For the second year in a row, the Ocala metro area has been recognized as the fastest-growing metro area in the United States, based on percentage growth.
According to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on March 26, the population of the Ocala metro area, which is defined as all of Marion County, grew 3.4% between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. In numeric terms, the population grew from 427,995 to 442,260.
Ocala also ranked first nationally for the 2023–24 period, when its population grew 4%. During the 2022–23 period, the Ocala metro ranked fourth nationally with 3.4% growth…