Don’t Buy a House in These 20 US Cities: Growing Populations and Overcrowding

Overpopulation and crowding is a real concern in some major US cities. People flock to metro areas in hopes of landing good jobs and access to conveniences, but there are some downfalls.

Over the past several years, there has been a noticeable trend of people moving to the south, particularly Texas and Florida, though some other states have seen exponential population booms, too.

In a recent report, Exploding Topics revealed 20 of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States. If crowds aren’t your thing, you might want to avoid moving to these cities, which have seen at least a 10% population increase in the past few years.

1. Austin, Texas

Known for its many landmarks, food, and culture, Austin is at the top of the list in terms of population growth. In 2020, the city had 961,885 residents. By 2022, it had grown by more than 12,000.

Taking a look at the metro area as a whole, the population between 2020 and 2024 grew by more than 100,000. That’s a 25.84% boom. With Austin on its way to becoming a tech hub, expect a lot more growth in the future.

2. Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina

The Raleigh-Cary metro area is popular for its tech companies, such as Dell, IBM, and Apple, which offer lots of employment opportunities, but it’s also home to many colleges and universities. In 2020, the population of the city was 467,665 and grew to 482,295 just three years later.

Taking into consideration the entire metro, there’s been a 19.84% growth in people moving to the region, from 2,106,463 in 2020 to 2,368,947 just three years later.

3. Orlando, Florida

Orlando is only shortly behind Raleigh-Cary with a 19.69% growth from 2020 to 2022, and it seems people love the idea of living near Mickey Mouse. There are many theme parks — not just Disney — in the region, making it rife with employment opportunities.

The population in 2022 was 316,081 compared to 307,573 just two years earlier. The metro region, which comprises Orlando, Sanford, St. Cloud, and Kissimmee, among others, is quite large, too. Figures show that the population grew an estimated 19.69% when comparing 2022 figures (2,764,182) to 2020 (2,560,260).

4. Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is one of my favorite cities to visit. It’s rich in history that dates back to the late 1600s and has such a small-town feel despite its growing population. Tourism is one of its biggest draws.

In 2020, 143,151 people called the city home, but by 2023, it had grown to 155,369. The metro grew, too, by 18.5%, from 790,955 to 830,529 in the same time period.

5. Houston, Texas

Houston falls within the top five largest metropolitan areas in the country, encompassing nine counties. In 2020, it had more than 6.9 million residents, and that number grew to more than 7.3 million by 2022, a 17.36% increase. The city itself is also populated with more than 2.3 million residents calling it home in 2023.

Compared to other areas, Houston has a lower cost of living, which makes it an attractive destination for people looking to save money. Additionally, there are plenty of employment opportunities.

6. Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida

Florida is one of the top states people migrate to, for many reasons. One, because there’s no state tax, and two, the weather is almost always nice. The Sarasota-Bradenton metro area is popular because of its beaches, nightlife, and job opportunities.

From 2020 to 2022, both cities and the metro area grew, with Sarasota gaining more than 30,000 residents. The metro area as a whole gained nearly 70,000 for a 16.81% growth.

7. San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio’s growth can be attributed to it being one of the biggest military cities in the country. Home to the Alamo and the scenic San Antonio River, as well as a moderate cost of living compared to other Texas cities, it has a lot to offer.

As far as population growth goes, nearly 40,000 people moved to the city between 2020 and 2022, and more than 155,000 became residents of the overall metro in that same period, a 16.59% growth.

8. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Texas hits the list once again with the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The two combined hit the best parts of Texas life: laid-back in Fort Worth and upbeat glamour in Dallas. Many high-profile companies such as Southwest Airlines, Lockheed Martin, and JP Morgan Chase & Co. make it a great employment hub.

While the city of Dallas didn’t see much growth on its own, Forth Worth drew more than 37,000 new people between 2020 and 2022. Even more astonishing, the metro region grew by 648,179 from 2020 to 2023, a 16.58% increase.

9. Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is gorgeous and comes with beautiful weather year-round. Between 2020 and 2022, nearly 40,000 people decided they could withstand the desert heat and call the city home. That represents an increase of 15.61%. The entire metro area, however, actually shrunk by more than 14,000.

The areas biggest draw is the gorgeous landscape, but tourism, hospitality, and finance industries draw a lot of workers, too. Plus, there’s a really cool driverless car transport system, Waymo, that’s worth checking out.

10. Nashville, Tennessee

One trip to “Music City,” and you can absolutely see why people are rushing to call Nashville home. There is so much to do and see here, you’ll never get bored. Plus, if you’re looking to be a country singer, this is the place to be!

