Looking to make a move that will benefit your finances? Consider relocating to one of these 49 boomtowns experiencing positive economic activity and population growth.
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Using the 5-year 2023 and 2015 U.S. Census American Community Survey, GOBankingRates analyzed cities with total populations between 25,000 and 500,000. (Hawaii’s locations are considered Census Designated Places and weren’t used in this study.) We sourced each city’s total population and per capita income and calculated the eight-year changes (2015-2023) in quantity and percentages to identify the city in each state with the largest population increase.
Key Findings
- Fulshear, Texas, is the biggest boomtown in the United States. Over the span of eight years, this Southern city has grown by a whopping 736% in total population.
- The total population in South Carolina, Arizona and Utah’s respective boomtowns has increased by more than 100%. Fort Mill (126%), Queen Creek (120%) and Herriman (115%) have experienced triple-digit resident growth from 2015 to 2023.
- 13 U.S. boomtowns have seen their populations skyrocket by more than 50%. They include Fulshear (TX), Fort Mill (SC), Queen Creek (AZ), Herriman (UT), Fuquay-Varina (NC), Windsor (CO), Kiryas Joel (NY), Lathrop (CA), Spring Hill (TN), Waukee (IA), Kuna (ID), Happy Valley (OR) and Westfield (IN).
In alphabetical state order, here’s the biggest boomtown in every state. Plus, find out how much it costs to live in a boomtown.
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1. Auburn, Alabama
- 2023 total population: 78,738
- 2023 per capita income: $35,416
- % change in population (2015-23): 34.2%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 40.2%
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2. Fairbanks, Alaska
- 2023 total population: 32,242
- 2023 per capita income: $36,392
- % change in population (2015-23): 0.2%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 32.9%
3. Queen Creek, Arizona
- 2023 total population: 66,369
- 2023 per capita income: $50,866
- % change in population (2015-23): 120.2%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 65.7%
4. Bentonville, Arkansas
- 2023 total population: 56,326
- 2023 per capita income: $55,695
- % change in population (2015-23): 39.5%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 59%
5. Lathrop, California
- 2023 total population: 32,696
- 2023 per capita income: $36,037
- % change in population (2015-23): 66.2%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 94.6%
6. Windsor, Colorado
- 2023 total population: 35,918
- 2023 per capita income: $55,691
- % change in population (2015-23): 75.6%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 52.5%
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7. Stamford, Connecticut
- 2023 total population: 135,806
- 2023 per capita income: $64,382
- % change in population (2015-23): 7.3%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 34.6%
8. Dover, Delaware
- 2023 total population: 39,491
- 2023 per capita income: $30,801
- % change in population (2015-23): 6.3%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 40.3%
9. Saint Cloud, Florida
- 2023 total population: 61,963
- 2023 per capita income: $28,985
- % change in population (2015-23): 49.3%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 33.9%
10. Canton, Georgia
- 2023 total population: 34,587
- 2023 per capita income: $35,206
- % change in population (2015-23): 42.3%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 52.1%
11. Kuna, Idaho
- 2023 total population: 25,960
- 2023 per capita income: $33,924
- % change in population (2015-23): 56.8%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 74.3%
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12. Plainfield, Illinois
- 2023 total population: 45,705
- 2023 per capita income: $53,675
- % change in population (2015-23): 11.9%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 43.2%
13. Westfield, Indiana
- 2023 total population: 51,109
- 2023 per capita income: $59,636
- % change in population (2015-23): 51.5%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 56.9%
14. Waukee, Iowa
- 2023 total population: 26,974
- 2023 per capita income: $52,233
- % change in population (2015-23): 59.1%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 33.4%
15. Lenexa, Kansas
- 2023 total population: 57,986
- 2023 per capita income: $55,993
- % change in population (2015-23): 15%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 43.6%
16. Georgetown, Kentucky
- 2023 total population: 38,206
- 2023 per capita income: $35,759
- % change in population (2015-23): 23.4%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 43.6%
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17. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- 2023 total population: 81,679
- 2023 per capita income: $35,847
- % change in population (2015-23): 10.1%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 49.8%
18. South Portland, Maine
- 2023 total population: 26,780
- 2023 per capita income: $49,719
- % change in population (2015-23): 5.8%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 62.4%
19. Frederick, Maryland
- 2023 total population: 80,617
- 2023 per capita income: $47,262
- % change in population (2015-23): 19.6%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 47.5%
20. Revere, Massachusetts
- 2023 total population: 59,933
- 2023 per capita income: $38,775
- % change in population (2015-23): 12.9%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 45%
21. Hamtramck, Michigan
- 2023 total population: 27,830
- 2023 per capita income: $14,820
- % change in population (2015-23): 25.6%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 40.4%
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22. Lakeville, Minnesota
- 2023 total population: 72,480
- 2023 per capita income: $56,494
- % change in population (2015-23): 23.7%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 51.2%
23. Olive Branch, Mississippi
- 2023 total population: 46,538
- 2023 per capita income: $40,626
