Lakeland, Florida, has just been named the fastest-growing “boomtown” in America. East of Tampa and Southwest of Orlando, moveBuddha has found that this I-94 waypoint has the fastest-growing population in the United States at 34.4%. 

To find this out, moveBuddha recently compiled Census data from 2014 to 2024, along with mover interest over 2025, to determine which U.S. cities are transforming their rapid growth into long-term prosperity. 

Along with Lakeland’s 10-year population growth, the popular Florida city has a move-in-to-out ratio of 1.33, meaning that 1.33 new residents move in for every exit. This suggests that Lakeland’s industrial boom is going to last. 

The Polk County city is beloved for its proximity to antique shops, Art Deco architecture, lakes, and colleges. According to Ryan Carrigan, founder of moveBuddha, the finding that Lakeland was the top boomtown was interesting for several reasons.

“We found it really interesting that Lakeland wasn’t just growing fast, but it was still attracting people even after moving slowed down nationally. When you see a city grow by more than 34% over a decade and still bring in more people than it loses, it tells you this isn’t a temporary spike. People are choosing to stay,” Carrigan told Southern Living via email.

The reason Lakeland might be so popular could be due to its close connection to urban areas, while also not being congested.

“What the data suggests is that movers are drawn to places that feel connected but not overwhelmed,” Carrigan explained. “Lakeland sits between Tampa and Orlando, so people can stay tied into those job markets without having to live in the middle of them. They’re choosing places where growth still feels possible, where they can find a home, settle in, and feel like they arrived at the right moment.”These top 10 metros maintain an above-average move-in ratio at 1.12; Raleigh, North Carolina, is the highest at 1.59.

The entire list can be found below: 

Rank
City, State
10 Year Population Percentage Growth
2025 Move In-to-Out Ratio

1
Lakeland, Florida
34.39%
1.33

2
Austin, Texas
31.25%
1.17

3
Boise City, Idaho
26.85%
1.41

4
Cape Coral, Florida
26.70%
1.16

5
Orlando, Florida
26.67%
1.25

6
Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina
25.67%
1.59

7
Jacksonville, Florida
24.06%
1.22

8
Deltona, Florida
21.24%
1.48

9
Charlotte, North Carolina
21.13%
1.32

10
Nashville, Tennessee
20.04%
1.32