5 Fastest-Growing Cities in the U.S. You Should Know
Looking for a change of scenery? Want to know where the next on-trend cities are? Thanks to a study by the personal finance website WalletHub, we now know which U.S. cities are experiencing the fastest economic growth. The study analyzed over 500 cities according to criterion including college-educated population, population growth, employment increase, unemployment decrease, and household income growth. Read on to find out what the top five fastest-growing cities have to offer. Maybe you’ll find some inspiration to travel, or even relocate.
Lehigh Acres, Florida
In southwestern Florida, Lehigh Acres is a largely residential community around a picturesque landscape of canals, lakes, and ponds. This watery environment and constantly warm temperatures make it a popular year-round destination for fishing. Four championship golf courses provide endless challenges on greens and fairways and dozens of parks are ideal for hanging out with the family. At Caloosahatchee Regional Park and Hickey Creek Mitigation Park, there’s superb camping, hiking, and wildlife spotting on the doorstep. A beauty of this suburban Florida enclave is that it’s less than an hour’s drive from Fort Myers and the barrier islands of Big Hickory Island and Estero Island. Spend days on white sand beaches and observe bald eagles, dolphins, and manatees at Lovers Key State Park.
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Across the Cooper River from Charleston, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina doubled in size from 1990 to 2000 and witnessed a 27.5% population growth in 2010. Set amid creeks, harbors, farmland, and parks, it’s easy to see why it has become so desirable. Eclectic boutiques line the oak tree-shaded streets of the Old Village District and history abounds at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. When the sun shines, there’s few better places for outdoor fun in the state than Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and Palmetto Islands County Park. Farm-to-table produce and fresh-caught seafood feature high on the menus of the town’s eateries. Shop for the finest goods at the summertime Mount Pleasant Farmers' Market.
Bend, Oregon
Like beer and the outdoors? Then Bend could be the place for you. This small city sits on the Deschutes River and in the shadow of Mount Bachelor in Oregon’s Cascade Range. There are lakes, ski resorts, biking, and hiking trails within a short drive of downtown. Enjoy some volcanic adventures on a hike to the extinct Pilot Butte and take a tour of the Lava River Cave at Newberry Volcanic National Monument. If water sports are your thing, kayak through river rapids and ride waves at Bend Whitewater Park. Bend’s 20-plus microbreweries give nearby Portland a run for its money in the craft beer stakes. Don't forget to drink your way around the pubs on the Bend Ale Trail.
Enterprise, Nevada
Imagine living a stone’s throw from the joys of Sin City without being suffocated by crowds of excitable tourists. In Enterprise, which is just 10 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, you can enjoy just that. The shopping, dining, and entertainment hubs of Las Vegas South Premium Outlets and Town Square Las Vegas fall within the town’s boundaries. For car enthusiasts, the Carroll Shelby Museum is a big lure, while golfers can choose from two 18-hole courses. If it’s family-friendly fun that you crave, look no further than the slides and pools at Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas. Enterprise is even home to two casino resorts for when you fancy a flutter on the slots.
Frisco, Texas
Seven Texan cities were featured on the top 25 fastest-growing list and Frisco is among the most desirable. As part of the Dallas-Fort Wort metropolitan area, the city stretches inland from the eastern shores of Lewisville Lake. Sports fans laud the city for being the headquarters of five professional teams including the Dallas Cowboys and the FC Dallas soccer club. Museum enthusiasts move between excellent venues such as the National Videogame Museum and Sci-Tech Discovery Center. The great outdoors of Frisco include parks and 90 miles of hiking trails. The city was also recognized as bike-friendly by the League of American Bicyclists. And of course, since it's in Texas, there are boundless opportunities to chow down on fingerpicking barbecue and steaks as big as your face.