America’s fastest growing city is tiny 43,000-strong town in remote area beloved for incredible festivals

Newly released Census data shows that huge numbers of Americans are flocking to small towns in Texas to get a new start, including the fastest growing city in America: Celina.

In addition to Celina, Texas is home to eight of the 15 fastest growing cities with populations of 20,000 or more. Celina, a tiny town in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, took the number one spot.

Celina had a population of around 17,000 when the 2020 Census was taken. Now, the city’s population has more than doubled to over 43,000 as of December 2023.

Danielle Hale, chief economist of Realtor.com, told the New York Post that that small cities such as Celina often top lists of fastest population growth because their smaller size makes it easier for them to experience large percentage changes.

‘The percent growth is a good reflection of how significant the change is likely experienced by locals,’ Hale said.   

But since the median home price in Celina is roughly $680,000, it’s safe to say the people moving there aren’t looking cheap housing. 

In fact, the median list price for a home in nearby Dallas is 29 percent cheaper at just $479,000.

Rather, Celina’s newest transplants are likely there for the hourlong commute to Dallas, its well ranked schools and low crime rates.

Celina has also has a fair bit of culture in its own right, known for hosting festivals filled with good food and attractions.

Its downtown square hosted its annual Cajun Festival this past weekend, billing the event as the ‘Biggest Crawfish Boil in North Texas.’

The event was complete with live alligator shows, a family-friendly carnival and live performance by country star Aaron Watson.

And of course, thousands of pounds of fresh crawfish for residents and passersby alike to enjoy.

The general manager of popular local Cajun joint Bongo Beaux’s was right there for all the action, NBC Dallas Forth Worth reported.

‘We just see more people coming through our doors every year,’ she said in the lead up to last year’s Cajun Fest.

Fulshear, also in Texas, was right behind Celina in population growth, and it too has elevated home prices. Expect to pay $519,000 for the median home. 

Fulshear’s 25.6 percent boom from July 2022 to July 2023 can partly be attributed to its close proximity to Houston, which is an hour away.

But cities like Celina and Fulshear have a big tax advantage over other states with high income taxes like California or New York. 

‘Many companies are moving here for tax purposes, and there’s no income tax,’ said Wendy Flynn who works at Texas real estate firm Keller Williams.

‘And there’s a variety of communities to live in, whether it is a bustling metropolitan area or a charming small town,’ Flynn added.

Princeton, Texas was third fastest growing city with a median home price of $350,000, and Anna, Texas was fourth with a median price of $427,500.

California’s only showing on the list was Lathrop, boasting home prices that routinely go way past $700,000.

However, Texas real estate is also getting pricey in certain areas. 

Look no further than the ninth fastest growing city: Prosper, Texas. The median home there could set you back nearly $920,000.

Ten minutes south of Celina, Prosper is slightly closer to Dallas and Fort Worth.

‘These neighboring cities [to Fort Worth–Dallas] offer lots of new construction across all price ranges,’ Cindy Allen told the Post, an agent in Southlake, Texas.

In terms of raw number increases from July 2022 to July 2023, midsized Texas cities also took the cake. 

San Antonio and Fort Worth each added more than 21,000 people over this period, while America’s largest city, New York, lost nearly 78,000 residents in 2023.