JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville has been ranked among the fastest-growing major metropolitan areas in the country, placing No. 7 overall in LendingTree’s 2026 analysis of America’s biggest boomtowns.
The study compared the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas based on population and housing trends, employment and earnings, and business and economic indicators.
Jacksonville’s strongest showing came in workforce growth. The metro area’s labor force grew 5.6% from 2023 to 2024, the highest increase among all 50 metros included in the study.
Jacksonville ranked No. 4 nationally in LendingTree’s People and Housing category. That portion of the study considered population growth, the percentage of residents who moved from another county, state or country, and growth in the number of housing units between 2023 and 2024.
The Jacksonville area placed No. 12 in the Work and Earnings category. In addition to labor force growth, LendingTree considered changes in unemployment and median earnings.
Overall, eight of the 10 highest-ranked metropolitan areas were in the South.
“A lot of people and businesses have been heading South over the past several years, and that’s created a lot of momentum,” LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz said. He cited factors including cost of living, population growth and business conditions as contributing to the trend.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan pointed to the ranking as evidence of the city’s continued growth.
“People are voting with their feet and moving to Jacksonville in droves because our city is a great place to live, raise a family, and start a business,” Deegan said. “This recognition is further proof that we are a city on the move with a booming economy, talented workforce, and high quality of life.”