesting the fastest growing cities in the US extend well beyond major metros.

Methodology and Data Reliability

This analysis of fastest growing American cities employed rigorous standards. GOBankingRates examined Census American Community Survey data from 2018, 2022, and 2023 to calculate population changes. Cities required: (1) minimum 100,000 population, (2) 1-year and 5-year growth rates exceeding national averages, and (3) average rental or mortgage costs below national averages.

Cost of living data came from Zillow’s Observed Rental Index and Home Value Index, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Sperling’s BestPlaces, and Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Researchers calculated leftover savings by comparing median household income against total living costs for both renters and homeowners.

All data reflects conditions as of mid-2025, based on the most recent census updates and housing market data available. While 2026 brings new developments, these fastest growing cities trends represent the most comprehensive analysis available of American migration and affordability patterns.

Making Your Decision

Understanding where the fastest growing cities in the US are located provides valuable context for relocation decisions. Whether you prioritize tax advantages, affordability, professional opportunity, or lifestyle factors, this analysis of 50 markets offers reference points across diverse geographies. The fastest growing areas typically combine job market strength with remaining affordability—a narrowing window as migration patterns concentrated growth into specific regions.

The data suggests that the fastest-growing cities in the US are disproportionately distributed among Texas, Arizona, Florida, the Carolinas, and selected Mountain West metros. However, secondary opportunities exist in overlooked Midwest and Southern communities where growth continues at sustainable rates with genuine affordability intact.