The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (10/21 to 10/22)

People in the U.S. are on the move always! With our recent annual/semi-annual population data update last month, we give you our latest study of population change in metro and micro areas between October 2021 and October 2022.

Past SiteSeer Population Studies

Here’s a rundown of our past population studies:

The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (4/2021 to 4/2022)

The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (10/2020 to 10/2021)

The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (4/2020 to 4/2021)

The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (10/2019 to 10/2020)

The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (6/2018 to 6/2020)

The Definition of Metropolitan vs. Micropolitan Areas

And here are important definitions from the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

• Micropolitan areas are those with a core urban area of at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 people.
• Metropolitan areas have at least one city with a population of 50,000 or higher.

As of March 2020, there are 384 metropolitan statistical areas and 543 micropolitan statistical areas in the United States.

Top 15 Fast-growing Metropolitan Areas

And now a look at the 15 fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. between October 2021 and October 2022 (as compared to Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021):

#15: North Post-Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, and Punta Gorda, Florida | 2.96% (#19 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)  

#14: Provo-Orem, Utah | 2.97% (#7 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)  

#13: Idaho Falls, Idaho | 2.98% (#15 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#12: Bend, Oregon | 2.85% (#32 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#11: Logan, Utah/Idaho | 3.01% (#10 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#10: Hinesville, Georgia | 3.07% (#9 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#9: Boise, Idaho | 3.09% (#4 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#8: Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, South Carolina | 3.14% (#75 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#7: Sherman-Denison, Texas | 3.15% (#77 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#6: Huntsville, Alabama | 3.19% (#20 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#5: Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida | 3.60% (#17 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#4: North Post-Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, and Punta Gorda, Florida | 3.38% (#6 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#3: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho | 4.30% (#3 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#2: Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina/North Carolina | 4.39% (#1 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#1: St. George, Utah | 4.87% (#2 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

A few observations about metropolitan area growth (and loss):

• Three of the top 15 fastest-growing metropolitan areas are in Florida.
• Four of the top 15 fastest-growing metropolitan areas are in Idaho.
• Several metro areas that were among the 15 fastest-growing from October 2020-October 2021 are still growing at 4%+.
• Despite a slowing housing market due to rising interest rates, relocation hasn't slowed down. In fact, 44 markets had over 2% annual growth.
• The biggest movers in the top 15 were Sherman-Denison, Texas, (from 77^th to 7^th) and Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, South Carolina (from 75^th to 8^th).
• Though not listed here, four of the 15 biggest losers (% population decline) are in California: Napa, San Francisco-Oakland-Berkley, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara.
• Texas also saw several metropolitan areas losing the biggest % of population. Odessa, Midland, and San Angelo were all in the 15 greatest % decline.

Top 15 Fast-growing Micropolitan Areas

Now for the 15 fastest-growing micropolitan areas in the U.S. between October 2021 and October 2022 (as compared to Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021):

#15: Shelton, Washington | 2.42% (#27 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#14: Pahrump, Nevada | 2.48% (#11 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#13: McPherson, Kansas | 2.51% (#391 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#12: Mineral Wells, Texas | 2.60% (#16 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#11: Rexburg, Idaho | 2.70% (#9 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#10: Prineville, Oregon | 2.79% (#14 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#9: Bozeman, Montana | 2.79% (#22 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#8: Huntsville, Texas | 2.86% (#8 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#7: Sandpoint, Idaho | 3.60% (#7 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#6: Clewiston, Florida | 3.68% (#543 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#5: Granbury, Texas | 3.68% (#20 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#4: Pinehurst-Southern Pines, North Carolina | 3.71% (#40 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#3: Cedar City, Utah | 4.46% (#10 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#2: Mountain Home, Idaho | 5.14% (#92 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

#1: Jefferson, Georgia | 5.36% (#1 fastest growing for Oct. 2020-Oct. 2021)

A few observations about micropolitan area growth (and loss):

• Micropolitan areas seem to follow the metropolitan areas. Most high-growth markets were in the mountain west and south.
• There were several micropolitan areas that saw big jumps in % growth year over year. Most notably, Clewiston, FL, went from #543 to #6 in % growth this year.
• Idaho’s smaller micropolitan areas draw people from across the nation as well. Three of the 15 fastest-growing micropolitan areas are there.
• Same goes for small-town Texas. Three of the 15 fastest-growing micropolitan areas are there.

This has been a sneak peek at the new population data from STI: PopStats (the January 2023 release that compares population for 4th quarter—Oct 2022 to October 2021). For SiteSeer users that subscribe to PopStats, this latest release is now available in the software.

Not a SiteSeer subscriber yet? Learn more about how the platform can help you make critical decisions about markets, site selection and more. Contact us to take a demo.