{"id":7098,"date":"2021-02-09T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T15:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=7098"},"modified":"2024-01-29T17:27:06","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T00:27:06","slug":"25-up-and-coming-cities-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/25-up-and-coming-cities-in-america\/","title":{"rendered":"The Neighbor Next 25: The 25 Most Up-and-Coming Cities in America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are a lot of sites that will tell you which U.S. cities are the best places to live right now.<\/p>\n

But we wanted to go a step further than that. We wanted to get ahead of the curve.<\/p>\n

We didn’t want to know the 25 best cities to live in right now<\/em>. We wanted to know the Next 25<\/em>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Which cities are right on the cusp of becoming the best places to live? Or, which cities are already great, but continuing to get bigger and better?<\/p>\n

That’s how the Neighbor Next 25 was born.<\/p>\n

We’re confident in saying that these 25 cities are the most<\/em> up-and-coming places to live in the U.S. We studied a number of factors that show which cities are growing and improving (and weathering the ongoing coronavirus pandemic without major economic turmoil) and we landed on these 25. If you’re looking for the “next big thing” in places to live, look no further.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related: <\/strong>The 25 Most Neighborly Cities in America<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

These are the Next 25 Up-and-Coming American Cities<\/h2>\n

Let’s dive into the cities that made the 2021 Neighbor Next 25!<\/p>\n

The No.1 most up-and-coming U.S. city is…<\/p>\n

\"Salisbury,<\/p>\n

1. Salisbury, MD<\/h3>\n

Diversity Score: <\/strong>49\/100<\/p>\n

Well-Being Improvement: <\/strong>Unranked in 2013 to 17th in 2018<\/p>\n

Change in Unemployment: <\/strong>+1.1%<\/p>\n

Population Growth: <\/strong>+10.9%<\/p>\n

Housing Permit Growth: <\/strong>+24.9%<\/p>\n

Housing Per Capita: <\/strong>0.6 homes per resident<\/p>\n

Salisbury, Maryland, the largest city in the state’s Eastern Shore region, is our No. 1 up-and-coming city!<\/p>\n

Salisbury got a major boost from its well-being index scores — it didn’t even make the top 200 cities in 2013, but was ranked 17th just five years later. That’s a city that’s investing in the well-being of its residents at a high rate.<\/p>\n

While Salisbury, like most of the U.S., saw an increase in unemployment in 2020, it was just over 1%, much less than the national increase of more than 6%. We think that indicates that Salisbury is economically stable and is handling the global pandemic with more resiliency than the average city.<\/p>\n

It’s clear that people are already catching on — Salisbury has seen a significant boost in its population in recent years. But new housing builds are outpacing population growth, which means housing is still affordable here for new and existing residents alike.<\/p>\n

Salisbury provides arts, museums, a regional airport, and a number of surrounding state forests and wildlife areas where residents can pursue virtually limitless recreational activities. Norfolk, VA, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia are all accessible within a day’s drive or train journey, which puts big-city amenities well within reach of this relatively small metro area.<\/p>\n

Those are just some of the reasons Salisbury, MD has much to offer new residents, and deserves its top spot on the Neighbor Next 25.<\/p>\n


\n\"Cape<\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Cape Coral, FL<\/h3>\n

Diversity Score: <\/strong>47\/100<\/p>\n

Well-Being Improvement: <\/strong>149th in 2013 to 6th in 2018<\/p>\n

Change in Unemployment: <\/strong>+2.9%<\/p>\n

Population Growth: <\/strong>+24.2%<\/p>\n

Housing Permit Growth: <\/strong>+27%<\/p>\n

Housing Per Capita: <\/strong>0.5 homes per resident<\/p>\n

The Gulf city of Cape Coral, FL, has a lot to offer those who might want to call it home in the future.<\/p>\n

What landed it solidly in the No. 2 spot in our rankings was the fact that its spot on the Well-Being Index increased 143 places, to land it in the top 10 cities for well-being in 2018.<\/p>\n

