This Is the Fastest Growing City in the U.S.

If you have ever watched a sunset along the pristine coastline of Fort Myers, then you know how easy it is to want to make this stunning Gulf Coast city your permanent home. And as it turns out, many people have.

Every year, U.S. News releases its prestigious ranking of the best places to live in America based on multiple categories, including population growth, which is part of each community’s desirability score. And while this year’s overall winner is Naples, Fort Myers took the prize for the fastest-growing place in the nation.

“Fort Myers is the fastest-growing of the 150 major cities in this year’s analysis, seeing a population increase of 6.73 percent between 2021 and 2022 due to net migration,” U.S. News stated, noting that this is the most recent complete data set by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The city now has 109,595 residents, with a median age of 45. U.S. News also highlights Fort Myers’ affordable real estate — the median home price is $273,214, though current Zillow estimates are $361,966. During that period, the median household income was $71,154, higher than Florida’s on a state level.

So, what are Fort Myers’ other major draws? According to U.S. News, the city’s “vibrant downtown,” plethora of outdoor recreational activities, warm weather, and natural beauty are magnets for newcomers. 

Sound economic prospects are another factor. In May, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area had an unemployment rate of just three percent, an entire percentage point lower than the national average. Earlier this year, WalletHub identified Fort Myers as the third best small city to start a business, pointing out that it has one of the country’s highest numbers of investors per capita, making it a hub for start-ups. And while office vacancy rates in large metropolitan areas are the highest they have ever been, the current national rate is 18 percent and in the Fort Myers/Naples area, it is just below five percent.

Killeen, Texas, is second on U.S. News’s list of the fastest-growing places in America. The city’s population has grown 6.57 percent, and the median home value was $161,449 with current values at $229,154).

Another coastal Florida community, Port St. Lucie, is third. It saw a 4.93 percent increase in full-time residents in 2021-2022.

U.S. News’s ranking is dominated by cities in the Sunshine State, with seven Florida communities making it to the top 10. You can see the full report on usnews.com.