Which Small Cities Are Rising Hotspots for Financial Prosperity?

Updated: May 28, 2024

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Small cities offer a sense of small-town community while providing access to big-city resources. They also combine the economic advantages of a lower cost of living with the lifestyle benefits of urban proximity, diverse culture and recreation.

MoneyGeek analyzed economic growth and prosperity indicators for 211 cities with populations of 63,000 to 100,000 to uncover which small cities in America are up and coming. Small cities in Florida rank at the top of the list, and more often than not, people moving to or living in the highest-ranking cities are staying there.

KEY FINDINGS
  • North Port, Florida, is the No. 1 up-and-coming small city, seeing increases of 28% in population and 43% in housing units since 2017. Median household income is $78,587, up 46% over the same period.

  • Florida and Texas show significant growth potential and are home to 20 and 14 cities of the most up-and-coming cities, respectively. Texas cities, in particular, show promise in housing development and new businesses.

  • Kissimmee, Florida, leads in attracting newcomers, ranking No. 1 in net migration, No. 36 in average annual GDP growth and No. 31 in five-year housing unit change.

Most Up-and-Coming Small Cities in the US

North Port, Florida, and New Braunfels, Texas, take the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in our study, setting the pace for growth and prosperity. This pattern of expansion is mirrored across the region, with cities like Tamarac, Florida, and Georgetown, Texas, also earning their spots among the top contenders. Just one Western city ranks in the top 10: South Jordan, Utah.

Southern Florida cities like Tamarac, Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach and Homestead lead with high population growth between 2017 and 2022 and high average annual GDP growth. Homestead's 46% spike in the number of housing units makes it the No. 2 for that measure, while Boynton Beach’s property crime per 100,000 residents (492) was the fourth-best of the cities analyzed.

View the table below to see the cities that made it into MoneyGeek's top 10 list, followed by a regional breakdown of cities that made it into the top 50.

10 MOST UP-AND-COMING SMALL CITIES FOR FINANCIAL PROSPERITY

City
Avg. Annual GDP Growth
Median Household Income
Unemployment Rate
5-Year Population Growth

1.

North Port, FL

3.5%

$78,587

3.2%

28.4%

2.

New Braunfels, TX

6.8%

$79,336

3.2%

19.8%

3.

Tamarac, FL

4.0%

$54,574

2.9%

9.5%

4.

Georgetown, TX

6.9%

$97,533

3.1%

22.4%

5.

Boynton Beach, FL

4.8%

$66,472

3.1%

4.1%

6.

Deerfield Beach, FL

4.0%

$65,465

2.9%

7.7%

7.

South Jordan, UT

3.2%

$118,560

2.5%

17.7%

8.

Fort Myers, FL

4.3%

$62,981

3.1%

20.0%

9.

Palm Coast, FL

5.7%

$68,434

3.7%

11.3%

10.

Homestead, FL

3.6%

$60,530

1.4%

16.7%

Northeast

Despite having the fewest number of cities included (28), one-quarter of these Northeastern small cities rank in the top 50 for financial prosperity. Three of these are located in Massachusetts — Lawrence, Somerville, Newton — and the remaining are Nashua, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; Pawtucket, Rhode Island; and Norwalk, Connecticut. In these cities, income growth surpassed 22% over five years, with Newton being an exception at 13%. Additionally, most of the businesses in these cities have been in business for more than 10 years and (excluding Lawrence) experience relatively low crime rates.

MOST UP-AND-COMING SMALL CITIES FOR FINANCIAL PROSPERITY IN THE NORTHEAST

Overall Rank
City
Median Household Income
5-Year % Change in Population
5-Year % Change in Housing Units
Businesses Operating for ≥10 Years
Unemployment Rate (%)

11

Nashua, NH

$96,911

3.2%

6.6%

62.4%

2.7%

22

Portland, ME

$69,046

2.3%

12.6%

52.5%

2.7%

27

Lawrence, MA

$60,632

9.7%

11.4%

62.2%

2.9%

29

Somerville, MA

$124,110

-2.0%

2.8%

62.2%

2.5%

42

Pawtucket, RI

$63,173

4.2%

9.3%

63.5%

3.5%

43

Norwalk, CT

$107,140

2.7%

8.6%

52.4%

3.7%

44

Newton, MA

$163,074

-1.8%

3.7%

62.2%

2.5%

Midwest

Among the study's top 10 cities, the Midwest is represented by six, including Plymouth and Woodbury, Minnesota; O’Fallon and St. Charles, Missouri; and Rapid City, South Dakota. These cities excel with low unemployment rates, ranking them in the top 30. Notably, O’Fallon, Plymouth and Woodbury report lower crime rates, with Woodbury also experiencing a significant 13% population growth. Rapid City is recognized for its business longevity, with 64% of businesses operating for 10 years or longer.

