These 2 Texas Cities Are Seeing a Population Boom: Are They Worth Moving To?
The population in Texas has been rapidly growing over the past several years.
In fact, while Census data shows the nation's large cities' population growth slowing way down in the biggest metros, the five fastest-growing cities of over 20,000 people are all in Texas.
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What makes the Lone Star state so appealing? According to Pods Moving & Storage, It’s a combination of factors, including a strong job market (as compared to many other states), large homes, a relatively reasonable cost of living (again as compared to many other states) and no state income tax [.
It’s not only the major cities like Dallas and Austin seeing a population boom. Small cities are also gaining a substantial number of new residents; in fact, the two Texas cities that grew the most in 2025 are on the small side: Fulshear and Celina. Both have a population under 75,000, per World Population Review. In 2025, Fulshear’s population grew at a rate of 21% and Celina’s grew 24.6%.
Let’s explore some of the traits these cities have in common and hash out a few pros and cons to help you explore whether either Fulshear or Celina is worth moving to.
Pro: Reasonable Commute Times To Major Cities
Being near a major city is important for many because that’s where most of the jobs are. Both Celina and Fulshear boast pretty short commute times to a Texas metropolis. According to TravelMath, Fulshear is only 40 minutes away by car to Houston, and Celina is about an hour from Dallas.
Pro: Peace and Quiet
An unusual but important factor to consider when scoping out cities to potentially move to: noise level. Both Celina and Fulshear rank high on AreaVibes for having a calm ambiance. Fulshear has a noise level score of 9.2/10 (10 is the most peaceful) and Celina.
Con: D-plus Livability Scores
Now for the bad news: Both Fulshear and Celina have livability scores below a C-. Out of 100, Fulshear scored 69 and Celina scored 68, according to AreaVibes. Plenty of cities, including others in Texas, have much lower scores, but that doesn’t make a D-plus grade more acceptable.
Pro: Good Schools
A low livability score often suggests subpar schools, but that’s not the case here. A Celina school district was given a B grade by the Texas Education Agency's accountability reports in 2026 — though it is worth noting that two recent scandalous arrests, as reported by NBC, may make parents more cautious.
The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District serves the Fulshear area and also received a B from TEA, per Community Impact.
Con: The Average Home Costs $500K
Fulshear and Celina aren’t joining the fastest-growing cities in Texas because of their affordable housing. In both, the average home value is $500K, per Zillow and Redfin. That’s how much the average home in the U.S. costs in 2026, and we all know millions of hopeful buyers can’t afford such a steep price tag.
Is It Worth Moving to Either of These Cities?
Whether it’s worth moving to Fulshear or Celina — which are incredibly similar in more than a few ways — depends on your priorities, preferences and budget. It depends too on how you weigh these cities’ pros and cons. At the end of the day, the only person who can answer this question is you.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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