America’s population growth is not spread evenly, and a handful of small US cities are exploding while the country as a whole slows down. The fastest-growing cities of 2026 are overwhelmingly Texas suburbs, where affordable land, booming job markets, and no state income tax pull in new residents by the thousands.
These rankings measure percentage growth, so small cities with room to build top the list, while big metros lead in raw numbers. Below we rank the ten fastest-growing cities in the US for 2026 using Census-based data, with each city’s growth rate and what is driving the boom.
Fastest-Growing Cities in the US at a Glance
| Rank | City | State | Annual Growth | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fulshear | Texas | 27.46% | Houston |
| 2 | Celina | Texas | 26.2% | Dallas-Fort Worth |
| 3 | Princeton | Texas | 18.46% | Dallas-Fort Worth |
| 4 | Iowa Colony | Texas | 17.63% | Houston |
| 5 | Melissa | Texas | 14.86% | Dallas-Fort Worth |
| 6 | Royse City | Texas | 14.75% | Dallas-Fort Worth |
| 7 | Manvel | Texas | 14.57% | Houston |
| 8 | Anna | Texas | 14.09% | Dallas-Fort Worth |
| 9 | Wendell | North Carolina | 13.51% | Raleigh |
| 10 | Star | Idaho | 11.89% | Boise |
The 10 Fastest-Growing Cities in the US, Ranked
1. Fulshear, Texas: The Nation’s Fastest-Growing City
Annual Growth: 27.46% | State: Texas | Metro: Houston | Why It’s Booming: Master-planned communities
Fulshear leads the entire country with a 27.46% annual growth rate, transforming from a rural town into a booming Houston suburb in Fort Bend County. Large master-planned communities with new homes, parks, and amenities are drawing families at a remarkable pace.
Its appeal is classic Sunbelt: relatively affordable new housing, strong schools, and easy access to Houston’s job market. With no state income tax and abundant land to develop, Fulshear has room to keep growing for years.
2. Celina, Texas: The Collin County Boomtown
Annual Growth: 26.2% | State: Texas | Metro: Dallas-Fort Worth | Why It’s Booming: DFW expansion north
Celina ranks second at 26.2%, sitting at the leading edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex’s northward expansion in Collin County. Once a small farming town, it is now one of the hottest suburbs in the nation.
Proximity to job centers near Frisco and Plano, combined with newer, more affordable housing, fuels its explosive growth. Celina exemplifies how DFW’s suburbs keep pushing the metro’s boundaries outward.
3. Princeton, Texas: Affordable Growth East of DFW
Annual Growth: 18.46% | State: Texas | Metro: Dallas-Fort Worth | Why It’s Booming: Affordable Collin County housing
Princeton grows at 18.46% annually, drawing buyers priced out of pricier Collin County suburbs like Frisco and McKinney. Its lower home prices make it a value entry point into the booming DFW region.
New residential developments and improving infrastructure support the influx. For families wanting DFW access on a budget, Princeton has become an increasingly popular landing spot.
4. Iowa Colony, Texas: Houston’s Southern Frontier
Annual Growth: 17.63% | State: Texas | Metro: Houston | Why It’s Booming: New master-planned developments
Iowa Colony surges 17.63% a year, anchored by large master-planned communities south of Houston in Brazoria County. Developments like Sierra Vista and Meridiana have turned open land into fast-growing neighborhoods.
Affordable new construction and access to Houston’s employment corridors drive demand. It is another example of Houston’s outer suburbs absorbing waves of new residents.
5. Melissa, Texas: Small-Town Feel, Big Growth
Annual Growth: 14.86% | State: Texas | Metro: Dallas-Fort Worth | Why It’s Booming: Collin County spillover
Melissa expands at 14.86% annually, another Collin County community riding the DFW growth wave north of McKinney. It markets a small-town atmosphere while offering quick access to the metroplex’s jobs and amenities.
Newer housing and highly rated schools attract young families. Melissa balances rapid growth with a community feel that many larger suburbs have lost.
6. Royse City, Texas: Eastern DFW Expansion
Annual Growth: 14.75% | State: Texas | Metro: Dallas-Fort Worth | Why It’s Booming: Affordable eastern suburbs
Royse City grows 14.75% a year, extending DFW’s reach eastward into Rockwall and Hunt counties. Its affordability relative to inner suburbs makes it attractive to budget-conscious buyers.
Interstate 30 access keeps commutes to Dallas manageable, supporting steady demand. Royse City is a clear example of growth radiating outward from the metroplex core.
