Fastest growing US metropolitan areas

Regional trends

The fastest growing metropolitan areas in the US are located in the southern and central Rockies, in the south Atlantic states stretching from Florida to Delaware, in Texas and in selected small to medium sized metropolitan areas in the Pacific states. In contrast, metropolitan areas in the northeast, midwest and plains states are growing more slowly.

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On average, small to medium sized metropolitan areas are growing more rapidly than large metropolitan areas with the notable exception of several large cities in the sunbelt. In addition, cities with a low cost of living are growing more rapidly than cities with expensive housing and high taxes.

Nationwide, the hispanic population is growing four times faster than the US population as a whole and now contributes half of the population growth in the country. Of the ten fastest growing metropolitan areas, only three, Phoenix, Las Vegas and McAllen, Texas have large hispanic populations.

1. St. George, Utah

The fastest growing metropolitan area in the country is the small city of St. George, Utah, its rapid growth is mostly due to migration from northern Utah and surrounding southwestern states. It is not far from Las Vegas and has a desert climate with very hot dry summers and somewhat mild winters. Its population is mostly white and about 7% hispanic. It has an average cost of living and a slightly below average median income.

2. Cape Coral, Florida

Cape Coral is the largest population center in southwest Florida. Its population is mostly white and about 13% hispanic. It has a warm, humid, sunny climate with abundant rainfall. It has a low cost of living, but its homes have begun to lose value starting in 2006.

3. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the fastest growing of the major cities on this list, much of its growth comes from migration from California and other western states. Las Vegas is located in the desert, and has relatively mild winters and temperatures above 100 in the summer. Its economy is based on tourism and its casinos and hotels, and is near the top of the list for job creation. its hispanic population makes up 24% of the city's population and is growing rapidly. The cost of living and housing costs are high. Why do people keep coming? Because this is Vegas--there is no other place like this on earth.

4. Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon lies east of the Cascade Mountains and has cool dry summers and cold winters. It has been widely publisized as an ideal place to retire with an outdoorsy lifestyle and recreational activities. People have flocked there from Portland and California. Maybe it has been too well publisized; Its housing costs have skyrocketed and CNN Money says it has the 2nd most overvalued homes in the country. The population is mostly white, with 5% being hispanic.

5. Provo, Utah

Forbes Magazine has recently rated Provo, Utah as the second best city in the nation for careers and businesses. It has a lower than average cost of living. It has a moderately dry climate with mild summers and cold winters. The population is mostly white; 11% being hispanic. 7% of the population of the metro area is enrolled at Brigham Young University.

6. Naples, Florida

Naples is located on Florida's southwest gulf coast and has a warm, sunny and humid climate with considerable rainfall during certain months, and it boasts many recreational activities. Its cost of living and home prices are quite high and overvalued which is probably the reason that home prices began to slide in 2006. It has a predominantly white population with 5% black and 2% hispanic.

7. Lake Havasu City, Arizona

This small city is located on Lake Havasu, a man-made lake on the Colorado River that draws throngs of tourists to its water sports and the famous London bridge, which crosses over to an island in the lake. It has a dry desert climate with mild winters and torrid summers. It's average cost of living and setting makes this a Money Magazine best place to retire. The growing hispanic population is now at 25% of the total population.

8. Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is fast becoming one of the largest cities in the country, sprawling out into the desert in the Valley of the Sun. Snowbirds flock there during its mild winters, and people spend a lot of time indoors during the scorching summers. The price of homes in Phoenix climbed significantly starting in 2006 to push its cost of living above the national average. Hispanics made up 25% of the population in 2000 and that figure is climbing rapidly.

9. Prescott, Arizona

Prescott has history that goes back to the days of the old west and gold mining which is preserved in its town square. It is located in the mountains, surrounded by recreational activities and has warm summers and moderately cold winters. The population is predominantly white, with hispanics making up 8%, and there are many retirees living in the area. Home prices are higher than the national average and the prices are said to be overvalued.

