It’s that time: time for SiteSeer’s semi-annual population study to share the 15 metropolitan and micropolitan areas in the United States that are growing fast! We’re looking at population change as a percentage between April 2024 and April 2025.
What Are Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas? A Definition
First, a reminder of a few important definitions. There are 387 metropolitan statistical areas and 538 micropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. According to the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
- Micropolitan areas have 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.
What cities are growing, and how similar is the list to SiteSeer’s last iteration of this population study (October 2023-October 2024)? Let’s dive into it!
Top 15 Fast-growing Metropolitan Areas in the U.S.
Here are the 15 fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. between April 2024 and April 2025:
#15: Huntsville, AL | 2.33% (#13 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#14: Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | 2.36% (#10 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#13 (tie): Midland, TX | 2.41% (#4 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#13 (tie): Yuma, AZ | 2.41% (#9 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#12: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 2.49%
#11: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 2.55% (#3 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#10: Provo-Orem, UT | 2.76%
#8 (tie): Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 2.77%
#8 (tie): Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 2.77%
#7: Greenville, NC | 2.78%
#6: Raleigh-Cary, NC | 2.80%
#5: Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 2.86% (#11 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#4: Panama City, FL | 3.09% (#8 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#3: Spartanburg, SC | 3.11% (#7 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#2: Ocala, FL | 3.45% (#2 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#1: Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 3.57% (#1 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
Note: Due to ties in growth rates (e.g. Houston and Orlando at #8), more than 15 metro areas appear on this list.
Now for the why! Here are a few observations about metropolitan area growth:
- Provo’s entry into the top 15 fastest-growing metros is likely due to its growing status as a hub for young professionals and families seeking affordable housing. Even amid the recent slowdown in high-tech job growth, Utah has a high concentration of tech employment—and Provo-Orem makes up about 33% of the state’s tech sector employment, bolstered by companies like Qualtrics and Vivint. Vivint expanded its presence in Provo in 2024.
- Cape Coral-Fort Myers has returned to the top 15, which may be due to its appeal as an affordable retirement destination as well as its strong job growth in 2024.
- As we’ve seen in our past population studies, the Sun Belt continues to appeal to people, presumably for its lower cost of living, warmer climate and general affordability.
Top 15 Fast-growing Micropolitan Areas in the U.S.
And here are the 15 fastest growing micropolitan areas in the U.S. between April 2024 and April 2025:
#15: Jesup, GA | 1.74%
#14: Fort Morgan, CO | 1.77%
#13: Oxford, MS | 1.94%
#12: Shelbyville, TN | 1.96% (#11 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#11 (tie): Huntsville, TX | 2.01% (#4 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#11 (tie): Sandpoint, ID | 2.01%
#10 (tie): Spearfish, SD | 2.03% (#7 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#10 (tie): Dumas, TX | 2.03%
#9: Lewisburg, TN | 2.07% (#13 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#8 (tie): Dayton, TN | 2.11%
#8 (tie): Durant, OK | 2.11%
#7: Laramie, WY | 2.14%
#6: Williston, ND | 2.23%
#5: Hobbs, NM | 2.54%
#4: Pearsall, TX | 4.56%
#3: Clewiston, FL | 4.76% (#1 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
#2: Ellensburg, WA | 4.92%
#1: Jefferson, GA | 5.07% (#2 fastest growing October 2023–October 2024)
Note: Due to ties in growth rates (e.g. Spearfish, SD, and Sandpoint, ID at #10), more than 15 micropolitan areas appear on this list.
And here are some observations about micropolitan area growth:
- This population study has nine newcomers to the list, with just six micropolitan areas appearing again since the October 2023-October 2024 iteration. Several areas—including Pearsall, TX; Hobbs, NM; and Huntsville, TX—are seeing strong job growth in health care, social services, education, and public administration. Other newcomers like Durant, OK; Dayton, TN; and Lewisburg, TN offer lower housing costs, lower taxes, and proximity to larger metropolitan areas—all features that appeal to those looking to stretch their dollars without sacrificing quality of life of job opportunities.
- Ellensburg, WA, may be growing thanks to the city’s economic development efforts. The town’s 2024-2029 strategic vision prioritizes establishing infrastructure and industrial land as well as affordable housing.
We love data here at SiteSeer, and have our data partner STI: PopStats to thank for providing this semi-annual population data . Keep an eye out for our next study sometime in early 2026.
It’s always interesting to see how metro and micro areas around the country are growing and where people are migrating, and if you’re in the retail business, it’s valuable to investigate further! SiteSeer can help with that! Take a demo today to learn more about SiteSeer’s powerful location site selection platform that can tell you where to grow, guide you how to approach it, and improve your location decision-making process.