In terms of population, Nashville itself didn’t grow between 2020 and 2022, per Exploding Topics, but the metro region, which includes Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Henderson, and Springhill, grew by nearly 170,000 residents, a 15.33% growth.

11. Charlotte, North Carolina

Did you know that the Charlotte metropolitan region actually spreads into South Carolina, too? The area, which was home to 2,595,027 residents in 2020, grew 15.33% to 2,756,069 in 2022.

A plethora of colleges and employers make it an attractive option for people looking for a balance between calm and busy lifestyles.

12. Denver, Colorado

Gorgeous scenery, skiing, and great areas for both rural and city lovers, what more could you ask for in a city? At least 57,000 people saw the opportunity to move to a gorgeous metro and took it between 2020 and 2022, increasing the population by 14.64%. Denver saw an increase of more than 1,000 in that period, as well.

The Denver metro is known for its microbreweries and green spaces, and aerospace and aviation companies seeking employees.

13. Las Vegas, Nevada

Welcome to Sin City, population 2,322,985 as of 2022, per estimates. That number grew by nearly 100,000 from 2020, a 14.15% rise in population of those looking to call the Las Vegas metro area home.

Approximately 24,000 people moved directly to the city, which is known for its huge hospitality industry from hotels to restaurants, and who could forget the casinos? Surprisingly, those elements are also drawing retirees to the region.

14. Seattle-Tacoma, Washington

This one is actually a bit of a surprise when you consider its location in the upper northwest of the US, rather than the south. Yet, both Seattle and Tacoma saw growths of 12,241 and 2,430 respectively from 2020 to 2022.

Overall, the “Sea-Tac” metro, as it’s called, gained more than 100,000 residents in those two years, a 13.89% growth. The availability of tech jobs, the gorgeous landscape, and the stable climate contribute to its overall population boom.

15. Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida is one of those cities that’s continuing to grow year by year. In 2020, for example, 949,611 people called it home. By 2022, that number had grown to 971,319. The metropolitan area, however, gained 72,052 new residents, a 13.07% increase.

Construction and manufacturing are two prominent business hubs, plus there are plenty of chances to further your education.

16. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida

This is probably one of the most popular Florida metros with its location on the Gulf Coast, and availability of beaches, not to mention the nightlife. All three cities grew individually, and the metro population increased by, 13.07%, equating to more than 130,000 new residents.

This metro area offers a lot. Tampa is home to major employers, a robust nightlife, and some of the best food you can find due to its melting pot status.

17. Atlanta, Georgia

Affectionately referred to as Hotlanta due to its scorching temperatures in the summer, Atlanta knows how to draw people in. Between 2020 and 2022, more than 275,000 people moved to the metro area. That’s a 12.15% growth in just two years.

You’ll never get bored living here, either, with parks, gardens, and plenty of historical sites to visit. There are also plenty of jobs in the finance, tech, and legal sectors.

18. Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City’s economic landscape is very diverse, which is probably why the area has seen such growth over the past few years. Between 2020 and 2022, nearly 5,000 people moved there. The metro region, made up of Tooele and Salt Lake counties, grew by approximately 42,000 people, increasing the population by 11.4%.

The culinary scene, as well as the vast variety of outdoor activities, are prominent draws to the region.

19. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

This is a weird one, especially when you think of people flocking to a city, but believe it or not, there was an 11.07% uptick in population from 2020 to 2022. Nearly 14,000 people moved to the city itself, while 62,000 people moved to the metro area.

Natural gas, oil, and petroleum take up the largest sector, but aviation, bioscience, and logistics are prominent employment fields, too.

20. McAllen, Texas

We’ll round out the top 20 list with McAllen, which is known for its tropical climate, nature, and shopping. Plus, you can always find something to do there.

The city and metro area have grown by 10.52%, with 27,000 people moving to the region between 2020 and 2022.

What Defines an Overcrowded City?

An overcrowded city is one without adequate infrastructure in place to support the people who live there. The population often struggles to gain access to basic opportunities such as jobs and economic assistance.

Many who live in overcrowded cities also have to travel outside of them to get the help they need in a timely manner.

Concerns of Living in an Overcrowded City

While it can be tempting to move to an area because of its opportunities, you have to be careful of its downfalls, too. These can include:

• Housing shortages or higher prices
• Increased pollution
• Resource (shelter, healthcare) strain

Be sure to do your research on the city’s demographics before you decide on a move.