10. McAllen, Texas

McAllen is located at the southern tip of Texas within a few miles of the Mexican border. It is an ideal jumping off point to explorer Reynosa and other places south of the border and the Rio Grande. It has a moderately dry semitropical climate with hot temperatures. This city is 80% hispanic due to its proximity to Mexico. It has a very low cost of living and a lower than average median income, but its income is growing rapidly.

306. New Orleans

This discussion could not be complete without mentioning New Orleans, the city that lost the most population during this period because of the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. From a population standpoint 300,000 people in greater New Orleans lost their homes or were displaced by the hurricane which is an unprecedented 21.3% of its entire population.

Houston received the greatest share of the evacuees, with significant numbers also going to Dallas, Atlanta, San Antonio and Baton Rouge. It has been a great challenge for these cities to try to assimilate these people, many of whom lost almost everything and brought very little economic resources with them. Over half of the survivors say they would like to return to Louisiana in the future. Many of these displaced persons still living in shelters and hotels have not been included in the population counts in the table below.

US metropolitan areas ranked by growth

The following table lists 306 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) defined by the US Census Bureau. Many cities in the table are designated as a CSA (Combined Statistical Area) which is an MSA combined with other adjacent MSAs or smaller Micropolitan Areas.

Rank	Metropolitan area	Population 2006	Population 2000	Percent change
1	St. George, UT MSA	126312	90354	39.8
2	Cape Coral, FL MSA	571344	440888	29.59
3	Las Vegas, NV CSA	1820232	1408250	29.25
4	Bend, OR CSA	172081	134549	27.89
5	Provo, UT MSA	474180	376774	25.85
6	Naples, FL MSA	314649	251377	25.17
7	Lake Havasu City, AZ MSA	193035	155032	24.51
8	Phoenix, AZ MSA	4039182	3251876	24.21
9	Prescott, AZ MSA	208014	167517	24.17
10	McAllen, TX MSA	700634	569463	23.03
11	Boise City, ID MSA	567640	464840	22.12
12	Ocala, FL MSA	316183	258916	22.12
13	Fayetteville AR MSA	420876	347045	21.27
14	Austin, TX MSA	1513565	1249763	21.11
15	Coeur d'Alene, ID MSA	131507	108685	21
16	Port St. Lucie, FL CSA	522217	432373	20.78
17	Atlanta, GA CSA	5478667	4548344	20.45
18	Orlando, FL CSA	2633282	2191081	20.18
19	Laredo, TX MSA	231470	193117	19.86
20	Reno, NV CSA	451791	377386	19.72
21	Stockton, CA MSA	673170	563598	19.44
22	Raleigh, NC CSA	1565223	1314589	19.07
23	Wilmington, NC MSA	326166	274532	18.81
24	Myrtle Beach, SC CSA	299353	252426	18.59
25	Bakersfield, CA MSA	780117	661645	17.91
26	Kennewick, WA MSA	226033	191822	17.83
27	Yuma, AZ MSA	187555	160026	17.2
28	Houston, TX CSA	5641077	4815122	17.15
