Population + Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a wave of migration across the country. Americans are fleeing to affordable Sun Belt states, putting pressure on homebuilders to meet increased demand. From mid-2019 to mid-2020 the population expanded by 1.15 million. Just two states — Texas and Florida — added a combined 600,000 people, accounting for more than half of the nation’s annual population growth.

Top 5 States for Population Growth, 2019 - 2020

1. Texas. Known for modest taxes and affordable housing, the Lone Star state added an estimated 373,965 residents
2. Florida. The Sunshine State, which boasts no state income tax and is home to the world’s most famous mouse grew by 241,256 people
3. Arizona. Benefitting from its proximity to California (ideal weather, entertainment and tech jobs), Arizona has broad appeal across the generations and added 129,558 people
4. North Carolina. Scenic and accessible, North Carolina added an estimated 99,439 residents
5. Georgia. The television/film stronghold of the South and home to Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and Chick-fil-A grew by 81,997 residents

Why Is Texas Growing So Quickly?

“A lot of corporations are moving their headquarters to Texas because we’re business-friendly,” says Mark Dotzour, Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. Texas imposes fewer restrictions on homebuilding than states like California. As a result, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area alone has more new homes being built than the state of California. Work-from-home arrangements could open Texas’ many rural areas for new homebuilding, adding to the appeal of the state from a supply and affordability standpoint. Recent additions to the rapidly growing list of Texans include Elon Musk, Chris Harrison, James Van Der Beek, and Parker Posey, joining long-time Texas residents Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, and Mark Cuban.

Carter + Clark currently handles surveying work across the country and is the largest, nationwide surveying company focused on builder services. The highest volume of C+C’s clients are in Texas, Florida, and Georgia—3 of the top 5 fastest-growing states in the nation. C+C prides itself on helping our builder partners grow successfully and currently produces over 10,000 surveys each month, illustrating our ability to manage the high-volume that builders are experiencing. Schedule a demo of our services + technology. We can ease your growing pains and join you in welcoming new residents to whichever state you call ‘home.'

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