America’s Fastest-Growing Suburbs & the Salaries Needed To Afford Them

Moving to the suburbs, especially if you previously resided in an area with a high cost of living, affords many Americans the chance to cut costs while still enjoying a comfortable lifestyle. As more Americans make this shift, GOBankingRates’ research team was able to determine which 50 suburbs are among the fastest-growing in America and how much money you need to make to afford these metro areas.

To determine which 50 suburbs are the fastest-growing, GOBankingRates compared the 2018 and 2023 populations of large suburbs in major metropolitan areas.

NOTE: Some of the apparent population growth is a result of the U.S. Census Bureau redefining some Census Designated Places. See more about the methodology at the end of this gallery.

• Woodbridge, Virginia, was an area where the Census Bureau adjusted the boundaries — which resulted in a population increase of 887% via that definition. Three other suburbs that had significant growth, whether based on classification or actual population booms, are Fulshear (236%), Celina (190%) and Princeton (114%), all of which are in Texas.
• Texas is home to 16 of the fastest-growing suburbs, the most of any state. These suburbs include Fulshear, Celina, Princeton, Prosper, Fate, Anna, Midlothian, Pecan Grove, Leander, Forney, Hutto, New Braunfels, Katy, Kyle, Canyon Lake and Waxahachie.
• Prosper, Texas (No. 6), requires the highest salary ($160,327) for a comfortable life out of all 50 suburbs. Interestingly enough, this is roughly $17,000 less than the suburb’s median household income, which comes out to $187,603 annually.

In order of highest to lowest population increase, here are the 50 fastest-growing suburbs in America. You can also check out the wealthiest suburbs in America here.

• Population increase %: 887.3%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $124,161
• Household median income: $100,370
• Total cost of living annually: $62,081
• Average home value: $506,276

• Population increase %: 236.7%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $119,909
• Household median income: $178,398
• Total cost of living annually: $59,955
• Average home value: $539,418

• Population increase %: 190.2%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $137,965
• Household median income: $155,875
• Total cost of living annually: $68,983
• Average home value: $614,603

• Population increase %: 114.7%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $95,375
• Household median income: $96,766
• Total cost of living annually: $47,688
• Average home value: $324,356

• Population increase %: 84.1%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $137,492
• Household median income: $134,719
• Total cost of living annually: $68,746
• Average home value: $637,189

• Population increase %: 81%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $160,327
• Household median income: $187,603
• Total cost of living annually: $80,164
• Average home value: $826,429

• Population increase %: 77.6%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $121,572
• Household median income: $127,537
• Total cost of living annually: $60,786 
• Average home value: $527,953

• Population increase %: 77.3%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $97,589
• Household median income: $129,500
• Total cost of living annually: $48,795
• Average home value: $368,007

• Population increase %: 70.9%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $96,137
• Household median income: $99,375
• Total cost of living annually: $48,069
• Average home value: $364,654

• Population increase %: 65.4%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $105,272
• Household median income: $92,258
• Total cost of living annually: $52,636
• Average home value: $380,076

• Population increase %: 60.9%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $137,583
• Household median income: $118,446
• Total cost of living annually: $68,791
• Average home value: $632,368

• Population increase %: 55.8%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $114,789
• Household median income: $122,643
• Total cost of living annually: $57,395
• Average home value: $450,186

• Population increase %: 52.1%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $102,787
• Household median income: $98,778
• Total cost of living annually: $51,394
• Average home value: $401,188

• Population increase %: 49.9%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $134,366
• Household median income: $128,115
• Total cost of living annually: $67,183
• Average home value: $604,211

• Population increase %: 48.9%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $104,638
• Household median income: $137,275
• Total cost of living annually: $52,319
• Average home value: $397,963

• Population increase %: 46.2%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $112,432
• Household median income: $140,180
• Total cost of living annually: $56,216
• Average home value: $446,228

• Population increase %: 45.7%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $91,926
• Household median income: $103,360
• Total cost of living annually: $45,963
• Average home value: $321,294

• Population increase %: 45.7%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $116,973
• Household median income: $113,130
• Total cost of living annually: $58,487
• Average home value: $463,947

• Population increase %: 41.7%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $122,989
• Household median income: $106,658
• Total cost of living annually: $61,495
• Average home value: $515,671

• Population increase %: 40.4%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $132,730
• Household median income: $138,442
• Total cost of living annually: $66,365
• Average home value: $612,709

• Population increase %: 38.4%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $116,267
• Household median income: $88,592
• Total cost of living annually: $58,133
• Average home value: $473,259

