Central Texas I-35 Corridor Tops National Boomtown Rankings as Texas and Florida Dominate Growth List

A June 2026 SmartAsset analysis of over 400 U.S. cities with populations of at least 65,000 identified Georgetown, Texas, as America's top new boomtown, followed closely by New Braunfels at No. 2. Both cities lie along Interstate 35 in the Austin-San Antonio corridor, with Williamson County (Georgetown) posting a 7.7% compound annual real GDP growth rate and Comal County (New Braunfels) at 6.8% over five years. Housing units in New Braunfels surged 40%, while its labor force expanded 32%; Georgetown saw 34% gains in both metrics. Texas secured 18 spots in the top 75, with Leander (No. 4) and Lewisville (No. 5) also ranking high, while Florida led with 19. The study highlights rapid inbound migration, housing development, and economic output expansion in these Sunbelt hubs. Local reporting from outlets like CultureMap Austin and MySA confirms the data, noting sustained population inflows tied to job opportunities and quality-of-life factors. Broader context from Quartz underscores Texas's edge in the rankings, with six of the top 10 boomtowns in the state, reflecting patterns of domestic relocation from higher-tax regions. These trends connect to ongoing I-35 infrastructure pressures and regional planning challenges amid the expansion.