29	Merced, CA MSA	245658	210554	16.67
30	Dover, DE MSA	147601	126697	16.5
31	Lakeland, FL MSA	561606	483924	16.05
32	Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CSA	6359758	5487956	15.89
33	Hagerstown, MD MSA	257619	222771	15.64
34	Charlotte, NC CSA	2191604	1897034	15.53
35	Grand Junction, CO MSA	134189	116255	15.43
36	Brownsville, TX CSA	408362	355309	14.93
37	Sacramento, CA CSA	2373596	2069298	14.71
38	Modesto, CA MSA	512138	446997	14.57
39	Sarasota, FL CSA	837271	731586	14.45
40	Visalia, CA MSA	419909	368021	14.1
41	Jacksonville, FL MSA	1277997	1122750	13.83
42	Sioux Falls, SD MSA	212911	187093	13.8
43	San Antonio, TX MSA	1942217	1711703	13.47
44	Hanford, CA MSA	146153	129461	12.89
45	El Centro, CA MSA	160301	142361	12.6
46	Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL MSA	2697731	2395997	12.59
47	Fresno, CA CSA	1038101	922516	12.53
48	Anchorage, AK MSA	359180	319605	12.38
49	Idaho Falls, ID CSA	161031	143412	12.29
50	Palm Bay, FL MSA	534359	476230	12.21
51	Lawrence, KS MSA	112123	99962	12.17
52	Tucson, AZ MSA	946362	843746	12.16
53	Dalton, GA MSA	134397	120031	11.97
54	Albuquerque, NM MSA	816811	729649	11.95
55	Athens, GA MSA	185479	166079	11.68
56	Colorado Springs, CO MSA	599127	537484	11.47
57	Bellingham, WA MSA	185953	166814	11.47
58	Denver, CO CSA	2927911	2629980	11.33
59	Farmington, NM MSA	126473	113801	11.14
60	Salt Lake City, UT CSA	1632814	1469474	11.12
61	Nashville, TN CSA	1533406	1381287	11.01
62	Las Cruces, NM MSA	193888	174682	10.99
63	Portland, OR MSA	2137565	1927881	10.88
64	Salem, OR MSA	384600	347214	10.77
65	Springfield, MO MSA	407092	368374	10.51
66	Panama City, FL MSA	163505	148217	10.31
67	Redding, CA MSA	179951	163256	10.23
68	Charleston, SC MSA	603178	549033	9.86
69	Fort Collins, CO MSA	276253	251494	9.84
70	Tyler, TX CSA	243148	221365	9.84
71	Des Moines, IA CSA	604626	550659	9.8
72	Rochester, MN MSA	179573	163618	9.75
73	York, PA CSA	517427	473043	9.38
74	Charlottesville, VA MSA	190278	174021	9.34
75	Miami, FL MSA	5463857	5007564	9.11
76	Richmond, VA MSA	1194008	1096957	8.85
77	Hattiesburg, MS MSA	134744	123812	8.83
78	Bowling Green KY MSA	113320	104166	8.79
79	Medford, OR MSA	197071	181269	8.72
80	Los Angeles, CA CSA	17775984	16373645	8.56
81	Columbia, SC CSA	741533	683266	8.53
82	Greenville, NC MSA	165776	152772	8.51
83	Washington-Baltimore, DC CSA	8211213	7572647	8.43
84	El Paso, TX MSA	736310	679622	8.34
85	Baton Rouge, LA CSA	789986	729361	8.31
86	Logan, UT MSA	111156	102720	8.21
87	Brunswick, GA MSA	100613	93044	8.13
88	Allentown, PA MSA	800336	740395	8.1
89	Pueblo, CO MSA	152912	141472	8.09
90	Hot Springs, AR MSA	95164	88068	8.06
91	Knoxville, TN CSA	1010978	935659	8.05
92	Savannah, GA CSA	394036	364914	7.98
93	Madison, WI CSA	601283	556999	7.95
94	Huntsville, AL CSA	526302	488243	7.8
95	Seattle, WA CSA	3991911	3707144	7.68
96	Indianapolis, IN CSA	1984644	1843588	7.65
97	Wenatchee, WA MSA	106806	99219	7.65
