The American coastline is experiencing a remarkable transformation, with certain beach towns emerging as the nation’s fastest-growing destinations. Population growth in U.S. metro areas as a whole was faster between 2023 and 2024 than in the previous year and outpaced that of the nation.
Two beach towns particularly stand out in this coastal renaissance: Fort Myers, Florida, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. These destinations aren’t just experiencing temporary tourist booms. They’re becoming permanent homes for hundreds of thousands of new residents who are reshaping these communities fundamentally.
Fort Myers: Florida’s Fastest-Growing Coastal City
Fort Myers is the fastest-growing of the 150 major cities in this year’s Best Places to Live analysis, seeing a population increase of 6.73% between 2021 and 2022 due to net migration. This Gulf Coast city has transformed from a quiet retirement destination into a thriving metropolitan area that attracts people of all ages. The City of Fort Myers’ population has increased 16.7% since 2020, representing one of the most dramatic urban growth stories in America.
The City of Fort Myers has been ranked 8th in “Best Small Cities to Start a Business” in the nation in 2023, and 2nd in “Best Places to Retire in Florida” in 2021 by Wallet Hub. Fort Myers and Lee County have been selected by many Fortune 500 businesses for branches or headquarters relocation, such as Gartner, Chico’s, and Hertz. The economic infrastructure supporting this population boom extends far beyond tourism…