Biggest Boomtowns in Every State

Boomtown. The word sounds like it’s describing an explosion — and in a way, it is. Boomtowns are considered the fastest-growing cities in America due to rapid business and population growth. An example of such a place is Woodbridge, Virginia, which saw massive five- and eight-year percentage changes in population at 863.35% and 840.66%, respectively.

But Woodbridge isn’t the only boomtown out there. GOBankingRates found one in every state by looking at the one-, five- and eight-year changes in population, occupied housing units and owner-occupied housing units of cities with a population of more than 25,000 but less than 500,000. Check out the list and find out if you’re living in one of America’s most thriving cities.

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 13.94%
  • 5 years: 23.74%
  • 8 years: 34.71%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 15.02%
  • 5 years: 24.63%
  • 8 years: 35.34%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 21.13%
  • 5 years: 52.17%
  • 8 years: 58.02%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 5.06%
  • 5 years: 1.35%
  • 8 years: 3.53%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.59%
  • 5 years: 0.08%
  • 8 years: 1.28%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.78%
  • 5 years: 2.37%
  • 8 years: -0.28%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 20.47%
  • 5 years: 51.26%
  • 8 years: 70.48%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 22.99%
  • 5 years: 55.65%
  • 8 years: 74.96%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 27.89%
  • 5 years: 102.15%
  • 8 years: 126.85%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 6.78%
  • 5 years: 12.73%
  • 8 years: 19.17%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 6.90%
  • 5 years: 12.97%
  • 8 years: 19.39%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 12.98%
  • 5 years: 23.42%
  • 8 years: 23.55%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 9.23%
  • 5 years: 20.60%
  • 8 years: 34.62%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 9.33%
  • 5 years: 21.05%
  • 8 years: 35.78%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 7.77%
  • 5 years: 12.83%
  • 8 years: 20.54%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 35.02%
  • 5 years: 51.14%
  • 8 years: 65.98%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 35.22%
  • 5 years: 51.46%
  • 8 years: 66.63%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 32.84%
  • 5 years: 48.93%
  • 8 years: 67.07%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 5.51%
  • 5 years: 4.19%
  • 8 years: 3.39%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.68%
  • 5 years: 4.35%
  • 8 years: 3.56%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 7.10%
  • 5 years: 11.23%
  • 8 years: -0.13%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 2.82%
  • 5 years: 4.25%
  • 8 years: 6.31%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 3.31%
  • 5 years: 5.89%
  • 8 years: 7.37%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.81%
  • 5 years: 0.80%
  • 8 years: -4.99%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 16.96%
  • 5 years: 139.76%
  • 8 years: 255.02%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 16.95%
  • 5 years: 139.75%
  • 8 years: 255.00%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 17.77%
  • 5 years: 147.37%
  • 8 years: 261.35%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 19.55%
  • 5 years: 27.79%
  • 8 years: 32.30%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 19.42%
  • 5 years: 27.54%
  • 8 years: 32.80%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 52.88%
  • 5 years: 69.17%
  • 8 years: 38.09%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 1.26%
  • 5 years: 0.56%
  • 8 years: 3.20%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 1.35%
  • 5 years: 0.92%
  • 8 years: 3.58%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 3.94%
  • 5 years: 13.76%
  • 8 years: 14.73%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 6.90%
  • 5 years: 30.57%
  • 8 years: 47.61%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 6.94%
  • 5 years: 30.67%
  • 8 years: 47.80%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 8.09%
  • 5 years: 35.29%
  • 8 years: 57.58%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 6.05%
  • 5 years: 3.95%
  • 8 years: 4.69%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 6.28%
  • 5 years: 4.06%
  • 8 years: 4.81%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.64%
  • 5 years: 4.77%
  • 8 years: 2.81%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 9.71%
  • 5 years: 33.28%
  • 8 years: 46.53%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 9.79%
  • 5 years: 33.43%
  • 8 years: 46.76%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 13.47%
  • 5 years: 36.91%
  • 8 years: 46.25%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 2.47%
  • 5 years: 24.21%
  • 8 years: 39.42%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.58%
  • 5 years: 24.60%
  • 8 years: 39.71%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 1.55%
  • 5 years: 26.04%
  • 8 years: 35.25%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 3.56%
  • 5 years: 10.84%
  • 8 years: 16.02%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 3.61%
  • 5 years: 10.90%
  • 8 years: 16.31%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.34%
  • 5 years: 9.19%
  • 8 years: 17.34%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 5.58%
  • 5 years: 14.42%
  • 8 years: 22.14%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.80%
  • 5 years: 15.34%
  • 8 years: 23.31%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 7.50%
  • 5 years: 19.46%
  • 8 years: 25.12%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 7.21%
  • 5 years: 11.19%
  • 8 years: 14.58%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 7.66%
  • 5 years: 12.29%
  • 8 years: 16.28%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 12.02%
  • 5 years: 27.48%
  • 8 years: 19.34%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 2.03%
  • 5 years: 2.12%
  • 8 years: 2.77%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.34%
  • 5 years: 2.39%
  • 8 years: 2.86%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.57%
  • 5 years: 14.68%
  • 8 years: 11.10%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 14.39%
  • 5 years: 14.53%
  • 8 years: 16.24%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 14.50%
  • 5 years: 14.61%
  • 8 years: 16.51%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 16.85%
  • 5 years: 2.92%
  • 8 years: 0.85%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 10.09%
  • 5 years: 10.99%
  • 8 years: 12.08%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 10.82%
  • 5 years: 10.24%
  • 8 years: 10.94%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 9.77%
  • 5 years: 9.48%
  • 8 years: 6.94%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 26.93%
  • 5 years: 25.30%
  • 8 years: 23.77%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 28.36%
  • 5 years: 27.29%
  • 8 years: 25.68%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 31.20%
  • 5 years: 55.65%
  • 8 years: 44.10%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 0.13%
  • 5 years: 5.05%
  • 8 years: 9.25%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 0.25%
  • 5 years: 5.58%
  • 8 years: 9.90%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.62%
  • 5 years: 9.06%
  • 8 years: 9.43%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 12.23%
  • 5 years: 9.52%