• Population increase %: 38%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $97,195
• Household median income: $73,348
• Total cost of living annually: $48,598
• Average home value: $364,940

• Population increase %: 35.4%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $97,515
• Household median income: $71,012
• Total cost of living annually: $48,757
• Average home value: $330,225

• Population increase %: 35.3%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $112,482
• Household median income: $119,598
• Total cost of living annually: $56,241
• Average home value: $464,949

• Population increase %: 34.2%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $99,745
• Household median income: $115,149
• Total cost of living annually: $49,873 
• Average home value: $352,173

• Population increase %: 34.2%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $111,951
• Household median income: $79,789
• Total cost of living annually: $55,975
• Average home value: $431,786

• Population increase %: 33.1%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $99,943
• Household median income: $94,208
• Total cost of living annually: $49,972
• Average home value: $353,494

• Population increase %: 32.8%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $109,161
• Household median income: $71,320
• Total cost of living annually: $54,581
• Average home value: $434,125

• Population increase %: 32.3%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $105,045
• Household median income: $88,257
• Total cost of living annually: $52,523
• Average home value: $357,210

• Population increase %: 32.1%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $97,404
• Household median income: $97,589
• Total cost of living annually: $48,702
• Average home value: $352,278

• Population increase %: 32.1%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $93,953
• Household median income: $107,332
• Total cost of living annually: $46,977
• Average home value: $344,379

• Population increase %: 31.9%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $105,007
• Household median income: $127,219
• Total cost of living annually: $52,503
• Average home value: $410,617

• Population increase %: 31.6%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $99,309
• Household median income: $89,645
• Total cost of living annually: $49,654
• Average home value: $319,285

• Population increase %: 31.3%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $150,218
• Household median income: $120,324
• Total cost of living annually: $75,109
• Average home value: $703,069

• Population increase %: 31.3%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $152,479
• Household median income: $88,474
• Total cost of living annually: $76,239
• Average home value: $693,544

• Population increase %: 31.2%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $105,573
• Household median income: $93,114 
• Total cost of living annually: $52,787
• Average home value: $415,885

• Population increase %: 30.7%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $109,419
• Household median income: $107,004
• Total cost of living annually: $54,709
• Average home value: $420,097

• Population increase %: 30.3%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $128,187
• Household median income: $132,435
• Total cost of living annually: $64,093
• Average home value: $578,214

• Population increase %: 30.3%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $86,409
• Household median income: $47,635
• Total cost of living annually: $43,205
• Average home value: $248,507

• Population increase %: 29.1%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $107,324
• Household median income: $73,589
• Total cost of living annually: $53,662
• Average home value: $420,942

• Population increase %: 28.4%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $146,673
• Household median income: $143,031
• Total cost of living annually: $73,336
• Average home value: $689,562

• Population increase %: 28.1%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $97,402
• Household median income: $76,402
• Total cost of living annually: $48,701
• Average home value: $331,571

• Population increase %: 28%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $87,863
• Household median income: $47,506
• Total cost of living annually: $43,932
• Average home value: $291,225

• Population increase %: 27.6%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $119,076
• Household median income: $135,412
• Total cost of living annually: $59,538
• Average home value: $494,247

• Population increase %: 27.5%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $123,056
• Household median income: $81,642
• Total cost of living annually: $61,528
• Average home value: $506,325

• Population increase %: 27.5%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $120,895
• Household median income: $120,777
• Total cost of living annually: $60,448
• Average home value: $519,208

• Population increase %: 27.1%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $95,058
• Household median income: $82,449
• Total cost of living annually: $47,529
• Average home value: $360,915

• Population increase %: 26.8%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $76,618
• Household median income: $40,103
• Total cost of living annually: $38,309
• Average home value: $161,629

• Population increase %: 26.7%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $91,815
• Household median income: $98,421
• Total cost of living annually: $45,908
• Average home value: $322,421

• Population increase %: 26.2%
• Income needed to live comfortably: $108,487
• Household median income: $76,196
• Total cost of living annually: $54,243
• Average home value: $405,506

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations/items listed.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates found suburbs with 2023 populations between 20,000 and 100,000. Metro areas with at least 1 million people were kept for this study. GOBankingRates then found total population for 2023, total population for 2018 and household median income from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The percentage change in population from 2018 to 2023 was then calculated. The highest percentage changes were selected to represent the fastest-growing suburbs. The cost of living was sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous indexes. Using data fom the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. The average home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for February 2025 and average mortgage was calculated using Federal Reserve Economic Data. Cost of living then was calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 24, 2025.