The Provo, UT, metro area sits at the intersection of moving and money.
An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the SelfStorage.com Moving Blog shows that this mountainous metro area, home to more than 570,000 people, leads the 100 largest U.S. metro areas for combined growth in population and high-income households.
From 2005 through 2013, the population of the Provo area climbed by 28.9 percent, while the percentage of households earning at least $200,000 a year soared by 118.8 percent. Those are pretty big stats for one of the smallest metro areas in the top 100.
Editor’s note: Some of the data in this listing was corrected July 16 for Ogden, UT; Houston, TX; Columbus, OH; and Bakersfield, CA. The data corrections did not affect the metro areas’ rankings.
Flocking to Provo
Rona Rahlf, president of the Provo area’s Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, attributes the region’s spike in population and wealth to a strong entrepreneurial spirit, healthy quality-of-life factors, a vibrant arts and entertainment scene, and a low crime rate. According to polling by Gallup, the Provo area ranks extremely high among U.S. metro areas for overall well-being, religious faith and daily learning.
In the past, Rahlf said, income growth had been relatively slow in the Provo area. But with the local startup sector taking off in recent years, income levels also have taken off, she said.
Brigham Young University drives population and economic growth in the Provo, UT, area.
Rahlf said startups and other employers in the Provo area benefit from a diverse pool of talent, thanks in large part to the presence of Brigham Young University, which is affiliated with the Mormon Church. According to Rahlf, more than 150 languages are spoken in the Provo area as a result of Mormons being strongly encouraged to take mission trips to countries all over the world.
“A close look at the character of Provo will find a hard-working, industrious people who thrive on entrepreneurism,” Provo Mayor John Curtis said.
For this list, we paired growth rates for population and high-income households to come up with a ranking for each of the 100 largest metro areas. Here are the top 16.
1. Provo, UT
Population in 2005: 443,188
Population in 2013: 562,253
9-year growth rate for population: 26.9%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 94
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 1.6%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 3.5%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 118.8%
2. Ogden, UT
Population in 2005: 481,703
Population in 2013: 622,238
9-year growth rate for population: 29.2%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 87
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 1.7%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 3.2%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 88.2%
3. McAllen, TX
Population in 2005: 671,967
Population in 2013: 818,942
9-year growth rate for population: 21.9%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 68
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 0.7%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 1.7%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 142.9%
4. Worcester, MA
Population in 2005: 759,409
Population in 2013: 928,050
9-year growth rate for population: 22.2%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 58
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 2.7%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 5.3%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 96.3%
5. Greenville, SC
Population in 2005: 570,538
Population in 2013: 850,406
9-year growth rate for population: 49.1%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 63
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 1.5%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 2.7%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 80.0%
6. Charleston, SC
Population in 2005: 575,297
Population in 2013: 712,081
9-year growth rate for population: 23.8%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 76
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 2.1%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 3.8%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 81.0%
7. Houston, TX
Population in 2005: 5,193,448
Population in 2013: 6,333,809
9-year growth rate for population: 22.0%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 5
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 3.6%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 6.7%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 86.1%
8. El Paso, TX
Population in 2005: 708,319
Population in 2013: 834,630
9-year growth rate for population: 17.8%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 67
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 1.0%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 2.1%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 110.0%
9. Colorado Springs, CO
Population in 2005: 571,244
Population in 2013: 678,711
9-year growth rate for population: 18.8%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 79
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 2.1%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 4.0%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 90.5%
10. Austin, TX
Population in 2005: 1,406,364
Population in 2013: 1,885,803
9-year growth rate for population: 34.1%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 35
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 3.7%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 6.2%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 67.6%
11. Raleigh, NC
Population in 2005: 924,415
Population in 2013: 1,215,299
9-year growth rate for population: 31.5%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 46
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 3.4%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 5.7%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 67.6%
12. Seattle, WA
Population in 2005: 3,133,715
Population in 2013: 3,613,621
9-year growth rate for population: 15.3%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 15
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 3.7%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 6.9%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 86.5%
13. Honolulu, HI
Population in 2005: 873,177
Population in 2013: 987,019
9-year growth rate for population: 13.0%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 54
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 3.2%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 6.6%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 106.3%
14. Baton Rouge, LA
Population in 2005: 706,909
Population in 2013: 820,409
9-year growth rate for population: 16.1%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 70
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 2.0%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 3.7%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 85.0%
15. Columbus, OH
Population in 2005: 1,665,428
Population in 2013: 1,969,032
9-year growth rate for population: 18.2%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 32
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 2.5%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 4.2%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 68.0%
16. Bakersfield, CA
Population in 2005: 724,206
Population in 2013: 865,923
9-year growth rate for population: 19.6%
Population rank among top 100 metro areas (2014): 62
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2005: 1.8%
Percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year in 2013: 3.0%
9-year growth rate for percentage of households making at least $200,000 a year: 66.7%
Data analysis by Elizabeth Whalen
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