If you’ve been following this blog for a while now, you know that twice a year we release our semi-annual population study to share the 15 metro and micro areas in the country that are growing the fastest. This iteration looks at population change (as a percentage) between April 2023 and April 2024.
The Definition of Metropolitan vs. Micropolitan Areas
As of July 2023, there are 387 metropolitan statistical areas and 538 micropolitan statistical areas in the United States. According to the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
- Micropolitan areas are those with an urban area of at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 people.
- Metropolitan areas have at least one urban area with a population of 50,000 or higher.
Past Population Studies
Here’s a rundown of our recent population studies that use 2020 U.S. Census data:
The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (10/2022 to 10/2023)
The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (4/2022 to 4/2023)
And here are a few others that use U.S. Census 2010 data:
The 15 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas (10/2021 to 10/2022)
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)
Top 15 Fast-growing Metropolitan Areas
Now for the 15 fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. between April 2023 and April 2024:
#15: Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas | 2.63%
#14: Hinesville, Georgia | 2.66% (#12 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#13: Midland, Texas | 2.84%
#12: Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Alabama | 2.86% (#11 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#11: Lake Charles, Louisiana | 2.90% (#15 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#10: Punta Gorda, Florida | 2.93% (#5 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#9: Panama City, Florida | 3.00% (#13 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#8: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida | 3.03% (#4 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#7: Spartanburg, South Carolina | 3.21% (#9 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#6: Port St. Lucie, Florida | 3.35%
#5: North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida| 3.45% (#6 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#4: Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida | 3.91% (#3 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#3: Ocala, Florida | 4.11% (#8 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#2: The Villages, Florida | 4.54% (#1 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#1: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina/North Carolina | 4.94% (#2 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
A few observations about metropolitan area growth:
- As with the last population study, growth has slowed down some. Just 20 metropolitan areas had at least 2.5% annual growth.
- Florida continues its trend of growth, with eight of the top 15 metros for growth there.
- The southern United States are clearly popular, with two markets in Texas being the only ones to fall outside the sun belt.
- Of the 10 largest metropolitan areas, only one saw growth exceeding 2%: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (2.07%). The top three held steady: New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Top 15 Fast-growing Micropolitan Areas
And now a look at the 15 fastest growing micropolitan areas in the U.S. between April 2023 and April 2024:
#15: Brenham, Texas | 2.02%
#14: Prineville, Oregon | 2.09% (#6 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#13: Lewisburg, Tennessee | 2.15% (#12 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#12: Granbury, Texas | 2.17% (#13 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#11: Sanford, North Carolina | 2.18%
#10: Spirit Lake, Iowa | (#15 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#9: Athens, Texas | 2.32%
#8: Albemarle, North Carolina | 2.41%
#7: Cedar City, Utah | 2.78% (#4 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#6: Huntsville, Texas | 2.78%
#5: Hailey, Idaho | 3.13% (#2 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#4: Heber, Utah | 3.25%
#3: Rockport, Texas | 3.78% (#9 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#2: Clewiston, Florida | 4.82% (#7 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
#1: Jefferson, Georgia | 6.42% (#1 fastest growing October 2022-October 2023)
A few observations about micropolitan area growth (and loss):
- Five micro areas in the top 15 fall within the great state of Texas and two are in North Carolina. Otherwise, the list has markets across the country.
- Jefferson, Georgia, tops the list again at #1, which is certainly attributable to the state’s $2.6 billion investment (by way of tax breaks and other incentives) to convince South Korean electric vehicle battery company SK Battery to build plants in the town.
This semi-annual population data comes from STI: PopStats. Look for our next study sometime in February 2025.
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