Fast growing MSAs in slow growing states

[IowanFarmer]

Des Moines and the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area are both growing quickly despite Iowa slowly growing.

[IowanFarmer]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

Daphne-Fairhope
Auburn-Opelika
Huntsville
Columbus, OH
Morgantown
Lawrence, KS
Madison, WI
Gulfport, MS
Indianapolis
Harrisburg, PA
Ames, IA
Ann Arbor

So clearly a theme of college towns in general, as well as low COL

I'd put Ames in with Des Moines and Lawrence in with Kansas City. While both separate communities with their own very distinct character and culture, their proximity to the larger metros (in addition to the colleges) is a big part of their growth.

[kdb05f]

Jonesboro, Arkansas. It is fast growing in a slow growing state. Not only that, it's in a region of the state that's static at best and mostly losing except for Jonesboro's msa and maybe a couple of nearby counties. People o/s Arkansas haven't caught on to it yet. But being a dry county might start to hold it back if that doesn't change.

[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by MrJester

What are some examples? Of the top of my head, I would say Columbus, OH and Oklahoma City.

Both are growing quite fast (though not as fast as DFW, Orlando, and PHX), but it seems like their growth is largely driven by in state moves and moves from neighboring states. Is this true? Would you say that OKC new growth is largely driven by people from the rest of Oklahoma or from Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas moving into Greater OKC?

I'd throw in Texas for sure. It's possible that more people come from there than Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas combined. So wouldn't be surprised if more Texas license plates are seen in OKC. Can't guess how much rural Oklahoma people figure in, but a number of them want to go someplace more rewarding. Most rural towns in Oklahoma have slowly been thinning out and dying for years.

[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

- Many college towns (Urbana-Champaign, IL, Ann Arbor, MI)

- Los Alamos, NM

- Cheyenne, WY

- Huntsville, AL

- Hilo, HI

Add on Stillwater, OK, if the 2020 census puts it at least 50,000 to make it a new metro. It's fairly close proximity to both Tulsa and Oklahoma City and having passenger air service to Dallas-Ft. Worth should help making it appealing for more growth.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by kdb05f

Jonesboro, Arkansas. It is fast growing in a slow growing state. Not only that, it's in a region of the state that's static at best and mostly losing except for Jonesboro's msa and maybe a couple of nearby counties. People o/s Arkansas haven't caught on to it yet. But being a dry county might start to hold it back if that doesn't change.

Fayetteville is up 21% and Little Rock is up 6% as well.