Would You Make Enough in the Biggest Boomtown in Your State?

If you live in an area regarded as a boomtown, chances are you could be making quite a bit of money — or surprisingly not enough even in light of the economic growth. 

GOBankingRates determined the biggest boomtown in every state by analyzing data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey going back to 2014, Sperling’s BestPlaces for the cost of living and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Keep reading to discover how much you could earn in the biggest boomtown in every state.

• Household median income: $67,874
• Annual cost of living: $42,557

• Household median income: $95,731
• Annual cost of living: $55,158

• Household median income: $94,188
• Annual cost of living: $53,018

• Household median income: $99,074
• Annual cost of living: $53,293

• Household median income: $122,948
• Annual cost of living: $145,409

• Household median income: $79,026
• Annual cost of living: $53,732

• Household median income: $54,440
• Annual cost of living: $54,662

• Household median income: $54,731
• Annual cost of living: $46,744

• Household median income: $118,064
• Annual cost of living: $64,193

• Household median income: $77,655
• Annual cost of living: $55,669

• Household median income: $82,772
• Annual cost of living: $118,988

• Household median income: $93,296
• Annual cost of living: $57,945

• Household median income: $143,064
• Annual cost of living: $50,718

• Household median income: $117,519
• Annual cost of living: $54,469

• Household median income: $106,846
• Annual cost of living: $47,308

• Household median income: $108,077
• Annual cost of living: $50,414

• Household median income: $66,087
• Annual cost of living: $43,378

• Household median income: $111,927
• Annual cost of living: $48,347

• Household median income: $71,498
• Annual cost of living: $61,317

• Household median income: $165,551
• Annual cost of living: $72,672

• Household median income: $250,000
• Annual cost of living: $161,659

• Household median income: $64,356
• Annual cost of living: $47,411

• Household median income: $76,332
• Annual cost of living: $46,631

• Household median income: $93,762
• Annual cost of living: $45,221

• Household median income: $109,158
• Annual cost of living: $49,004

• Household median income: $74,113
• Annual cost of living: $78,612

• Household median income: $70,202
• Annual cost of living: $42,762

• Household median income: $85,311
• Annual cost of living: $59,844

• Household median income: $90,844
• Annual cost of living: $60,248

• Household median income: $91,151
• Annual cost of living: $71,622

• Household median income: $78,978
• Annual cost of living: $46,098

• Household median income: $40,218
• Annual cost of living: $65,598

• Household median income: $129,688
• Annual cost of living: $65,059

• Household median income: $64,432
• Annual cost of living: $42,885

• Household median income: $89,104
• Annual cost of living: $47,244

• Household median income: $82,547
• Annual cost of living: $42,344

• Household median income: $82,671
• Annual cost of living: $73,495

• Household median income: $42,852
• Annual cost of living: $41,477

• Household median income: $61,365
• Annual cost of living: $52,521

• Household median income: $99,575
• Annual cost of living: $58,171

• Household median income: $71,785
• Annual cost of living: $44,465

• Household median income: $104,880
• Annual cost of living: $59,987

• Household median income: $129,684
• Annual cost of living: $55,682

• Household median income: $115,198
• Annual cost of living: $66,392

• Household median income: $64,931
• Annual cost of living: $63,684

• Household median income: $93,347
• Annual cost of living: $59,867

• Household median income: $155,287
• Annual cost of living: $125,544

• Household median income: $41,103
• Annual cost of living: $42,085

• Household median income: $74,895
• Annual cost of living: $52,154

• Household median income: $74,989
• Annual cost of living: $49,509

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the American Community Survey data in the United States Census to find the biggest boomtowns in every state. Using the American Community Survey from 2022, 2021, 2017 and 2014, GOBankingRates found total population, owner-occupied housing, occupied housing units and per capita income. Each factor was scored for each year. The highest-scoring city was kept for each state and the total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income were all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost of living was sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous cost-of-living indexes. Using the cost of living and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 21, 2024.