98	Atlantic City, NJ MSA	271620	252552	7.55
99	Santa Fe, NM CSA	183356	170482	7.55
100	Longview, WA MSA	99905	92948	7.48
101	Flagstaff, AZ MSA	124953	116320	7.42
102	Corbin, KY CSA	95121	88580	7.38
103	Asheville, NC CSA	427789	398505	7.35
104	Rockford, IL CSA	450466	420215	7.2
105	Bloomington, IL MSA	161202	150433	7.16
106	Joplin, MO MSA	168552	157322	7.14
107	Columbia, MO MSA	155997	145666	7.09
108	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN CSA	3502891	3271888	7.06
109	Kansas City, MO CSA	2034796	1901070	7.03
110	Lexington, KY CSA	645006	602773	7.01
111	Greensboro, NC CSA	1513576	1414656	6.99
112	Macon, GA CSA	381641	356801	6.96
113	Omaha, NE CSA	858720	803201	6.91
114	Oklahoma City, OK CSA	1240977	1160942	6.89
115	Spokane, WA MSA	446706	417939	6.88
116	Salisbury, MD CSA	166627	155934	6.86
117	Bismarck, ND MSA	101138	94719	6.78
118	Pensacola, FL MSA	439987	412153	6.75
119	Greenville, SC CSA	1203795	1128104	6.71
120	Billings, MT MSA	148116	138904	6.63
121	Amarillo, TX MSA	241515	226522	6.62
122	Columbus, OH CSA	1953575	1835189	6.45
123	Lincoln, NE MSA	283970	266787	6.44
124	Chico, CA MSA	215881	203171	6.26
125	Killeen, TX MSA	351322	330714	6.23
126	Midland, TX CSA	251842	237132	6.2
127	Mobile, AL CSA	573319	540258	6.12
128	Jackson, MS CSA	557385	525346	6.1
129	Iowa City, IA MSA	139567	131676	5.99
130	Waco, TX MSA	226189	213517	5.93
131	Missoula, MT MSA	101417	95802	5.86
132	Casper, WY MSA	70401	66533	5.81
133	Green Bay, WI MSA	299003	282599	5.8
134	Memphis, TN MSA	1274704	1205204	5.77
135	Fort Walton Beach, FL MSA	180291	170498	5.74
136	Jonesboro, AR CSA	153421	145093	5.74
137	Fort Smith, AR MSA	288818	273170	5.73
138	Valdosta, GA MSA	126305	119560	5.64
139	Little Rock, AR CSA	829032	785024	5.61
140	Fargo, ND CSA	210523	199503	5.52
141	Appleton, WI CSA	377906	358365	5.45
142	Carson City, NV MSA	55289	52457	5.4
143	Hickory, NC MSA	359856	341851	5.27
144	Rapid City, SD MSA	118763	112818	5.27
145	Grand Rapids, MI CSA	1320487	1254661	5.25
146	Rome, GA MSA	95322	90565	5.25
147	Albany, OR CSA	190550	181222	5.15
148	Cedar Rapids, IA MSA	249320	237230	5.1
149	Lancaster, PA MSA	494486	470658	5.06
150	Tallahassee, FL MSA	336502	320304	5.06
151	Portland, ME CSA	621219	591361	5.05
152	Gainesville, FL MSA	243985	232392	4.99
153	Louisville, KY CSA	1356798	1292482	4.98
154	Lafayette, LA CSA	537947	512720	4.92
155	Harrisonburg, VA MSA	113449	108193	4.86
156	Lynchburg, VA MSA	239510	228616	4.77
157	Cincinnati, OH CSA	2147617	2050175	4.75
158	Yakima, WA MSA	233105	222581	4.73
159	Augusta, GA MSA	523249	499684	4.72
160	Fairbanks, AK MSA	86754	82840	4.72
161	Eau Claire, WI CSA	197016	188195	4.69
162	Virginia Beach, VA MSA	1649457	1576370	4.64
163	Cheyenne, WY MSA	85384	81607	4.63
164	Eugene, OR MSA	337870	322959	4.62
165	Chattanooga, TN CSA	658201	629561	4.55
166	San Diego, CA MSA	2941454	2813833	4.54
167	Janesville, WI MSA	159153	152307	4.49