In addition to that, Cape Coral is growing. It saw nearly a 25% population increase in the last decade, but new housing construction is keeping pace, with a 27% increase in permits filed in the last year, which should help ensure that housing in the city stays affordable.<\/p>\n

In addition to warm and sunny weather almost year-round, Cape Coral is known for its beaches, canals, golf courses, and family entertainment.<\/p>\n

\"Myrtle<\/p>\n

 3. Myrtle Beach, SC<\/h3>\n

Diversity Score: <\/strong>36\/100<\/p>\n

Well-Being Improvement: <\/strong>164th in 2013 to 36th in 2018<\/p>\n

Change in Unemployment: <\/strong>+2.4%<\/p>\n

Population Growth: <\/strong>+31.3%<\/p>\n

Housing Permit Growth: <\/strong>+14.8%<\/p>\n

Housing Per Capita: <\/strong>0.6 homes per resident<\/p>\n

Myrtle Beach is one of the less diverse cities in our rankings, but its increase in the Well-Being Index made up for that — it moved from 164th in 2018 to just outside of the top third of healthy cities five years later.<\/p>\n

People are clearly catching on — Myrtle Beach has seen more than a 30% increase in its population since 2010. While housing growth is solid at a nearly 15%over the last year, this is a city that’s growing in people faster than it’s growing in residences, so you might expect the cost of living here to increase somewhat in the coming years. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Still, Myrtle Beach’s sunny weather, beaches and boardwalks, golf courses, amusement parks and more make it a destination we think is only going to increase in popularity, whether you’re single or moving with a family.<\/p>\n

\"Jacksonville,<\/p>\n

4. Jacksonville, FL<\/h3>\n

Diversity Score: <\/strong>54\/100<\/p>\n

Well-Being Improvement: <\/strong>159th in 2013 to 48th in 2018<\/p>\n

Change in Unemployment: <\/strong>+2.5%<\/p>\n

Population Growth: <\/strong>+15.6%<\/p>\n

Housing Permit Growth: <\/strong>+4.1%<\/p>\n

Housing Per Capita: <\/strong>0.4 homes per resident<\/p>\n

Coming in at No. 4 is Jacksonville, another sunny and warm city with a lot of diversity and a healthy population, according to its top 50 spot in the most recent Well-Being Index.<\/p>\n

One note to make about Jacksonville is that its population growth is far outpacing its housing growth, which may increase the city’s cost of living.<\/p>\n

\"Chattanooga,<\/p>\n

5. Chattanooga, TN-GA<\/h3>\n

Diversity Score: <\/strong>36\/100<\/p>\n

Well-Being Improvement: <\/strong>179th in 2013 to 40th in 2018<\/p>\n

Change in Unemployment: <\/strong>+1.3%<\/p>\n

Population Growth: <\/strong>+6.8%<\/p>\n

Housing Permit Growth: <\/strong>+1.5%<\/p>\n

Housing Per Capita: <\/strong>0.4 homes per resident<\/p>\n

Chattanooga rounds out our top 5. Though it’s not the most diverse city on our list by any means, Chattanooga showed huge gains in its residents’ well-being over five years.<\/p>\n

Plus, while the national unemployment rate grew by around 6 percent in 2020, Chattanooga saw just a 1.3% increase for its own residents. This is a city full of healthy, happy people with a resilient economy. That makes it well worth keeping an eye on.<\/p>\n

\n \r\n
\r\n
\r\n

Can we pay you to store vehicles?<\/h2>\r\n <\/header>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/svg><\/div>\r\n

List your unused space<\/h3>\r\n

People are earning $1,000s per year from their garages and outdoor space.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

Approve your renters<\/h3>\r\n

You're in control. Approve who rents and the hours of access.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

Get paid monthly<\/h3>\r\n

Sit back and collect automatic payments each month.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/section>\r\n