U.S. Growth Shifts to Exurban Communities, Led by Texas and Florida
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New Census data shows the fastest-growing U.S. communities are now concentrated on the extreme outer edges of major metropolitan areas, particularly in Texas and Florida. Since 2020, exurbs like Forney, Texas, and Haines City, Florida, have led population growth, while core urban slowdowns are concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest. The nationwide housing stock expanded by 1% over the last year, but the fastest-growing counties outpaced that average by three- to eight-fold.
Facts First
- Fastest growth is in exurbs on the extreme outer edges of major metropolitan areas.
- Forney, Texas, led all cities over 20,000 in growth since 2020 with a 78.9% increase.
- Five of the top 10 fastest-growing cities since 2020 are in Texas, including Hutto and Georgetown.
- Core urban slowdowns are heavily concentrated in Northeast and Midwest metropolitan areas.
- The fastest-growing counties expanded their housing stock three to eight times faster than the national 1% average.
What Happened
U.S. Census estimates show population growth is shifting from cities to exurban communities. The fastest-growing places since 2020 are concentrated on the extreme outer edges of major metropolitan areas, with clusters often located one or two counties beyond traditional suburbs. Outer-ring communities in metropolitan areas such as Dallas, Phoenix, and Atlanta are absorbing more growth than central cities.
Celina, Texas, expanded 24.6% from July 2024 to July 2025, the fastest growth among cities with populations over 20,000 for that period. Since 2020, Forney, Texas, has led all such cities in population growth with a 78.9% increase. Other leading exurbs since 2020 include Haines City, Florida (up 67.4%) and Hutto, Texas (up 66.9%). Five of the top 10 fastest-growing cities since 2020 are located in Texas.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Celina, Princeton, Melissa, and Anna were among the top five fastest-growing spots in the country between July 2024 and July 2025. Major cities like Houston, Phoenix, and San Antonio also saw their populations grow.
Why this Matters to You
If you live in or near a major metro area, your community's character and resources may be changing. This growth pattern could mean longer commutes as people move further out, but it also signals new investment and development in previously quieter areas. For renters and homebuyers, intense housing construction in these fast-growing counties may eventually provide more options, though demand could keep prices competitive. If you are in a Northeastern or Midwestern city, your area may be experiencing a relative slowdown, which could affect local tax bases and service funding.
What's Next
The concentration of growth in specific exurban corridors is likely to continue shaping regional planning and infrastructure demands. Local governments in these high-growth areas may need to accelerate investments in roads, schools, and utilities. The sustained expansion of the housing stock in these counties suggests developers are responding to the demand, which could help moderate housing cost increases over time. The demographic shift may also influence political redistricting and the allocation of federal resources in future years.