New Braunfels’ rapid growth is earning national recognition once again. A new study from SmartAsset ranked the Central Texas city as the No. 2 boomtown in the United States, highlighting major gains in housing, workforce growth and economic expansion over the past five years.
New Braunfels trailed only Georgetown, Texas, which claimed the top spot in the analysis of more than 400 U.S. cities with populations of at least 65,000. SmartAsset ranked cities using a composite score based on five-year changes in housing units, labor force size and county-level real gross domestic product. The 75 highest-scoring communities were named America’s fastest-growing boomtowns.
For New Braunfels, the ranking reflects a transformation many residents have watched unfold firsthand, from new neighborhoods and major retailers to large-scale entertainment and commercial developments reshaping the city.
According to SmartAsset’s analysis, New Braunfels saw a 40% increase in housing units over the five-year period, while its labor force grew by 32%. Meanwhile, Comal County’s real GDP increased at a compound annual rate of 6.8%, reflecting continued economic expansion across the region.
The growth comes as more people and businesses continue moving to New Braunfels. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city’s population reached 122,492 residents as of July 1, 2025, continuing its rise as one of the fastest-growing communities along the Interstate 35 corridor.
The city’s growth is also reshaping its entertainment landscape. New destinations like Topgolf and The Courthouse, a pickleball and paddle sports complex, are adding new recreation options for residents and visitors as investment continues across the community.
Meanwhile, the Mayfair master-planned community continues to transform a major area of New Braunfels, bringing thousands of new homes, commercial development and additional investment to one of the city’s fastest-growing corridors.
New hotels, restaurants and commercial projects have followed the city’s population growth as developers respond to rising demand.
Texas was one of the strongest-performing states in SmartAsset’s ranking, with 18 cities making the list of the nation’s top 75 boomtowns. Florida led the country with 19 cities included.
While rapid growth has created new opportunities for businesses and residents, it has also brought challenges. Increased traffic, infrastructure demands and housing affordability concerns remain part of the conversation as New Braunfels continues to expand.