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Updated over 5 years ago on . Most recent reply
![Shrikar A.'s profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/292718/1621442168-avatar-shrikar.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
Top growing cities/metro areas in last 4 years
Was looking at some data on cities growth by population and have a set of top 12 cities/metro area. Would love to hear from the community as to which area they would pick for rental property investment.
![](https://assets0.biggerpockets.com/uploads/uploaded_images/normal_1569714734-Screen_Shot_2019-09-28_at_4.37.42_PM.png)
And instead of population growth if you just look at the percentage change in population you get a different set of cities but some cities are common and probably of interest to me.
![](https://assets0.biggerpockets.com/uploads/uploaded_images/normal_1569714897-Screen_Shot_2019-09-28_at_4.53.57_PM.png)
Looks like Boise City, ID, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL, Midland TX, Provo-Orem, UT seems good on both metrics #datadriveninsights. Would love to hear from real estate investors in those areas as to what they think about that market and any pros/cons.
Next steps I am going to dig more into employment, wages, rental vacancy and other things for the same market. Let me know which of the topic is of most interest. I will analyze that first.
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@Shrikar A. I’d stay away from Midland and Odessa, TX unless you really know the area and are really able to keep a pulse on the economy. That market lives and dies on Oil & Gas and that industry is pretty uncertain at the moment. My day job serves the O&G industry and the Permian region (includes Midland and Odessa) are important areas for us. Only experience I have in real estate in that area is we have a corporate apartment there and have to watch the swings in rent rates.
Definitely not saying there’s not money to be made but I would expect it to be a roller coaster ride.