4. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX: Up 3.0%
Proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border has been a key selling point for this fast-growing metro area. Companies like Nokia, Panasonic, General Electric, and T-Mobile have built facilities here, and other large employers include two universities, five major hospitals, and a major customs and border patrol station that has received some of the $90 billion in new federal funding for border security. The area’s population grew 36 percent between 2000 and 2010 and is projected rise another 58 percent by 2030. And the low cost of living—25 percent lower than the U.S. average—also attracts movers.