- % change in population (2015-23): 32.9%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 46.7%
24. Wentzville, Missouri
- 2023 total population: 45,734
- 2023 per capita income: $45,841
- % change in population (2015-23): 39.3%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 60.6%
25. Bozeman, Montana
- 2023 total population: 55,042
- 2023 per capita income: $48,994
- % change in population (2015-23): 36.5%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 84.8%
26. Bellevue, Nebraska
- 2023 total population: 64,355
- 2023 per capita income: $40,018
- % change in population (2015-23): 19%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 48.9%
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27. Henderson, Nevada
- 2023 total population: 324,523
- 2023 per capita income: $49,141
- % change in population (2015-23): 19.4%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 47%
28. Rochester, New Hampshire
- 2023 total population: 32,866
- 2023 per capita income: $40,144
- % change in population (2015-23): 9.7%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 51%
29. Jersey City, New Jersey
- 2023 total population: 289,691
- 2023 per capita income: $57,746
- % change in population (2015-23): 11.6%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 72.8%
30. Rio Rancho, New Mexico
- 2023 total population: 106,533
- 2023 per capita income: $39,161
- % change in population (2015-23): 16%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 45%
31. Kiryas Joel, New York
- 2023 total population: 36,572
- 2023 per capita income: $12,973
- % change in population (2015-23): 68.2%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 69.4%
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32. Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
- 2023 total population: 37,749
- 2023 per capita income: $43,460
- % change in population (2015-23): 76.4%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 64.4%
33. West Fargo, North Dakota
- 2023 total population: 39,325
- 2023 per capita income: $48,454
- % change in population (2015-23): 31.6%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 45.7%
34. Perrysburg, Ohio
- 2023 total population: 25,065
- 2023 per capita income: $60,627
- % change in population (2015-23): 18%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 57%
35. Jenks, Oklahoma
- 2023 total population: 26,519
- 2023 per capita income: $43,870
- % change in population (2015-23): 39.4%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 31.2%
36. Happy Valley, Oregon
- 2023 total population: 25,572
- 2023 per capita income: $54,342
- % change in population (2015-23): 55.3%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 41.7%
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37. Hazleton, Pennsylvania
- 2023 total population: 29,886
- 2023 per capita income: $22,018
- % change in population (2015-23): 19.1%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 29.7%
38. Providence, Rhode Island
- 2023 total population: 190,214
- 2023 per capita income: $36,694
- % change in population (2015-23): 6.5%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 64.8%
39. Fort Mill, South Carolina
- 2023 total population: 28,281
- 2023 per capita income: $51,585
- % change in population (2015-23): 125.8%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 63.6%
40. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- 2023 total population: 197,642
- 2023 per capita income: $43,231
- % change in population (2015-23): 20.3%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 51.6%
41. Spring Hill, Tennessee
- 2023 total population: 53,585
- 2023 per capita income: $46,007
- % change in population (2015-23): 63.2%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 58.5%
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42. Fulshear, Texas
- 2023 total population: 26,986
- 2023 per capita income: $62,708
- % change in population (2015-23): 736%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 6.1%
43. Herriman, Utah
- 2023 total population: 57,336
- 2023 per capita income: $37,678
- % change in population (2015-23): 114.6%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 65.5%
44. Burlington, Vermont
- 2023 total population: 44,649
- 2023 per capita income: $39,027
- % change in population (2015-23): 4.9%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 58%
45. Suffolk, Virginia
- 2023 total population: 96,638
- 2023 per capita income: $45,135
- % change in population (2015-23): 12.1%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 52.4%
46. Tumwater, Washington
- 2023 total population: 26,519
- 2023 per capita income: $48,005
- % change in population (2015-23): 43.5%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 65.6%
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47. Morgantown, West Virginia
- 2023 total population: 30,273
- 2023 per capita income: $30,286
- % change in population (2015-23): 0.4%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 37%
48. Fitchburg, Wisconsin
- 2023 total population: 31,566
- 2023 per capita income: $55,926
- % change in population (2015-23): 18.6%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 60.6%
49. Gillette, Wyoming
- 2023 total population: 33,278
- 2023 per capita income: $39,578
- % change in population (2015-23): 5.2%
- % change in per capita income (2015-23): 23.4%
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Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: Using the 5-year 2023 and 2015 U.S. Census American Community Survey, places with total populations between 25,000 and 500,000 and identified as a city in the ACS were selected for this study. Locations in Hawaii are considered CDPs and were not used. A number of factors were sourced, including population and per capita income. The 8-year changes in quantity and percentages for each data point were calculated for every city, and the city in each state with the largest increase in total population were identified. All data was collected on Nov. 11, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Biggest Boomtown in Every State
