Florida Dominates List of Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities

A new wave of residential development is reshaping the U.S. housing landscape — and Florida is leading the charge. According to fresh data from S-Line Contractors, five Florida metro areas have landed in the top 10 for the most new construction projects, signaling rapid growth and strong economic momentum.

The study analyzed residential construction permits issued in January and February 2025, along with construction-related GDP data from 2023, to identify where the most significant building booms are happening.

Indiana Leads, But Florida Shines
Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana claimed the No. 1 spot, with 630 new housing permits per 100,000 residents, totaling 1,428 new residential units in just two months. Additionally, the region dedicated 4.46% of its total GDP to construction in 2023.

But the real standout? Florida, which placed five cities in the top 10:
• 4th – Cape Coral-Fort Myers: 344 permits per 100,000 residents, totaling 2,870 new homes. A massive 9.73% of GDP went to construction—the sixth highest in the U.S.
• 5th – Ocala: 307 permits per 100,000 people, with 1,257 new builds. Construction accounted for 9.54% of GDP.
• 6th – Punta Gorda: 299 permits, 616 new homes, and 11.93% of GDP dedicated to construction—the third highest nationwide.
• 9th – Lakeland-Winter Haven: 257 permits and 2,102 new housing units. 6.29% of GDP was allocated to building projects.
• 10th – Naples-Marco Island: 227 permits and 919 new homes, with 9.04% of the metro area’s GDP going to construction—ranked 10th highest nationally.

Other High-Growth Metros to Watch
• Carson City, Nevada, ranked second overall with 429 permits per 100,000 people and a whopping 6.04% of GDP going into construction.
• Sherman-Denison, Texas, took third with 359 permits and 7.92% of GDP allocated to development.
• Greenville, North Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina, landed in seventh and eighth places, respectively—reinforcing the growth trend across the southeastern U.S.

What Does This Mean for the Housing Market?
Sam Bitar, spokesperson for S-Line Contractors, shared insights on the implications of the findings:
“This data is positive news for the top metro areas in the ranking, as the boost in construction projects within these rapidly expanding locales indicates robust economic vitality. The housing market may feel stagnant right now in many places across the US, but these cities are operating against the trend.”

He also highlighted that Southern metro areas are driving much of the growth, with Florida and North Carolina dominating the top 10. This could mean more opportunities for prospective buyers and renters, as well as a better overall quality of life due to increased investment in infrastructure and housing supply.
“It will be interesting to see how the rest of the year unfolds,” Bitar added, “and which metro areas contribute increased investments in urban planning, as well as commercial and public infrastructure throughout the remainder of 2025.”

Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Building Permits Survey (BPS), U.S. Census