The Blubber

As Americans continue to leave major cities in search of more affordable living, many are choosing to settle within commuting distance of large urban areas that offer strong job prospects. It’s no surprise, then, that one of the country’s fastest-growing suburbs is near Charlotte, North Carolina, a city that has seen significant population growth since the pandemic.

Mooresville, just 27 miles north of Charlotte, was recently named the fastest-growing suburb in the U.S. with a median home price under $500,000 by GoBankingRates.com.

The website examined two-year population growth data for mid-sized cities with up to 200,000 residents and home prices from July 2024. The findings show that Mooresville experienced a 30% increase in population, rising from 38,500 in 2020 to 50,000 in 2022. The median home price in Mooresville was $480,430, about $50,000 higher than the national median in July.

However, Mooresville is far from a quiet suburb. Known as “Race City USA,” it hosts numerous NASCAR teams, racing tracks, and auto manufacturers. Motorsports enthusiasts from all over the country visit to explore attractions like the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame and the Memory Lane Motorsports and Historical Automotive Museum. Visitors also enjoy touring racing facilities and experiencing the city's various tracks.

Another major draw is Lake Norman, the state’s largest man-made lake, a popular destination for relaxation. Outdoor recreation thrives here, with easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains (Asheville is only a two-hour drive away) and plenty of hiking and biking trails nearby.

Second on GoBankingRates.com’s list is Hamtramck, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit that has seen a 28% population increase in two years. It also boasts the lowest median home value on the list at $157,930.

Third is Buckeye, Arizona, located west of Phoenix, where the population grew by 27% since 2020, now totaling 95,000 residents.