The Sunshine State perennially attracts hundreds of thousands of new residents every year and, as a result, Florida population growth was the highest in the country between 2022 and 2023. In addition, four of the five fastest-growing metro areas in the US were in Florida.
Fastest growing state
According to recent statistics from the US Census Bureau, Florida's population growth ranked among the fastest in the US between 2022 and 2023. Four of the top five metro areas with the highest number of new residents were in Florida, and three stood in the nation’s top ten.
The fastest-growing metros in Florida were:
· Wildwood-The Villages – this metro area, located northwest of Orlando and a popular retirement destination, welcomed almost 5% more residents over the year. This surge placed it at the top of the population growth table.
· Lakeland-Winter Haven – situated east of Tampa and known for its 38 lakes, received nearly 4% more residents. As a result, it was the second fastest-growing metro in the US.
· Ocala – this metro, in central northern Florida, grew by over 3% last year and ranked fourth in the table.
· Port St Lucie – on the Atlantic coast in southern Florida, the metro also saw more than 3% population growth last year, the fifth highest in the US.
Highest Florida population growth
In addition to housing the fastest-growing metros in the country, the Sunshine State is also home to three metros receiving the most new residents. Between them, Orlando, Tampa and Miami saw a population growth just shy of 150,000.
Orlando welcomed nearly 55,000 new residents last year, the fourth highest in the country. Tampa and Miami ranked in fifth and tenth places, respectively.
More competitive rental markets was one of the most significant effects of the migration to Florida in 2023, with several metros home to the hottest. They included Miami (the nation’s most competitive), Orlando, Tampa and Charlotte County.
Migration to the South
The surge in Florida population growth reflects a general trend in the US of migration to southern states. All of the ten fastest-growing metros were in Florida, Texas, Georgia and North-South Carolina from 2022 to 2023. These figures confirm the region's popularity among both job seekers and retirees.
Reasons behind population growth in the South
Over the last few years, the South has experienced net domestic migration, with more new residents arriving in the region than residents leaving. Almost all the metros with the highest net migration (28 out of 30) were in the South.
International migration also affects Florida, a state that welcomes new residents from the US and abroad. From 2022 to 2023, international migration was also positive, confirming its status as one of the most appealing destinations for international relocation in the US.
Sunshine State metros regularly rank as the best places to live. Florida features among the best places for relocation, job opportunities and retirement. Earlier this year, Money.com placed three Florida metros in the top 50 best places to live in the US: Tampa, Sarasota and Altamonte Springs.
(Source: US Census Bureau)
