If it feels like Jacksonville is getting bigger by the day, the numbers back that up.
More people are moving to the area, the workforce is expanding, and the housing supply is growing; Jacksonville is now being recognized as one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country.
According to LendingTree’s latest boomtown study, Jacksonville ranked No. 7 among America’s Top 10 boomtowns, while Tampa ranked No. 5 and Orlando came in at No. 8.
Jacksonville isn’t just getting bigger; it’s growing in several key areas at once, from its workforce and housing supply to its population and influx of new residents.
Here’s a look at what the study found.
Jacksonville ranks 7th among America’s top boomtowns
Jacksonville ranked No. 7 overall
among the 50 U.S. metros analyzed by LendingTree and No. 4 nationally for people and housing, fueled by population growth, migration and an expanding housing supply.
Jacksonville’s workforce is growing faster than anywhere else
One of the biggest takeaways from the study is Jacksonville’s workforce growth. The Jacksonville metro’s workforce grew 5.6%, the largest increase among all 50 metros analyzed by LendingTree.
That means the region isn’t simply attracting new residents — more people are also becoming part of the local workforce.
Jacksonville’s population keeps growing
Jacksonville is also continuing to add residents. According to LendingTree, the metro’s population grew 2.8%, while its housing supply increased 2.3%.
That growth is significant because population and housing trends often move together. As more people arrive, demand for places to live can increase, putting pressure on the local housing market to keep pace.
What is fueling Jacksonville’s growth?
The study revealed that migration is a major piece of Jacksonville’s boom.
LendingTree found that 15.8% of Jacksonville residents moved from another county, state or country, giving the metro one of the higher shares of newcomers among the areas analyzed.
In other words, Jacksonville’s growth isn’t happening solely because of natural population increases. People are actively choosing to move to the region from elsewhere.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville ranks among America’s fastest-growing boomtowns