7. Manvel, Texas: Houston’s Rising Suburb
Annual Growth: 14.57% | State: Texas | Metro: Houston | Why It’s Booming: New housing near Pearland
Manvel climbs 14.57% annually, benefiting from spillover growth near the established Houston suburb of Pearland in Brazoria County. New residential developments are rapidly filling in once-rural land.
Its location offers a blend of suburban space and reasonable access to Houston’s job centers. Manvel is quickly evolving from a quiet community into a sought-after suburb.
8. Anna, Texas: The Northern Edge of Growth
Annual Growth: 14.09% | State: Texas | Metro: Dallas-Fort Worth | Why It’s Booming: Affordable Collin County land
Anna rounds out the Texas contingent at 14.09%, sitting at the far northern edge of Collin County’s development frontier. Some of the most affordable new housing in the metroplex draws steady interest here.
As closer-in suburbs fill up and prices rise, buyers push farther north to towns like Anna. Its growth reflects the relentless outward march of the DFW region.
9. Wendell, North Carolina: Raleigh’s Boom Spreads East
Annual Growth: 13.51% | State: North Carolina | Metro: Raleigh | Why It’s Booming: Research Triangle expansion
Wendell is the first non-Texas city on the list at 13.51%, riding the growth of the Raleigh-Durham Research Triangle. The region’s booming tech and research economy is pushing development into eastern Wake County.
Affordable housing relative to central Raleigh makes Wendell attractive to newcomers. It shows that the Southeast, not just Texas, is fueling America’s fastest growth.
10. Star, Idaho: The Mountain West Magnet
Annual Growth: 11.89% | State: Idaho | Metro: Boise | Why It’s Booming: Boise-area relocation wave
Star closes the list at 11.89%, part of the Boise metro’s remarkable rise in the Mountain West. An influx of residents from pricier western states has made the Boise area one of the country’s hottest destinations.
Star offers a small-town setting with mountain access and lower costs than California or the Pacific Northwest. It represents the Mountain West’s growing pull on relocating Americans.
Why Texas and the South Dominate Growth
The South claims the large majority of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, and Texas alone accounts for most of the top ten. Affordable land, business-friendly policies, no state income tax, and strong job markets create a powerful draw for both families and companies.
The Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metros are expanding outward at a furious pace, turning farmland into master-planned suburbs. For a closer look at the wider market, see our guide to the best places to live in Texas.
Percentage Growth Versus Numeric Gains
These rankings measure percentage growth, which favors small cities that can double in size quickly from a low base. That is why suburbs like Fulshear and Celina top the list rather than major metros.
By raw numbers, the biggest gainers are large cities like Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, and Charlotte. Austin even crossed the one-million-resident mark, joining a dozen US cities at that size, according to the Census Bureau’s 2026 population estimates.
How We Ranked the Fastest-Growing Cities
This ranking uses annual percentage population growth for US cities based on Census-derived data, focusing on communities with meaningful population size rather than tiny outliers. A higher percentage means faster relative growth.
We paired each city with its metro and the forces behind its boom, drawing on fastest-growing cities data. Because these towns are changing rapidly, current figures are best viewed as a recent snapshot.
Should You Move to a Fast-Growing City?
Booming suburbs offer new housing, strong schools, and rising amenities, but rapid growth has trade-offs. Infrastructure like roads and services can lag behind construction, and traffic often worsens before it improves.
Weigh the appeal of a brand-new community against the growing pains of a town scaling up fast. For many families, the affordability and fresh housing are well worth the temporary congestion of a city on the rise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest-growing city in the US in 2026?
Fulshear, Texas, a suburb of Houston, is the fastest-growing city in the US for 2026 with an annual growth rate of about 27.46%, fueled by large master-planned communities.
Why are so many fast-growing cities in Texas?
Texas offers affordable land, no state income tax, business-friendly policies, and strong job growth in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metros, which together drive most of the nation’s fastest suburban growth.
Which big cities are growing the most?
By raw population gains, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, Seattle, and Charlotte lead, and Austin recently crossed one million residents to join the largest US cities.
Are fast-growing cities good places to live?
They often offer new housing, good schools, and expanding amenities, but infrastructure and traffic can struggle to keep pace with rapid growth, so weigh the trade-offs before moving.
Is growth limited to Texas?
No. While Texas dominates, the Southeast around Raleigh and the Mountain West around Boise are also booming, showing broad Sunbelt and inland-West growth beyond Texas alone.