Homestate Glory

Lone Star State outpaces nation in growth, and one North Texas city leads pack

If you feel like Texas cities are growing at record speed, it’s because they are: the Lone Star State dominates WalletHub’s new rankings of the fastest-growing U.S. cities — from small to large.

A couple of Texas cities in particular came out on top. Mission (near McAllen), which took the No. 1 spot on the overall list and the small-city rankings, and Irving, which landed at No. 2 overall and No. 1 among midsize cities.

It appears that Alamo Drafthouse picked a good spot for its third Dallas-area theater, in Irving’s coming-soon Music Factory complex.

To identify the cities that have “expanded the most rapidly in socio-economic terms” between 2008 and 2013, WalletHub researchers analyzed 516 U.S. cities of varying sizes. Data was divided into two categories: socio-demographic landscape and jobs and economic development.

Within those groups were metrics such as population growth, educational attainment growth (increase in people earning bachelor’s degrees or higher), uninsured rate decrease, median household income growth, and unemployment rate decrease.

WalletHub categorized cities based on the following population sizes: large (more than 300,000), midsize (100,000-300,000) and small (less than 100,000). It ranked the cities within these categories and overall.

Among large cities, Texas had four of the top 10: Austin (No. 1), Fort Worth (No. 2), San Antonio (No. 5) and Corpus Christi (No. 6). Looking beyond the top 10, El Paso landed at No. 13, and Houston came in at No. 17.

Dallas proper fell outside the top 20 on the big-city list, at No. 26. Overall it ranked No. 113.

The Lone Star State stood out in the midsize city rankings, claiming 10 of the top 20 spots: Irving (1), San Angelo (5), Grand Prairie (6), Frisco (9), Killeen (10), Round Rock (11), Odessa (12), Midland (13), College Station (14) and Waco (20). Texas also had six of the top 20 in the small-city rankings: Mission (1), Edinburg (2), Pharr (4), League City (8), Bryan (11) and Allen (13).

Austin also nabbed a spot among the top 10 on the overall list, at No. 8. Speaking of the overall rankings, Texas took 11 of the top 20 spots, and four belong to North Texas: Irving (1), Fort Worth (14), Grand Prairie (17) and Frisco (No. 20).

Irving ranks No. 2 on a new list of fast-growing cities.

Las Colinas business district in North Irving

Irving CVB Facebook

Irving ranks No. 2 on a new list of fast-growing cities.

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Grand Prairie News

Grand Prairie is transforming its downtown for future development

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Grand Prairie water tower

Downtown Grand Prairie is about to undergo a major transformation. The city is investing in a series of improvements that will bring new amenities, enhance walkability, and modernize infrastructure while preserving the historic charm of downtown.

These upgrades will roll out gradually, with various projects scheduled from 2025 through 2028.

Here’s what’s coming:

West of City Hall on Main Street
Site preparation at the former Calvary Church will begin in November 2025 and continue through July 2027. This work will clear the way for future development along Main Street, new businesses, public spaces, or potential mixed-use development.

City Hall Green Space (South of City Hall)
A new performance stage will be constructed starting in November 2025, creating a space for outdoor concerts and community events. The city will also reinstall the historic Liberty Bell with a new plaque and add shade structures to make the space more comfortable and inviting for year-round use.

Main Street (from NW 6th Street to NE 5th Street)
One of the most impactful changes will come to Main Street, where construction will begin in winter 2026 and continue through spring 2028. The project includes utility relocation, full reconstruction of the roadway, and significant pedestrian improvements. The street will be reduced to two lanes, one eastbound and one westbound, and sidewalks will be widened to create a safer, more walkable environment.

Jefferson Street (State Highway 161 to Cimmaron Trail)
Starting in spring 2026, a portion of Jefferson Street will be reconstructed, improving traffic flow and long-term durability. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

Jefferson and Main Street Roundabout
To reroute heavy truck traffic away from the downtown core, a new roundabout will be built east of downtown where Jefferson and Main Street meet. A centerpiece of this roundabout will be a large public art installation. Construction begins in spring 2026 with a scheduled completion in summer 2027.

These updates reflect Grand Prairie’s commitment to revitalizing its downtown area with community-oriented planning.

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