168	Birmingham, AL CSA	1180206	1129721	4.47
169	Chicago, IL CSA	9725317	9312255	4.44
170	Houma, LA MSA	202902	194477	4.33
171	Longview, TX CSA	267186	256152	4.31
172	Lubbock, TX CSA	284020	272416	4.26
173	Lumberton, NC CSA	166115	159337	4.25
174	Tulsa, OK CSA	946993	908528	4.23
175	San Luis Obispo, CA MSA	257005	246681	4.19
176	Dothan, AL CSA	232653	223605	4.05
177	College Station, TX MSA	192152	184885	3.93
178	Pocatello, ID MSA	86357	83103	3.92
179	Albany, GA MSA	163961	157833	3.88
180	Fort Wayne, IN CSA	569636	548416	3.87
181	Columbus, GA CSA	437222	420965	3.86
182	Honolulu, HI MSA	909863	876156	3.85
183	State College, PA MSA	140953	135758	3.83
184	Hartford, CT CSA	1305713	1257709	3.82
185	St. Louis, MO CSA	2858549	2754328	3.78
186	Texarkana, TX MSA	134510	129749	3.67
187	Clarksville, TN MSA	240500	232000	3.66
188	Claremont, NH CSA	215408	207845	3.64
189	Dubuque, IA MSA	92384	89143	3.64
190	Harrisburg, PA CSA	652263	629401	3.63
191	Burlington, VT MSA	206007	198889	3.58
192	Lafayette, IN CSA	219962	212407	3.56
193	Morgantown, WV MSA	115136	111200	3.54
194	Tuscaloosa, AL MSA	198769	192034	3.51
195	Jefferson City, MO MSA	144958	140052	3.5
196	Alexandria, LA MSA	150080	145035	3.48
197	South Bend, IN CSA	563407	544582	3.46
198	Jackson, MI MSA	163851	158422	3.43
199	Montgomery, AL CSA	413802	400205	3.4
200	Wichita, KS CSA	627057	607457	3.23
201	Wausau, WI CSA	160374	155475	3.15
202	Jackson, TN CSA	160398	155529	3.13
203	Champaign, IL MSA	216581	210275	3
204	Florence, SC MSA	198848	193155	2.95
205	New York-Newark, NY CSA	21976224	21361797	2.88
206	Philadelphia, PA CSA	6382714	6207223	2.83
207	Johnson City, TN CSA	493587	480091	2.81
208	Fond du Lac, WI CSA	188226	183193	2.75
209	Albany, NY CSA	1147914	1118095	2.67
210	Ithaca, NY CSA	148890	145100	2.61
211	Corpus Christi, TX CSA	446565	435243	2.6
212	Shreveport, LA CSA	428079	417796	2.46
213	Cape Girardeau, MO CSA	133918	130734	2.44
214	Roanoke, VA MSA	295050	288309	2.34
215	Springfield, IL MSA	206112	201437	2.32
216	Boston, MA CSA	7465634	7298695	2.29
217	Rocky Mount, NC MSA	146276	143026	2.27
218	Evansville, IN MSA	350356	342815	2.2
219	Victoria, TX MSA	114088	111663	2.17
220	Goldsboro, NC MSA	113950	111564	2.14
221	Salinas, CA MSA	410206	401762	2.1
222	Owensboro, KY MSA	112093	109875	2.02
223	Topeka, KS MSA	228894	224551	1.93
224	San Jose-San Francisco, CA CSA	7228948	7092596	1.92
225	La Crosse, WI MSA	129236	126838	1.89
226	Sheboygan, WI MSA	114756	112646	1.87
227	Bloomington, IN MSA	178714	175506	1.83
228	Norwich, CT MSA	263293	259088	1.62
229	Bangor, ME MSA	147180	144919	1.56
230	Kalamazoo, MI MSA	319738	314866	1.55
231	Lansing, MI CSA	526956	519415	1.45
232	Fayetteville, NC MSA	341363	336609	1.41
233	Barnstable Town, MA MSA	224816	222230	1.16
234	Detroit, MI CSA	5410014	5357538	0.98
235	Milwaukee, WI CSA	1706077	1689572	0.98
236	Springfield, MA MSA	686174	680014	0.91
237	Findlay, OH CSA	131079	129978	0.85