MOST UP-AND-COMING SMALL CITIES FOR FINANCIAL PROSPERITY IN THE MIDWEST

Overall Rank
City
Median House- hold Income
5-Year % Change in Popu- lation
5-Year % Change in Housing Units
Businesses Operating for ≥ 10 Years
Unemploy- ment Rate (%)

16

O'Fallon, MO

$105,240

6.9%

14.5%

52.2%

2.4%

33

St. Charles, MO

$85,798

1.2%

7.7%

52.2%

2.4%

38

Rapid City, SD

$59,397

5.9%

10.8%

63.5%

1.7%

39

Plymouth, MN

$106,858

0.4%

10.0%

51.3%

1.9%

49

Woodbury, MN

$117,201

12.6%

21.2%

51.3%

1.7%

50

Farmington Hills, MI

$104,593

2.1%

2.6%

52.3%

3.1%

South

Southern cities — nearly half of those considered — feature prominently in the top 50, driven by Florida's strong performance and complemented by cities across other Southern states such as Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; Rogers, Arkansas; Franklin, Tennessee; and Hoover, Alabama. These cities are part of a regional trend that sees strong housing growth, led by Georgetown, Texas.

Kissimmee, Florida, tops the net migration category with a significant influx of residents (7,000 new residents in 2022). Johnson City, Tennessee, also stands out for doubling its number of new businesses since 2022.

MOST UP-AND-COMING SMALL CITIES FOR FINANCIAL PROSPERITY IN THE SOUTH

Overall Rank
City
Median House- hold Income
5-Year % Change in Popu- lation
5-Year % Change in Housing Units
Businesses Operating for ≥ 10 Years
Unemploy- ment Rate (%)

1

North Port, FL

78,587

28.4%

42.5%

50.3%

3.2%

2

New Braunfels, TX

79,336

19.8%

34.3%

57.3%

3.2%

3

Tamarac, FL

54,574

9.5%

16.6%

38.6%

2.9%

4

Georgetown, TX

97,533

22.4%

46.4%

35.8%

3.1%

5

Boynton Beach, FL

66,472

4.1%

29.2%

38.6%

3.1%

6

Deerfield Beach, FL

65,465

7.7%

10.6%

38.6%

2.9%

8

Fort Myers, FL

62,981

20.0%

30.0%

38.8%

3.1%

9

Palm Coast, FL

68,434

11.3%

24.6%

45.9%

3.7%

West

Despite leading in the number of small cities analyzed, the West ties with the Midwest for the lowest number of cities that rank in the top 50. South Jordan, Utah, stands out in the top 10 with a 27% increase in housing growth and a low violent crime rate (66 reports per 100,000 people).

Avondale, Arizona; Lake Forest, California; San Marcos, California; and Kirkland, Washington, follow as the region's best, with impressive housing growth and rich entertainment options. Carmichael, California, stands out for its 25% population increase and 31% increase in housing units between 2017 and 2022.

MOST UP-AND-COMING SMALL CITIES FOR FINANCIAL PROSPERITY IN THE WEST

Overall Rank
City
Median House- hold Income
5-Year % Change in Popu- lation
5-Year % Change in Housing Units
Businesses Operating for ≥ 10 Years
Unemploy- ment Rate (%)

7

South Jordan, UT

$118,560

17.7%

26.7%

53.1%

2.5%

26

Avondale, AZ

$66,801

9.0%

18.1%

39.7%

3.5%

37

Lake Forest, CA

$128,033

1.6%

9.0%

41.7%

3.8%

40

San Marcos, CA

$103,595

-1.4%

6.7%

41.7%

4.2%

41

Kirkland, WA

$130,620

4.0%

12.2%

43.6%

3.9%

46

Carmichael, CA

$81,823

24.5%

31.4%

33.6%

4.6%

Top Small Cities for Economic Growth

Cities like North Port, Florida, and Georgetown, Texas, showcase impressive gains in population and housing. Over the five years analyzed, North Port's population surged by 28%. Georgetown followed closely with a 22% increase in population while also leading in housing growth with an impressive 46% rise. New Braunfels, Texas, shows economic growth with a 7% average annual GDP growth, while Lodi, California, saw an increase of 70% in median household income between 2017 and 2022, resting at $88,440.

When it comes to business growth, Johnson City, Tennessee, ranks highest with new businesses (those three years or younger), more than doubling its number of businesses between 2018 and 2021. Additionally, several Midwestern cities saw high percentages of businesses operating for 10 years or longer, particularly in Illinois, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa.

TOP SMALL CITIES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH

Economic Growth Factor
Top City

5-Year Pop % Change

North Port, FL

Avg. Annual GDP Growth

The Villages, FL

5-Year Income % Change

Lodi, CA

5-Year Housing % Change

Georgetown, TX

% Change in No. of New Businesses*

Johnson City, TN

*In this analysis, we defined "new businesses" as those operating for three years or less.

Top Cities for Community Well-Being: A Snapshot of Unemployment, Crime and Access to Entertainment and Dining

There’s more to financial prosperity than economic growth indicators. To capture a better picture of the appeal of these cities, we also considered livelihood factors such as unemployment rates, crime rates and entertainment and dining access.