  • 8 years: 9.73%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 12.63%
  • 5 years: 9.69%
  • 8 years: 11.34%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 14.74%
  • 5 years: 17.66%
  • 8 years: 17.94%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 6.94%
  • 5 years: 26.44%
  • 8 years: 42.46%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 7.00%
  • 5 years: 26.59%
  • 8 years: 42.82%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.72%
  • 5 years: 28.73%
  • 8 years: 42.43%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 6.71%
  • 5 years: 23.50%
  • 8 years: 35.00%
• Change in owner occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 6.88%
  • 5 years: 23.87%
  • 8 years: 38.06%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 12.36%
  • 5 years: 28.78%
  • 8 years: 30.43%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 1.78%
  • 5 years: 10.15%
  • 8 years: 15.52%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 1.92%
  • 5 years: 10.38%
  • 8 years: 15.62%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 1.36%
  • 5 years: 13.61%
  • 8 years: 17.25%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 2.32%
  • 5 years: 69.39%
  • 8 years: 84.90%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.32%
  • 5 years: 69.43%
  • 8 years: 84.94%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 4.20%
  • 5 years: 87.16%
  • 8 years: 93.02%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 2.12%
  • 5 years: 6.01%
  • 8 years: 7.92%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.35%
  • 5 years: 6.33%
  • 8 years: 8.48%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 1.44%
  • 5 years: 10.02%
  • 8 years: 12.36%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 21.28%
  • 5 years: 22.08%
  • 8 years: 31.59%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 21.99%
  • 5 years: 22.99%
  • 8 years: 33.36%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 25.56%
  • 5 years: 57.09%
  • 8 years: 55.56%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 6.78%
  • 5 years: 8.35%
  • 8 years: 10.84%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 6.80%
  • 5 years: 8.82%
  • 8 years: 12.50%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 9.41%
  • 5 years: 21.24%
  • 8 years: 15.41%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 25.43%
  • 5 years: 50.00%
  • 8 years: 56.74%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 26.04%
  • 5 years: 50.81%
  • 8 years: 56.20%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 42.94%
  • 5 years: 94.01%
  • 8 years: 66.52%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 25.80%
  • 5 years: 36.86%
  • 8 years: 43.24%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 26.08%
  • 5 years: 37.42%
  • 8 years: 43.97%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 32.82%
  • 5 years: 32.36%
  • 8 years: 27.25%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 4.14%
  • 5 years: 20.14%
  • 8 years: 40.35%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 4.16%
  • 5 years: 20.20%
  • 8 years: 40.37%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 6.41%
  • 5 years: 21.35%
  • 8 years: 43.68%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 1.97%
  • 5 years: 3.57%
  • 8 years: 3.87%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.08%
  • 5 years: 3.70%
  • 8 years: 4.06%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.61%
  • 5 years: 7.52%
  • 8 years: 2.53%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 9.93%
  • 5 years: 26.99%
  • 8 years: 43.56%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 9.90%
  • 5 years: 26.83%
  • 8 years: 43.85%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 11.49%
  • 5 years: 21.94%
  • 8 years: 39.90%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 5.74%
  • 5 years: 18.44%
  • 8 years: 24.74%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.86%
  • 5 years: 18.74%
  • 8 years: 25.07%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 13.14%
  • 5 years: 50.69%
  • 8 years: 48.45%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 18.28%
  • 5 years: 17.57%
  • 8 years: 16.27%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 18.59%
  • 5 years: 18.68%
  • 8 years: 17.10%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 22.36%
  • 5 years: 5.70%
  • 8 years: 5.25%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 5.20%
  • 5 years: 5.57%
  • 8 years: 6.04%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.50%
  • 5 years: 5.73%
  • 8 years: 6.57%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 13.79%
  • 5 years: 28.03%
  • 8 years: 24.19%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 19.07%
  • 5 years: 75.05%
  • 8 years: 112.74%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 19.16%
  • 5 years: 74.30%
  • 8 years: 111.83%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 17.19%
  • 5 years: 108.32%
  • 8 years: 154.26%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 4.60%
  • 5 years: 12.73%
  • 8 years: 20.03%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 4.96%
  • 5 years: 12.88%
  • 8 years: 20.13%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 5.71%
  • 5 years: 12.81%
  • 8 years: 20.04%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 15.80%
  • 5 years: 40.85%
  • 8 years: 60.55%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 15.83%
  • 5 years: 40.92%
  • 8 years: 61.21%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 17.90%
  • 5 years: 40.98%
  • 8 years: 50.98%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 34.01%
  • 5 years: 26.97%
  • 8 years: 39.89%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 34.01%
  • 5 years: 26.97%
  • 8 years: 39.89%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 32.94%
  • 5 years: 32.95%
  • 8 years: 46.62%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 16.92%
  • 5 years: 81.18%
  • 8 years: 125.70%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 16.92%
  • 5 years: 81.18%
  • 8 years: 125.70%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year:  19.66%
  • 5 years: 107.07%
  • 8 years: 149.21%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 4.83%
  • 5 years: 5.05%
  • 8 years: 5.60%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 4.85%
  • 5 years: 4.60%
  • 8 years: 4.32%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 7.96%
  • 5 years: 5.35%
  • 8 years: -3.38%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 0.51%
  • 5 years: 863.35%
  • 8 years: 840.66%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 0.53%
  • 5 years: 865.16%
  • 8 years: 841.95%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 0.17%
  • 5 years: 770.71%
  • 8 years: 775.65%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 6.19%
  • 5 years: 21.76%
  • 8 years: 30.02%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 6.24%
  • 5 years: 21.93%
  • 8 years: 30.53%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 4.39%
  • 5 years: 16.15%
  • 8 years: 22.65%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 3.77%
  • 5 years: -2.30%
  • 8 years: -4.07%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 4.43%
  • 5 years: -1.76%
  • 8 years: -4.48%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 4.96%
  • 5 years: 5.06%
  • 8 years: -7.87%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 2.74%
  • 5 years: 7.89%
  • 8 years: 11.82%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.84%
  • 5 years: 8.33%
  • 8 years: 12.32%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 2.46%
  • 5 years: 8.55%
  • 8 years: 9.18%

