If you’re looking for a boomtown, a city in which the population is growing fast? Look to the West and South. Don’t look in the Midwest.
The 25 fastest-growing cities in the United States? According to a new study, the Midwest only features one, and that’s only if you consider Nashville part of the region.
Checkr recenty compiled its list of the 25 fastest-growing cities in the United States. It defined a boomtown as one with high population, GDP and workforce growth. Checkr also considered a city’s unemployment rate, poverty rate, growth in real pesonal income, change in the total number of businesses and percentage of high-earning residents, those making more than $100,000 a year.
By these measures, Provo, Utah, topped Checkr’s list of U.S. boomtowns. Boise, Idaho; Coeuer D’Alene, Idaho; Bend, Oregon; and St. George, Utah, rounded out the top five.
And in the Midwest? The only Midwest city on Checkr’s list of U.S. boomtowns was Nashville, which ranked 22nd on Checkr’s list. That’s a pretty weak showing for the region, especially since many would consider Nashville part of the South and not the Midwest.
Texas fared slightly better on Checkr’s list. Austin was the only Texas city on the fastest-growing list, but Austin ranked high, pulling down the seventh position.
What put Provo atop Checkr’s list? According to Checkr, Utah has fostered a business-friendly environment that has attracted companies from various industries, including technology, finance, healthcare and outdoor recreation. This has led to job opportunities and a steady influx of professionals and skilled workers seeking employment in these thriving sectors.
Checkr also compiled a list of the 25 slowest-growing cities in the United States. Unfortunately, the Midwest dominated this list.
Decatur, Illinois, topped this list, with Lima, Ohio, ranking third and Champaign, Illinois ranking seventh.
Other Midwest cities on the list of slowest-growing metropolitan areas were St. Joseph, Missouri (10th); Bloomington, Illinois (11th); Danville, Illinois (12th); Youngstown, Ohio (20th); Muncie, Indiana (23rd); and Rockford, Illinois (24th).
What puts Decatur atop this not-so-desirable list? Checkr poins to the lack of high-quality manufacturing jobs in the Illinois city. And the jobs replacing these manufacturing positions are service-industry jobs that often do not provide a living wage.
Checkr said that economic hardship is a common theme for the cities on the slowest-growing list.