Lynwood and Redondo Beach in California top our list for entertainment and dining options, with 654 and 608 related businesses per 100,000 people, respectively. Across the country, The Villages and Weston in Florida lead with the lowest violent crime rates of 27 and 40 per 100,000. Economic stability is highlighted in the counties where Bismarck, North Dakota, and Ellicott City, Maryland, are located, with unemployment rates at approximately 1%.

TOP SMALL CITIES FOR COMMUNITY WELL-BEING

Livelihood Factor
Top City

Unemployment Rate

Bismarck, ND

Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 People)

The Villages, FL

Property Crime Rate (per 100,000 People)

Waukegan, IL

Entertainment And Dining Access, Per 100,000 People

Lynwood, CA

What to Consider Before Moving to a Growing Small City

If small-city life appeals to you, there are several steps you can take to arm yourself with the financial knowledge to navigate relocation and buying a home smoothly.

    building icon

    Make safety a factor

    Researching the safest small cities can help you find a location where you feel secure and at ease.

    money2 icon

    Consider the cost of living

    Analyze the cost of living in your chosen city to see how relocating might affect your budget.

    homeMortgage icon

    Calculate your new mortgage costs

    Use a mortgage calculator to get a clear picture of your monthly housing costs and find the most financially savvy home loan.

    goodCredit icon

    Manage your credit score

    Homeownership can be more affordable in your new city with a better credit score, opening the door to lower mortgage rates. Understanding how credit scores are calculated and how your debt-to-income ratio plays a part can help you manage this financial identifier.

Methodology

To determine which up-and-coming small cities are the most promising for financial growth, MoneyGeek analyzed data for 211 metro areas across the U.S. with populations between 65,000 and 100,000. We compared these metros across 11 key metrics on growth indicators and community well-being.

  • Growth Indicators: We considered changes in population, income and housing units (2017–2022), average annual GDP growth rate change (2020–2022) and change in the number of new businesses operating for three years or less (2018–2021). Additionally, we considered the percentage of businesses operating for 10 years or longer (2021) and net migration (2022). Data utilized comes from the Census Bureau’s one-year 2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Gross Domestic Product by County dataset and the Census Bureau’s Annual Business Surveys, which collect data at the county level.
  • Community Well-Being: This study examines unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), the density of entertainment, dining, and recreation venues per 1,000 residents based on the Census Bureau’s 2021 County Business Patterns Survey, and crime rates per 100,000 residents from the FBI's 2022 Crime Data Explorer database and NeighborhoodScout.com.

Each metro was ranked in every metric, which was then used to calculate a final ranking score through a weighted average. Each metric was given full weight except for percentage change in the number of new businesses, percentage of businesses operating for 10 years or more, net migration, violent crime and property crime — all of which were half-weighted. The metro with the highest final ranking score ranks as the most up-and-coming small city.

Full Dataset

Dive into the data below to explore how notable housing growth in Southern cities and vibrant entertainment and dining scenes in California cities — like Lynwood and Redondo Beach — defined the most promising up-and-coming small cities.

Rank
City
5-Year Population % Change
Avg. Annual GDP Growth
% Change in New Businesses (≤ 3 Years)
% of Businesses Operating for 10 Years or More
Median Household Income
5-Year Income % Change
5-Year Housing Unit % Change
Net Migration in 2022
Entertainment, Dining & Recreation Businesses per 1,000 People
Unemployment Rate (%)
Violent Crime per 100,000 Residents
Property Crime per 100,000 Residents

1

North Port, FL

28.4%

3.5

-41.8%

50.3%

78,587

46.4%

42.5%

1,409

13.0

3.2

119.6

944

2

New Braunfels, TX

19.8%

6.8

14.1%

57.3%

79,336

34.9%

34.3%

4,485

4.5

3.2

187.8

1,414

3

Tamarac, FL

9.5%

4.0

-30.6%

38.6%

54,574

30.8%

16.6%

1,473

68.6

2.9

139.1

1,250

4

Georgetown, TX

22.4%

6.9

-35.5%

35.8%

97,533

35.8%

46.4%

3,235

14.0

3.1

159.5

1,257

5

Boynton Beach, FL

4.1%

4.8

-30.6%

38.6%

66,472

29.4%

29.2%

1,024

47.1

3.1

108.8

492

6

Deerfield Beach, FL

7.7%

4.0

-30.6%

38.6%

65,465

41.6%

10.6%

1,241

56.8

2.9

218.9

1,649

7

South Jordan, UT

17.7%

3.2

-36.0%

53.1%

118,560

14.5%

26.7%

160

31.2

2.5

65.7

1,358

8

Fort Myers, FL

20.0%

4.3

30.8%

38.8%

62,981

38.4%

30.0%

2,595

17.8

3.1

520.1

1,984

About Anja Solum, CEPF


Anja Solum, CEPF headshot

Anja Solum is a certified educator in personal finance and the Data Journalism Manager at MoneyGeek. For over six years, she has produced data analyses and studies for agency and in-house teams across multiple verticals.

Solum holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Florida International University. She's passionate about using data to tell compelling, informed stories that empower readers.