Cape Coral Tops in Nation for Growth

Lured by the promise of year-round sunshine and some impressive residential home designs, Cape Coral continues to entice new residents, and now a major publication is taking notice. Forbes recently ranked Cape Coral at the very top of the list when it comes to the nation’s fastest-growing cities. The 2017 designation returns the Cape Coral area to the spot it held for a few years running in the mid 2000s, leading up to the housing market collapse. The region has certainly shown signs of recovery, though, boasting more than three-percent growth last year alone, the most of any other major metro area in the country. Some estimates expect that rate to only grow for 2017, along with projected growth in employment and output due to the housing and hospitality markets. With more navigable canals than any other location on earth, the nearly 400 miles of waterways allow area residents to explore the region on their own, while at the same time leading ecotourism to flourish. The city also has plenty of room to grow in the future, as currently less than 50-percent of the city is built out. Area leaders credit the business-friendly climate of the region too, with investments in development, modern infrastructure and the lack of a state income tax. Among the nation’s largest master-planned communities, Cape Coral is only about a half-century old, yet has recently gained ground as one of the most favored locations for new businesses and homebuyers, as it continues to expand and grow to meet the demands of new and existing residents. The list of the 25 fastest-growing cities includes nine notable Florida locations, three of which cracked the top ten. While Cape Coral snagged the top spot, Orlando was featured as number two and Tampa came in at a respectable number nine.