• Change in population:
  • 1 year: 0.80%
  • 5 years: 2.75%
  • 8 years: 6.74%
• Change in occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 1.09%
  • 5 years: 3.06%
  • 8 years: 6.84%
• Change in owner-occupied housing units:
  • 1 year: 0.78%
  • 5 years: 12.30%
  • 8 years: 20.90%

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Jami Farkas and Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.

Please note: Images may feature nearest cities/landmarks and are for representational purposes only.

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the biggest boomtowns in every state by analyzing all U.S. cities with populations of under 500,000 but above 25,000 as sourced from the 2021 American Community Survey and evaluated them by the following criteria: (1) one-year change in total population by percentage; (2) one-year change in total population by number of people; (3) five-year change in total population by percentage; (4) five-year change in total population by number of people; (5) eight-year change in total population by percentage; (6) eight-year
change in total population by number of people; (6) one-year change in amount of occupied housing units by
percentage; (7) one-year change in amount of occupied housing units by number of units; (8) five-year change in
amount of occupied housing units by percentage; (9) five-year change in amount of occupied housing units by
number of units; (10) eight-year change in amount of occupied housing units by percentage; (11) eight-year
change in amount of occupied housing units by number of units; (12) one-year change in amount of owner-
occupied homes by percentage; (13) one-year change in amount of owner-occupied homes by number of homes;
(14) five-year change in amount of owner-occupied homes by percentage; (15) five-year change in amount of
owner-occupied homes by number of homes; (16) eight-year change in amount of owner-occupied homes by
percentage; (17) eight-year change in amount of owner-occupied homes by number of homes; (18) one-year
change in per capita income by percentage; (19) one-year change in per capita income by dollars; (20) five-year
change in per capita income by percentage; (21) five-year change in per capita income by dollars; (22) eight-year
change in per capita income by percentage; and (23) eight-year change in per capita income by dollars. All data
was sourced from the 2021, 2020, 2016 and 2013 American Community Surveys from the U.S. Census Bureau. All
factors were scored, added together and cities then ranked, with the best-scoring city being the biggest
boomtown in the state. All data was collected and is up to date as of Dec. 8, 2022.