Irvine, CA, is a darling of the folks who come up with those “best places” lists.
In 2014, the Orange County, CA, suburb appeared at No. 14 on Money magazine’s list of the 50 Best Places to Live. Three years earlier, Bloomberg Business put Irvine at No. 5 on its list of America’s 50 Best Cities.
In praising Irvine, Money magazine cites the city’s strong economy, “incredible schools” and vast green space, along with its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean. “In short,” Bloomberg Business says, “it’s a splendid place to settle down.”
More and more people continue to settle down in Irvine. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Irvine was the country’s fastest-growing large city from 2013 to 2014. The city’s population grew by nearly 5 percent in just one year.
Here, we’ve compiled a list of the nine fastest-growing large cities in the U.S. from 2013 to 2014. To qualify for our list, a city’s population had to be at least 200,000. Check out this list to see whether you might want to move to one of these cities and contribute to the population explosion.
1. Irvine, CA
2013-2014 population increase: 4.816%
2013 population: 237,111
2014 population: 248,531
Why move there: “The cultural amenities in Irvine are as numerous as our diverse population, who speak more than 65 different languages at home. … People of all backgrounds and cultures feel as if they are a part of the community, no matter where they live, work or go to school in the city of Irvine.” — Irvine Mayor Steven Choi
2. Gilbert, AZ
2013-2014 population increase: 3.756%
2013 population: 230,615
2014 population: 239,277
Why move there: “With a local history museum, great gourmet and Southwestern food, and annual rituals like dog-friendly ‘Barktoberfest,’ there’s always something to do in this bustling, low-crime Phoenix suburb.” — Money magazine
3. Austin, TX
2013-2014 population increase: 2.893%
2013 population: 887,124
2014 population: 912,791
Why move there: “From the recording studios of Seattle to the dot-coms of Silicon Valley, it seems just about everyone is talking about moving to Austin, Texas. Drawn by the low cost of living, excellent job market, delicious Tex-Mex, and incredible music scene, Austin is a beckoning siren.” — Estately Blog
4. Orlando, FL
2013-2014 population increase: 2.717%
2013 population: 255,432
2014 population: 262,372
Why move there: “When someone says ‘Orlando,’ what’s the first thing to cross your mind? Consider this: the traits that make Orlando such a great place to live are farther-reaching than whatever you may have thought of first — including that world-famous mouse. Yes, there’s sunshine aplenty and temperatures that rarely dip below the 60s, but the charming neighborhoods, diverse population, robust employment and year-round recreation make this vacation hot spot a great place to put down roots.” — Livability.com
5. Durham, NC
2013-2014 population increase: 2.571%
2013 population: 245,578
2014 population: 251,893
Why move there: “Durham’s got it all: Crazy sports fans, an awesome music scene, and some seriously epic food all wrapped up in a historic Gothic wonderland.” — Movoto.com
6. Henderson, NV
2013-2014 population increase: 2.489%
2013 population: 270,703
2014 population: 277,440
Why move there: “Henderson’s smart urban planning ensures that residents are always within a five-minute walk of a city park. While Las Vegas’ famed Strip still hosts the region’s best performing arts, culinary, and gaming scenes, Henderson boasts an up-and-coming downtown spotted with art galleries and restaurants and a local lake for boating, jet skiing, and other water sports.” — CNN Money
7. Denver, CO
2013-2014 population increase: 2.384%
2013 population: 648,401
2014 population: 663,862
Why move there: “Its designation as one of the nation’s healthiest places to live, as well as its proximity to the mountains, has inspired many people to move to the Mile High City.” — USA Today
8. Fort Worth, TX
2013-2014 population increase: 2.289%
2013 population: 794,055
2014 population: 812,238
Why move there: “Fort Worth offers a rich tapestry of affordable neighborhoods, an enviable cultural scene and a world-class school system.” — Livability.com
9. Seattle, WA
2013-2014 population increase: 2.286%
2013 population: 653,404
2014 population: 668,342
Why move there: “Residents of Rain City will take the city’s famously prodigious rainfall in exchange for their high average median income, beautiful water-bound locale, and standout clean air.” — Bloomberg Business
Sources
www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/index.html
www.nerdwallet.com/blog/family/cities-for-young-families-california
time.com/money/3312332/gilbert-az-best-places-to-live
blog.estately.com/2013/07/34-things-to-know-before-moving-to-austin-texas
livability.com/topics/housing-and-real-estate/eight-reasons-move-orlando-fl
www.movoto.com/durham-nc/moving-to-durham
money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0803/gallery.best_places_to_launch.fsb/98.html
traveltips.usatoday.com/tips-moving-denver-colorado-22425.html
livability.com/tx/fort-worth
www.bloomberg.com/bw/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities#slide50
