Wildwood, Florida, Named the Fastest-Growing Destination in the U.S.

Americans are on the move. According to data from the Current Population Survey, 8.3 percent of American households (approximately 11 million) reported moving over the past year. And while they are moving just about everywhere—including abroad—there are some destinations within the U.S. that are far more popular than others. U.S. News and World Report is highlighting those popular destinations with its new list of the fastest growing places in America.

“People are on the move, leaving and filling towns across the country. This great reshuffle has led some small communities to become boomtowns,” it wrote in its list.

According to the news outlet, while baby boomers continue to flock to spots like Florida and Arizona, younger remote workers are spreading the wealth to western and southern states that “offer the ideal balance of affordability and quality of life.” 

To figure out the fastest-growing spots, the team at U.S. News and World Report ranked the top spots by net migration, measuring people moving to or from each city based on the annual percentage population change from 2020 to 2024. After looking at all the national data, it named Wildwood, Florida, the fastest-growing spot of them all. 

U.S. News and World Report explained that the population now stands at 34,933 and has experienced a net migration of nearly 20 percent (19.53 percent to be exact). 

“No, that’s not a typo— this city has grown by nearly 20 percent and is continuing to grow as you read this,” it noted. “Wildwood is a retirement haven in central Florida with all the golf courses, themed restaurants, and fun community-based activities you can handle.” 

It added that the community is also home to part of The Villages, a “wildly popular and expanding retirement community,” which gives it a significant edge in terms of growth. It also noted that its location, just 50 miles from Orlando and 75 miles from Tampa, makes it attractive to those who want to stay active and want easy access to larger cities. 

“Its tropical climate, outdoor recreation, and charming shops and eateries help make Wildwood the fastest-growing of the 859 cities analyzed this year,” it added.

Southern states dominated the top of the rankings, with Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, coming in second thanks to its 7.08 percent growth rate, and Leander, Texas, came in third, with a growth rate of 6.81 percent. Palm Desert, California, broke up the southern monopoly in fourth place thanks to its growth rate of 6.72 percent. Though it was right back to Florida for the next spot, with Naples, Florida, rounding out the top five with its 6.38 percent growth rate. 

Although Florida and Texas dominated the list with 16 of the top 25 spots, there were a few outliers, including Caldwell, Idaho, which ranked No. 25 with a modest 3.21 percent growth rate. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that US News and World Report called it an “outdoor oasis,” making it a rather attractive spot to move indeed.

See the full list of the hottest new places to move at realestate.usnews.com.