SmartAsset's latest analysis places Florida ahead of every other state in boomtown growth, with Palm Coast, North Port and Palm Bay leading a field of 19 Florida cities recognized for housing, workforce and economic expansion.
Source: Original report
Florida has claimed more spots on a new national boomtown ranking than any other state, with 19 cities appearing among SmartAsset's top 75 fastest-growing U.S. communities. The analysis, which measured changes between 2019 and 2024, placed Florida narrowly ahead of Texas, which contributed 18 cities to the list.
How SmartAsset Defined Boomtown Growth
SmartAsset evaluated more than 400 U.S. cities with populations exceeding 65,000, tracking three core indicators: growth in housing units, expansion of the local labor force, and county-level real gross domestic product gains. The firm described boomtown status as reflecting a community's broadening economic capacity alongside emerging opportunities for residents and workers.
Florida's Top-Performing Cities
Palm Coast earned the highest ranking of any Florida city at No. 6 nationally, driven by a 27% increase in housing units, a 21% labor force expansion and a 6.7% average annual real GDP growth rate over the study period.
North Port followed at No. 12, posting some of the most striking workforce numbers on the list — a 78% surge in labor force size, along with a 42% jump in housing units. Palm Bay ranked No. 14, with housing up 19% and the labor force expanding by 27%.
Fort Myers (No. 20) and Cape Coral (No. 22) rounded out the top five Florida entries. Fort Myers recorded a 21% rise in housing stock alongside a 42% increase in its workforce. Cape Coral added 30% more housing units and grew its labor force by 22%.
Other Florida Cities on the List
- West Palm Beach
- Doral
- Homestead
- Lauderhill
- Daytona Beach
- Tampa
- Jacksonville
- Deerfield Beach
- Lakeland
- Kissimmee
- Orlando
- Tamarac
- Melbourne
- Pompano Beach
What the Rankings Mean for the Market
The breadth of Florida's representation — spanning the Atlantic coast, Gulf Coast and South Florida — signals that growth is not confined to a single corridor. SmartAsset noted, however, that rapid expansion does not automatically produce equal benefits across all residents, a caution worth keeping in mind as housing affordability remains a pressure point in many of these same markets.
For real estate professionals and investors, the rankings highlight where housing construction, labor market strength and economic output are aligning simultaneously — a combination that historically supports sustained demand for both ownership and rental housing.
