May 29, 2026
Some of America's boomtowns aren't in the suburbs — they're in the exurbs.
Exurban communities are found beyond the traditional suburbs of a larger city, offering larger properties, more privacy and a more rural feel than suburbs. And, perhaps most importantly, exurban homes are typically more affordable. The trade-off is that it could mean a longer drive to work (or to doctor appointments, or to the grocery store).
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But the desire for more affordable housing could be the reason why exurbs are some of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, based on Census Bureau data (through June 2025) (1). At the same time, some major urban centers saw their populations shrink slightly, including New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas.
"The exurbs and suburbs both grew out of a desire for more space, greater privacy and a quieter setting, without losing access to the conveniences of city life," according to Redfin (2).
Interest in rural areas continues to grow in 2026, Redfin says, "with both exurbs and suburbs seeing increased demand — a trend sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and fueled by remote work, affordability and a renewed appreciation for small-town living."
But there are key differences between suburbs and exurbs — and not just commute time. Rather, it's a more complex issue around affordability and quality of life.
With such rapid growth, however, exurbs risk losing their rural feel. It could also affect anything from "congressional apportionment, federal funding formulas, school districts and political power for years to come," according to Axios (3).
Here are three states with the fastest-growing exurbs and how to decide if urban, suburban or exurban living is best for you — whether you're still working or you're planning to retire.
Texas
Texas has some of the country's fastest-growing exurbs. Fulshear, for example, an exurb of Houston, added 17,000 people between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, bumping up the population to an estimated 64,630, according to Census data. "No other American city with more than 50,000 people has grown faster in that span," reports The Wall Street Journal (4).
Dallas saw its population decline slightly, but its exurbs are rapidly growing, including Celina — with its master-planned communities — which added 13,000 people and bumped up its population to 64,400.
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One reason for such expansive growth, aside from higher housing costs in urban centers? In Texas, "there are no state-level restrictions capping development, no permitting regimes that take years to navigate, and no zoning codes that effectively wall off new construction to protect the property values of existing homeowners," according to Fortune (5).
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Arizona
Phoenix saw its population increase slightly, by 0.2%, but its exurbs grew much faster, including Goodyear, Buckeye and Surprise — located in the West Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area — which all grew at least 4.5%. In part, this is due to skyrocketing urban housing costs.
"Pinal County, one of two counties that comprise the Phoenix MSA, notched a population increase of 25.4% over the past five years, the largest gain among the nearly 300 U.S. counties with at least 250,000 people," according to Orion Investment Real Estate. In Pinal County, median home sale prices are 20% to 25% lower than in nearby Maricopa County (6).
Utah
Some Utah exurbs also saw big growth, including Eagle Mountains and Saratoga Springs, both part of the Provo-Orem metropolitan area. A key driver here is lack of affordable housing in urban centers as the state's tech sector expands rapidly, particularly along the Wasatch Front (7).
Median home prices in Salt Lake City, for example, have skyrocketed (up 13% in March 2026 from the same time last year (8)), pushing first-time homebuyers outside of the urban core.
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Suburb or exurb?
Suburbs tend to be densely populated, with a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and rentals. They're also close to shopping centres, entertainment and healthcare, offering well-developed infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, public transit and highways.
Exurbs, on the other hand, are more spread out, typically consisting of single-family homes (often in master-planned communities). They're more car-dependent, with fewer amenities and less developed infrastructure than suburbs.
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When deciding between suburban or exurban living, a major consideration is cost of living. "Suburbs generally have higher home prices but more rental availability; exurbs often have lower housing costs but higher transportation costs," according to Redfin (2).
But it's important to weigh all factors.
"Exurbs are great for someone who works from home or is looking for a second home/vacation property," John McSherry, a New York real estate broker, told Realtor.com (9).
But, if you commute downtown for work, your gas costs could skyrocket, especially as fuel prices keep rising. If you don't drive — or if you're elderly and lose the ability to drive — you could end up being homebound much of the time.
For retirees, the attraction of exurbs could be more space, safer communities and easier access to nature and the outdoors. But it also means you're further from amenities, such as hospitals, entertainment and community centers. Some retirees may prefer to downsize, rather than move to a larger house with a sprawling property.
In some cases, the higher housing costs of a suburban neighborhood could outweigh other factors associated with living in a more rural community with less infrastructure.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
U.S. Census Bureau (1); Redfin (2),(8); Axios (3); The Wall Street Journal (4); Fortune (5); Orion Investment Real Estate (6); Utah Realtors (7); Realtor.com (9)
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Vawn Himmelsbach is a veteran journalist who covers tech, business, finance and travel. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, CBC News, Yahoo Finance, MSN, CAA Magazine, Travelweek, Explore Magazine and Consumer Reports.
