“Discover the 8 States Soaring to Success—And the 8 That Are Just Barely Holding On!”
4. North Carolina: (1.1% growth, 118,216 new folks)
North Carolina’s secret sauce is its diverse economy and quality of life. But that growth puts pressure on once-sleepy towns suddenly facing big-city problems. Can the state balance progress with its down-home appeal?
Growth is nice; managed growth is better. States that get overwhelmed lose the very charm that attracted people in the first place.
5. Georgia: (1% growth, 109,620 new residents)
Atlanta is a magnet, lifting the entire state. A cautionary tale lies here: economic inequality. If wealth concentrates solely in the urban core while rural areas stagnate, it fuels resentment and undermines long-term stability.
A state isn’t just its biggest city. Policies promoting opportunity in less-populated regions create a healthier, less politically volatile environment for everyone.
6. Idaho: (0.9% growth, 19,093 new residents)
The new frontier beckons. The pandemic’s “Zoom boom” supercharged this trend. But small towns face a dilemma: how to embrace growth while preserving the very qualities newcomers crave – that wide-open space and slower pace of life.
It’s possible to be too popular. Idaho’s test will be whether it can benefit from new energy and tax revenue without becoming a victim of its own success.
7. South Dakota: (0.9% growth, 8,169 new residents)
It turns out Mount Rushmore isn’t this state’s only draw. Aggressive business recruitment is paying off. Yet, states overly reliant on a few major employers are at risk if those companies stumble. Economic diversification is always a wise long-term play.
