4 Utah Cities Rank as Top 10 ‘Boomtowns’

Weighing 10 metrics across 381 U.S. metros, Provo, Utah, comes in at No. 1 for fast-growing boomtowns, according to Checkr.

Provo, Utah, has ranked No. 1 in Checkr’s new report of fastest-growing boomtowns. Looking at 10 factors across 381 metropolitan areas using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, three other Utah cities—St. George, Logan, and Odgen—also made the top 10.Provo’s ranking is the result of strong GDP growth, number of business added, and labor force growth. Over the past five years, Utah has seen healthy growth in both population and economic development, the report notes.“While we can’t predict whether these newcomers will set permanent roots in these places, one key factor for the move is the escalated cost of housing in major cities across the country,” says Sara Korolevich, author of the Checkr report.“Combine pricey housing options with an opportunity to move elsewhere because of remote work, and it’s not surprising that less-expensive cities are booming more than others as residents seek better work/life balance and a more affordable place to live.”The top 15 boomtowns across the U.S., according to Checkr, include:

1. Provo, Utah

2. Boise, Idaho

3. Coeur D’Alene, Idaho

4. Bend, Oregon

5. St. George, Utah

6. Destin, Florida

7. Austin, Texas

8. Logan, Utah

9. Ogden, Utah

10. Reno, Nevada

11. Bradenton, Florida

12. Fort Collins, Colorado

13. Idaho Falls, Idaho

14. Charlotte, North Carolina

15. Palm Bay, Florida

Compared with the fastest-growing cities, Checkr also has ranked the slower-growing metros across the U.S. Economic investment, demographic trends, environmental constraints, social and political instability, market conditions, and climate, among other factors, were considered in the anaylsis.The 15 slowest-growing cities include:

1. Decatur, Illinois

2. Shreveport, Louisiana

3. Lima, Ohio

4. Lawton, Oklahoma

5. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

6. Pine Bluff, Arkansas

7. Champaign, Illinois

8. Erie, Pennsylvania

9. Beaumont, Texas

10. St. Joseph, Missouri

11. Bloomington, Illinois

12. Danville, Illinois

13. State College, Pennsylvania

14. Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana

15. Elmira, New York

Written By Leah Draffen Published By Home Bulders.com (July 14, 2023)