It's no secret that Dallas-Fort Worth's population is growing faster than most other metros in the U.S., but now several surprising Dallas neighbors have been named among the top 10 fastest-growing suburb nationwide over the last decade.

Celina nearly led the nation with an astonishing 314 percent increase in population from 2014 to 2023, according to a recent growth study by marketplace platform StorageCafe. The far-flung suburb, which is located about 45 miles north of downtown Dallas, ranked No. 2 in the report's rankings of the 100 fastest-growing U.S. cities during the 10-year period.

The report said Celina was home to more than 27,000 residents in 2023, but now the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population has grown to more than 43,300 people.

"A mix of diverse housing options, proximity to city amenities, a strong local economy and access to top-rated schools and entertainment have made it one of the most attractive places to settle in the region," the report's author wrote.

This isn't the first time Celina has entered the spotlight for its exploding population: It was the No. 1 fastest-growing U.S. city in 2023, and recently came out on top of GoBankingRates' new study ranking of the fastest-growing affluent suburbs in America for 2025.

Four more Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs earned spots among the top 10 fastest-growing U.S. cities from 2014 to 2023: Melissa (No. 3), Princeton (No. 7), Prosper (No. 8), and Fate (No. 9).

In all, 11 DFW cities earned spots in the report, including:

• No. 14 – Anna
• No. 33 – Midlothian
• No. 43 – Royse City
• No. 45 – Forney
• No. 58 – Little Elm
• No. 72 – Frisco

The small town of Fate has grown by 172 percent since 2014, StorageCafe says.fatetx.gov/

"Aside from Frisco, which is already a well-established suburb, the rest are smaller cities — six of which more than doubled in size during this period," the report said. "The remaining cities still saw impressive gains, with population increases exceeding 60 percent. Meanwhile, Dallas proper experienced more modest growth, with a 5 percent increase over the decade."

The report added that Dallas-Fort Worth's population surge has also led to a high demand for housing. Home prices in Celina stood at nearly $611,000 in November 2024, whereas Melissa's home prices were about $466,000 during that same period.

For comparison, the national average price of a home is $354,000.

Only three Dallas suburbs had the most affordable home prices out of the total 11 DFW suburbs on the list: Princeton ($326,299), Royse City ($332,537), and Forney ($323,229).

StorageCafe says the reasons for population shifts vary greatly, with many people seeking out cities with a more affordable cost of living, or those moving for socioeconomic factors like better employment opportunities.

"Population growth is far from even across the U.S. Some cities are experiencing significant increases, directly driven by steady in-migration, rising immigration and birth rates outpacing death rates," the report said. "But what’s fueling these trends runs deeper — economic and social forces like shifting job markets, the rise of remote and hybrid work and soaring living costs are all reshaping where people choose to live."

Other fast-growing Texas cities
Texas had the greatest number of cities to earn spots in the report's ranking of the 100 fastest-growing U.S. cities over the last decade, with 25 total cities making the cut with the highest growth rates nationwide.

Austin had five suburbs land on the list: Manor (No. 6), Leander (No. 16), Kyle (No. 53), Hutto (No. 54), and Buda (No. 68).

San Antonio also had five suburbs make the top 100, including Boerne (No. 63), Selma (No. 74), Fair Oaks Ranch (No. 70), New Braunfels (No. 77), and Canyon Lake (No. 99).

Houston only had four entries on the list, but Fulshear led the nation as the fastest-growing U.S. city over the last 10 years. The remaining Houston-area cities included in the report were Manvel (No. 24), Katy (No. 82), and Conroe (No. 83).

The top 10 fastest-growing cities over the last decade are:

• No. 1 – Fulshear, Texas
• No. 2 – Woodbridge, Virginia
• No. 3 – Celina, Texas
• No. 4 – Davenport, Florida
• No. 5 – Melissa, Texas
• No. 6 – Manor, Texas
• No. 7 – Princeton, Texas
• No. 8 – Prosper, Texas
• No. 9 – Fate, Texas
• No. 10 – Nolensville, Tennessee