What do cities like Omaha, Nebraska Madison, and Minneapolis have in something in common? Aside from being metros with low cost of living, they are also the largest boomtowns in their respective Midwest states.
To determine the largest boomtown in each state, including those in the Midwest, GOBankingRates reviewed data from the U.S. Census American Group Survey in 2014, 2017, 2021, and 2022.
The total population, owner-occupied housing, occupied housing units, and per-capita income are among the key data sources.
Can you identify each of the major Midwestern boomtowns?
Plainfield, Illinois
- Change in population since 2014: 4,300 (9.6%)
- Population: 44,941
- Change in per-capita income: 32.6%
- Per-capita income: $53,441
- Change in occupied housing units: 1,946 (14.0%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 2,220 (17.8%)
Westfield, Indiana
- Change in population since 2014: 15,836 (32.8%)
- Population: 48,262
- Change in per-capita income: 36.5%
- Per-capita income: $58,223
- Change in occupied housing units: 6,397 (35.8%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 5,138 (36.0%)
Waukee, Iowa
- Change in population since 2014: 9,101 (36.3%)
- Population: 25,045
- Change in per-capita income: 25.2%
- Per-capita income: $51,536
- Change in occupied housing units: 4,176 (42.1%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 2,271 (32.4%)
Olathe, Kansas
- Change in population since 2014: 9,101 (36.3%)
- Population: 25,045
- Change in per-capita income: 25.2%
- Per-capita income: $51,536
- Change in occupied housing units: 4,176 (42.1%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 2,271 (32.4%)
Allendale, Michigan
- Change in population since 2014: 6,813 (27%)
- Population: 25,206
- Change in per-capita income: 31.6%
- Per-capita income: $24,332
- Change in occupied housing units: 2,415 (33.1%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 629 (17.6%)
Minneapolis
- Change in population since 2014: 32,453 (7.6%)
- Population: 426,877
- Change in per-capita income: 33.4%
- Per-capita income: $48,373
- Change in occupied housing units: 18,850 (10.2%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 8,226 (9.2%)
Wentzville, Missouri
- Change in population since 2014: 12,993 (29.1%)
- Population: 44,584
- Change in per-capita income: 35.7%
- Per-capita income: $43,823
- Change in occupied housing units: 4,443 (29.6%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 3,649 (28.7%)
Omaha, Nebraska
- Change in population since 2014: 53,474 (11%)
- Population: 489,201
- Change in per-capita income: 32.1%
- Per-capita income: $40,081
- Change in occupied housing units: 25,808 (13%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 14,606 (12.8%)
Marysville, Ohio
- Change in population since 2014: 3,033 (11.8%)
- Population: 25,806
- Change in per-capita income: 45.9%
- Per-capita income: $42,238
- Change in occupied housing units: 1,864 (19.8%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 2,126 (31.8%)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Change in population since 2014: 32,437 (16.8%)
- Population: 193,401
- Change in per-capita income: 30%
- Per-capita income: $40,198
- Change in occupied housing units: 15,556 (19.5%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 8,852 (18.5%)
Madison, Wisconsin
- Change in population since 2014: 28,668 (10.7%)
- Population: 268,516
- Change in per-capita income: 32.1%
- Per-capita income: $46,652
- Change in occupied housing units : 17,340 (14.4%)
- Change in owner-occupied housing units: 6,449 (11.4%)
Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed the American Community Survey data in the United States Census to find the biggest boomtowns in every state. Using the surveys from 2022, 2021, 2017 and 2014, GOBankingRates found total population, owner-occupied housing, occupied housing units and per-capita income.
The highest-scoring city was kept for each state and a number of factors were found for each city, including total population, total households and household median income, all sourced from the American Community Survey.
The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost-of-living indexes.
Using the cost-of-living indexes and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated.
The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 21, 2024.