This is the fastest-growing town in the US and its affordable

What was once a quiet, rural outpost in Texas is now one of the fastest-growing towns in the nation—and it’s struggling to keep up with the influx of residents.In just a year, Princeton, TX, about 40 miles from Dallas, has seen its population skyrocket, sparking a construction boom and pushing local leaders into overdrive to manage the rapid pace of growth.“While Texas cities have been leading in population growth, Princeton’s rapid ascent to the top spot was mostly unexpected,” the town’s mayor, Eugene Escobar, tells Realtor.com.Princeton’s population grew 30.6% from July 2023 to July 2024, according to the latest data from the U.S.Census Bureau.

This makes it the fastest-growing town in the nation with a population under 37,000.To put that growth in perspective, in 2020, the town had only 17,000 residents.In 2013, the area had only two traffic lights, Escobar adds.For new residents, Princeton’s location adds to its appeal.“Fast-growing Princeton offers buyers ample for-sale home options at a lower price tag than the nearby North Dallas suburbs and Dallas itself,” says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.“Buyers hoping to be on the north side of the Dallas metro can take advantage of low home prices in Princeton, without sacrificing access to the amenities and job opportunities in the ever-expanding greater Plano area.”With a median home list price of $337,000, Princeton is more affordable than the nearest large metro of Dallas ($437,000), but it also hits a lower price point than the neighboring towns of Allen ($549,700), McKinney ($550,000), Plano ($556,000), and Frisco ($727,000).Most homes for sale (96.1%) are single-family.

There were 330 homes for sale in Princeton in April, up 72.9% year over year, and up from just 88 homes for sale in April 2019.Many of the listings are new construction with builders such as KB Home, DR Horton, and Starlight Homes (a subsidiary of Aston Woods) all creating new developm...