ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 A recent report has revealed the fastest-growing cities in the United States \u2014 and it turns out the top pick is right here in Central Florida.<\/p>\n
In a study by U.S. News & World Report<\/a>, researchers looked at net migration, determining which cities have seen the highest levels of population growth.<\/p>\n [VIDEO BELOW: Fla. seeks to speed up I-75 expansion]<\/p>\n Overall, the study shows that Wildwood in Sumter County was far and away the fastest-growing location, with a net migration of nearly 20%.<\/p>\n To put that in perspective, the No. 2 pick in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, had a net migration rate of only around 7%.<\/p>\n Researchers provided the following explanation for why Wildwood may have been such a hotspot:<\/p>\n \u201cNo, that\u2019s not a typo \u2013 this city has grown by nearly 20% and is continuing to grow as you read this. Wildwood<\/a> is a retirement haven in central Florida with all the golf courses, themed restaurants and fun community-based activities you can handle. Wildwood is home to the southernmost portion of The Villages, a wildly popular and expanding retirement community. <\/p>\n Its central location is ideal for day trips to Florida\u2019s multiple attractions when friends and family visit. Just 50 miles northwest of Orlando and 75 miles north of Tampa in northern Sumter County, Wildwood is known as the Crossroads of Florida. Residents have easy access to the many businesses and health care centers. Its tropical climate, outdoor recreation and charming shops and eateries help make Wildwood the fastest-growing of the 859 cities analyzed this year.”<\/p>\n U.S. News & World Report, “The Fastest-Growing Places in the U.S. in 2025-2026”<\/p>\n But Wildwood wasn\u2019t the only Florida city to make the list. In fact, the Sunshine State dominated the latest ranking, featuring eight locations in the top 25.<\/p>\n Per the study, researchers believe that climate was a big draw for many aging baby boomers, who have flocked to states like Florida to take advantage of the nice weather.<\/p>\n [VIDEO BELOW: Tavares\u2019 residents concerned about growth]<\/p>\n Federal data shows that millions of people have moved to Florida<\/a> in recent years, with a notable explosion of new residents following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n