It's no secret that San Antonio's population is growing faster than most other metros in the U.S., but now several surprising Alamo City neighbors have been named among the top 100 fastest-growing suburb nationwide over the last decade.
Boerne experienced a 67 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 35 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, ranked No. 63 in the report's rankings of the 100 fastest-growing U.S. cities during the 10-year period.
The report said Boerne was home to more than 19,500 residents in 2023, but now the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population has grown to nearly 21,800 people.
Four more San Antonio suburbs earned spots among the top 100 fastest-growing U.S. cities from 2014 to 2023: Selma (No. 74), Fair Oaks Ranch (No. 70), New Braunfels (No. 77), and Canyon Lake (No. 99).
StorageCafe says the reasons for population shifts vary greatly, with many people seeking out cities with a more affordable cost of living and others 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."
Suburban dwellers love Canyon Lake.
Canyon Lake Area Chamber of Commerce - Facebook
The report added that San Antonio's population surge has also led to a high demand for housing. Home prices in Boerne stood at nearly $551,000 in November 2024, whereas Fair Oaks Ranch home prices were about $694,000 during that same period. Canyon Lake home prices were slightly less expensive, at $446,880.
For comparison, the national average price of a home is $354,000.
The San Antonio suburbs with the most affordable home prices were Selma ($298,526) and New Braunfels ($351,787).
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.
Dallas-Fort Worth had the highest number of fastest-growing Texas suburbs on the list, comprising 11 cities: Celina (No. 2), Melissa (No. 3), Princeton (No. 7), Prosper (No. 8), Fate (No. 9), Anna (No. 14), Midlothian (No. 33), Royse City (No. 43), Forney (No. 45), Little Elm (No. 58), and Frisco (No. 72).
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).
Austin had five suburbs land on the list: Manor (No. 6), Leander (No. 16), Kyle (No. 53), Hutto (No. 54), and Buda (No. 68).
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