America’s 10 Future Boomtowns Include Some Huge Surprises—Especially No. 1

| By Julie Taylor | This article was originally published on Oct 15, 2024 on realtor.com

The city of Fargo, ND, found fame through the Oscar-winning movie and subsequent TV series it inspired.

Now, the city has ranked No. 1 on America’s Next Boomtowns list from 24/7 Wall St.

Extrapolating from population patterns analyzed in Nature.com, 24/7 Wall St. concluded that Fargo’s population will increase by 78.8% in the next 26 years—going from 125,990 in 2020 to 225,278 in 2050. It also predicted Fargo’s population will soar by an astronomical 238% in the next 76 years—going from 125,990 in 2020 to 428,966 by 2100.

Fargo locals agree that the city is poised for a surge in popularity. “Fargo is the state’s largest city, and it only continues to grow as more and more young people and families choose to call Fargo home,” says Jayci Altenbernd, digital marketing manager at Visit Fargo-Moorhead.

Affordability is a big draw for settlers in Fargo. A recent Realtor.com® analysis ranked North Dakota No. 6 among the Top 10 States With the Lowest Cost of Living.

There are currently 964 homes for sale in Fargo, with the median list price hitting $389,900 in August. That’s $36,000 less than the national median.

Fargo’s thriving job market also draws people to the area: It’s a growing tech hub with a bustling Microsoft campus in the city’s center and a 1.2-million-square-foot Amazon distribution center. Its Fargo Innovation Hub is dedicated to advancing startups and entrepreneurialism.