Fastest Growing US Cities— The 2024 Rankings and What’s Driving Them

America’s growth map is currently dominated by the “suburban-metropolitan” hybrid. As of 2026, the fastest growing US cities by percentage are often smaller satellite cities that offer proximity to major hubs but with lower price tags. Princeton, Texas, has recently topped growth charts with a staggering 30% annual population increase. Other leaders include:

The fastest growing US cities in recent years are dominated by Sun Belt metros – led by cities like Georgetown, TX; Leander, TX; Cape Coral, FL; Buckeye, AZ; and Frisco, TX – cities that are largely suburban or exurban, affordable relative to coastal metros, and located in states with no income tax.

Top 15 Fastest Growing US Cities (by % population growth)

*Note: Growth rates are approximate based on recent Census data and vary by exact measurement period.*

The Five Cities Worth Understanding in Depth

Georgetown, Texas

A small city north of Austin that has become one of the fastest-growing in the country purely because Austin became too expensive. Georgetown offers the Austin lifestyle adjacency – tech jobs within commuting distance, Hill Country aesthetics – at prices that were genuinely affordable until recently.

Buckeye, Arizona

Phoenix’s westward expansion has reached Buckeye, which was effectively desert a decade ago. Large master-planned communities, proximity to Phoenix employers, and Arizona’s warm climate drive relentless growth.

Frisco, Texas

The corporate headquarters relocation wave has directly fed Frisco. Companies like Toyota, Liberty Mutual, and dozens of others have moved regional or national HQs to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Frisco captures that growth at the residential level.

Greenville, South Carolina

One of the more interesting growth stories – a mid-size Southern city that has successfully attracted manufacturing (BMW, Michelin), positioned itself for remote workers, and developed a genuinely appealing downtown. Growing without the Texas heat and hype.

Huntsville, Alabama

Space and defense spending has transformed Huntsville. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the Army’s Redstone Arsenal, and a growing private aerospace sector have turned this city into one of the most educated and economically dynamic mid-size cities in the South.

What’s Driving All of This?

Four converging forces explain the Sun Belt growth wave:

The Catch: Growing Pains

Fast growth creates real problems. The cities at the top of these lists are now dealing with:

• Traffic infrastructure that was built for a fraction of current populations
• Housing affordability deteriorating as demand outpaces supply
• School overcrowding and infrastructure strain
• Water scarcity (particularly acute in Arizona and Texas)

The cities that manage this growth well will cement their status. Those that don’t will see the migration wave pass them by for the next affordable alternative.

Bottom Line

The fastest growing US cities share a profile: Sun Belt location, low or no state income tax, relative affordability, and proximity to job markets. Georgetown and Leander are growing because Austin got expensive. Buckeye is growing because Phoenix got expensive. The pattern repeats. Understanding this growth isn’t just demographic trivia – it’s a map of where economic opportunity and quality of life are intersecting right now.