{"id":188014,"date":"2026-05-26T10:07:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T16:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=188014"},"modified":"2026-05-26T10:07:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T16:07:51","slug":"texas-dominates-the-countrys-fastest-growing-cities-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/texas-dominates-the-countrys-fastest-growing-cities-in-2026","title":{"rendered":"Texas Dominates the Country’s Fastest-Growing Cities in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

If \u201cTexas is a state of mind,\u201d as author<\/span> John Steinbeck once famously said<\/span><\/a>, many people are thinking alike. New data from the U.S. Census shows that the five fastest-growing cities in the nation from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, are all in the Lone Star State.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This growth <\/span>is led<\/span> by Celina, a suburb north of Dallas, whose population increased by nearly 25% in a single year, climbing to 64,427 residents. By comparison, the overall U.S. population increased by only 0.5%.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The main reason for the extra boom and development is almost purely related to builders being able to get lot costs less expensive in those cities moving further out,” Damon Williamson, a broker with The Agency Dallas, told<\/span> Realtor.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Dallas and Houston Are Running the Show<\/span><\/h2>\n

All the cities cited orbit the super-hot Dallas and Houston metros. <\/span>Four of the five cities\u2014Celina, Princeton, Melissa, and Anna\u2014are based in North Texas, around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, while the fifth, Fulshear, is near Houston<\/span>, <\/span>scoring<\/span> blistering growth rates of 15%-25%.<\/span> Part of the appeal is these cities’ small-town feel, with proximity to a big city and its amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

“People want land, space, great schools, restaurants, sports, and that hometown feel,” Georgina Hennen, a Keller Williams North Country agent, told <\/span>CBS News<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, with land cheaper here than elsewhere, the growth potential remains undiminished, regardless of the explosive increase in residents. “In 20 years, we’ll be as big as or bigger than Frisco or Plano\u2014Celina has the land,\u201d Hennen said. \u201cIt feels slow until suddenly it’s here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Long-Term Buy-and-Holds Are a Good Strategy in Texas<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s also a reason why investors would do well to consider long-term buy-and-hold investments in some of these master-planned communities\u2014demand for housing is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon. In fact, with strong job markets and positive <\/span>net migration from pricier northern and coastal cities<\/span><\/a>, it seems set to continue, albeit at a <\/span>slower pace than in recent years<\/span><\/a>, in part due to immigration shutdowns.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMidsize cities found a \u2018Goldilocks zone\u2019 where domestic and international migration, paired with new housing, helped prevent the sluggish growth seen in small towns and larger metropolitan centers,\u201d Matt Erickson, a statistician in the Census Bureau\u2019s Population Division, said in a news release.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dallas-Fort Worth: A Rental Property Investment Haven<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to the Urban Land Institute and PwC’s <\/span>Emerging Trends in Real Estate report<\/span><\/a>, DFW is the No. 1 market to watch in 2026 and, as such, is a haven for investors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrew Alperstein, partner with PwC\u2019s U.S. real estate practice, <\/span>told CNBC Make It<\/span><\/a> at the end of last year:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s really changed in the last couple of years is that the financial services shift in Dallas has further accelerated. Companies are moving, and populations are moving, but it\u2019s not all about financial services. <\/span>It has a pretty diverse economy, is still relatively affordable, and <\/span>there\u2019s<\/span> easy access <\/span>to it<\/span>.<\/span> Dallas has a great story that will likely continue from a migration perspective and ongoing development and expansion.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Fueling the economy and housing are the vast number of jobs that have flowed into the areas due to business-friendly tax laws. The metroplex has attracted 100 corporate headquarters from 2018 to 2024, according to the PwC and Urban Land Institute report, including AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Numbers Work<\/span><\/h2>\n

Crucially for investors, the numbers work. The average house price in Fort Worth is around<\/span> $300,000<\/span><\/a>, with median rents of <\/span>$2,300 or more for a new three-bedroom home<\/span><\/a>, according to Zillow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Landlord insurance platform<\/span> Steadily<\/span><\/a> notes that northern Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs such as McKinney, Frisco, and Allen target stable, higher-income, long-term tenants<\/span>, while<\/span> secondary markets such as Sherman and Denison offer lower purchase prices and greater <\/span>cash-flow<\/span><\/a> potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

Steadily champions Houston\u2019s credentials as a cash flow leader with rental yields between 6% and 8%\u2014based on average home prices of around <\/span>$265,000<\/span><\/a> and average rents for a two-to-three-bedroom apartment or house of <\/span>$1,500-$2,000<\/span><\/a>\u2014fueled by a diverse economy, with jobs in wide-ranging industries such as energy, healthcare, aerospace, technology, and logistics.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, investors also need to pay attention to <\/span>property taxes<\/span><\/a> and landlord insurance, which can be high depending on the<\/span> geographic location<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>That said,<\/span> Obie landlord insurance<\/span><\/a> ranks Texas as the <\/span>most favorable market for high rental <\/span>ROI<\/span> in the U.S.<\/span><\/a>, given factors such as the lack of state income tax and high <\/span>demand for rentals<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Forget San Antonio<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although San Antonio is not one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, it is still favorably mentioned by <\/span>Steadily<\/span><\/a> as a solid rental investment hub, with median home prices around <\/span>$<\/span>250,00<\/span><\/a>; a strong economy anchored <\/span>around<\/span> medical centers, a $2.5 billion airport expansion, and a military base.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rents are around <\/span>$1,600-$1,700<\/span><\/a>. Rentals are affordable at $200,000-$350,000 in good neighborhoods such as West San Antonio, Southtown, Tobin Hill, and Harlandale.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Landlord-Friendly State<\/span><\/h2>\n

RentRedi<\/span><\/a> names Texas among the most landlord-friendly states in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTexas is a gold mine for investors,\u201d Gavin Yi, founder and CEO of Yijin Hardware, told the property management platform. \u201cWith no state income tax and flexible rental rules, it\u2019s a great spot for growing profits. If you want to build your portfolio without the headaches, Texas is hard to beat.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the key factors that earned Texas its poll position were:<\/span><\/p>\n