238	Canton, OH MSA	409764	406934	0.7
239	Peoria, IL CSA	407572	405149	0.6
240	Anniston, AL MSA	112903	112249	0.58
241	Ames, IA CSA	106729	106205	0.49
242	Monroe, LA CSA	201984	201074	0.45
243	Davenport, IA MSA	377291	376019	0.34
244	Fairmont, WV CSA	149214	148742	0.32
245	Santa Barbara, CA MSA	400335	399347	0.25
246	Jacksonville, NC MSA	150673	150355	0.21
247	Blacksburg, VA MSA	151524	151272	0.17
248	Paducah, KY CSA	135999	135793	0.15
249	Battle Creek, MI MSA	137991	137985	0
250	St. Joseph, MO MSA	122306	122336	-0.02
251	San Angelo, TX MSA	105752	105781	-0.03
252	Gadsden, AL MSA	103362	103459	-0.09
253	Syracuse, NY CSA	731294	732117	-0.11
254	Sioux City, IA CSA	156341	156590	-0.16
255	Florence, AL MSA	142657	142950	-0.2
256	Sumter, SC MSA	104430	104646	-0.21
257	Rochester, NY CSA	1128989	1131543	-0.23
258	Sunbury, PA CSA	173267	173726	-0.26
259	Erie, PA MSA	279811	280843	-0.37
260	Duluth, MN MSA	274244	275486	-0.45
261	Niles, MI MSA	161705	162453	-0.46
262	Lake Charles, LA CSA	223734	225003	-0.56
263	Beckley, WV CSA	125912	126799	-0.7
264	Toledo, OH CSA	715320	720980	-0.79
265	Utica, NY MSA	297286	299896	-0.87
266	Kokomo, IN CSA	136429	137623	-0.87
267	Waterloo, IA MSA	162263	163706	-0.88
268	Cleveland, OH CSA	2917801	2945831	-0.95
269	Grand Forks, ND MSA	96523	97478	-0.98
270	Dayton, OH CSA	1073513	1085094	-1.07
271	Huntington, WV MSA	285475	288649	-1.1
272	Great Falls, MT MSA	79385	80357	-1.21
273	Charleston, WV MSA	305526	309635	-1.33
274	Abilene, TX MSA	158063	160245	-1.36
275	Lima, OH CSA	182151	184743	-1.4
276	Beaumont, TX MSA	379640	385090	-1.42
277	Terre Haute, IN MSA	168217	170943	-1.59
278	Saginaw, MI CSA	314690	320196	-1.72
279	Scranton, PA MSA	550841	560625	-1.75
280	Parkersburg, WV MSA	161724	164624	-1.76
281	Sandusky, OH MSA	78116	79551	-1.8
282	Binghamton, NY MSA	247554	252320	-1.89
283	Williamsport, PA CSA	154900	157958	-1.94
284	Altoona, PA MSA	126494	129144	-2.05
285	Mansfield, OH CSA	172057	175818	-2.14
286	Cumberland, MD MSA	99759	102008	-2.2
287	Danville, IL MSA	81941	83919	-2.36
288	Youngstown, OH CSA	697481	715039	-2.46
289	Pittsburgh, PA CSA	2462571	2525730	-2.5
290	Elmira, NY MSA	88641	91070	-2.67
291	Buffalo, NY CSA	1219054	1254066	-2.79
292	Danville, VA MSA	107087	110156	-2.79
293	Pittsfield, MA MSA	131117	134953	-2.84
294	Columbus, MS CSA	80983	83565	-3.09
295	Muncie, IN MSA	114879	118769	-3.28
296	Union City, TN CSA	72490	75097	-3.47
297	Johnstown, PA MSA	146967	152598	-3.69
298	Wheeling, WV MSA	147329	153172	-3.81
299	Wichita Falls, TX MSA	145528	151524	-3.96
300	Gulfport, MS CSA	380309	396754	-4.14
301	Fort Polk South, LA CSA	81878	85517	-4.26
302	Ocean City, NJ MSA	97724	102326	-4.5
303	Decatur, IL MSA	109309	114706	-4.71
304	Lawton, OK MSA	109181	114996	-5.06
305	Weirton, WV MSA	125168	132008	-5.18
306	New Orleans, LA CSA	1069428	1360436	-21.39

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