996 counties analyzed

County Rankings & Lists

Explore U.S. counties ranked by economic growth, housing affordability, investment potential, and more. Every ranking is data-driven — built from GDP, population, income, home prices, and rental yields.

Featured

Full County Rankings

The complete Boom Town Index — all 996 scored counties in one sortable table. Filter by state, sort by any metric.
996
counties ranked
Momentum

Short-Term Momentum Rankings

All 996 counties ranked by projected 1-year home value growth. A momentum-weighted model showing where prices are accelerating right now.
1yr
momentum model
Themed Rankings
Top 50

Most Affordable Counties in America

Counties where housing is most affordable relative to local incomes.
1. McKinley County 42 · 2. Apache County 61 · 3. Vermilion County 98
Top 50

Fastest Growing Counties in America

Counties experiencing the fastest population growth, signaling strong migration inflows and economic opportunity.
1. Kaufman County 13 · 2. Comal County 6 · 3. Rockwall County 6
Top 50

Most Undervalued Housing Markets

Counties where home prices are lowest relative to local economic output (GDP per capita).
1. Lea County 37 · 2. Eddy County 74 · 3. Midland County 62
Top 50

Best Counties for Real Estate Investment

Counties combining strong BTI scores with favorable price-to-rent ratios — where long-term growth potential meets rental cash flow.
1. Bay County 100 · 2. Muskogee County 100 · 3. Hinds County 99
Top 50

Counties with Highest GDP Growth

Counties leading the nation in real GDP growth — the economic engines powering local job creation and wage increases.
1. Lea County 37 · 2. Washington County 58 · 3. Morgan County 55
Top 50

Best Climate & Terrain

Counties with the best climate and terrain based on the USDA Natural Amenities Scale — measuring temperature mildness, sunshine, low humidity, topographic variation, and water area.
1. Ventura County 2 · 2. Humboldt County 1 · 3. Santa Barbara County 1
Top 50

Best Counties for Rental Yield

Counties where home prices are lowest relative to rental income — the best markets for cash-flow positive rental properties.
1. Cameron County 50 · 2. Orangeburg County 87 · 3. Robeson County 90
Top 50

Lowest BTI Scores

The 50 lowest-scoring counties on the Boom Town Index — typically where housing costs have outpaced local economic fundamentals, quality of life, or job growth.
1. Collin County 0 · 2. Buncombe County 0 · 3. Maui County 0
Top 50

Most Overvalued Housing Markets

Counties where home prices are highest relative to local economic output (GDP per capita).
1. Maui County 0 · 2. Spotsylvania County 38 · 3. Prince William County 37
Top 50

Biggest Capital Investments by County

Counties attracting the largest capital investments — data centers, manufacturing plants, energy projects, and infrastructure.
1. Doña Ana County 42 · 2. Virginia Beach city 37 · 3. Platte County 15
Top 50

Best Counties for Families

The best counties to raise a family — combining economic growth, low crime, and enough population for good schools and healthcare.
1. Bay County 100 · 2. Newton County 100 · 3. Dodge County 99
Top 50

Best Air Quality (Large Counties)

Among counties with populations over 100,000, these have the cleanest air based on EPA monitoring data.
1. Columbiana County 71 · 2. Mohave County 60 · 3. Maui County 0
Top 50

Worst Air Quality (Large Counties)

Among counties with populations over 100,000, these have the worst air quality based on EPA monitoring data.
1. Maricopa County 21 · 2. Riverside County 26 · 3. San Bernardino County 57
Top 50

Safest Boom Towns in America

The best of both worlds: counties with strong Boom Town Index scores AND low crime.
1. Bay County 100 · 2. Newton County 100 · 3. Dodge County 99
Top 50

Safest Counties in America (Large Counties)

Among counties with populations over 100,000, these have the lowest homicide rates based on CDC vital statistics (2020–2022 average).
1. Saratoga County 61 · 2. Morris County 22 · 3. Rockingham County 15
Top 50

Most Dangerous Counties (Large Counties)

Among counties with populations over 100,000, these have the highest homicide rates based on CDC vital statistics (2020–2022 average).
1. St. Louis city 32 · 2. Baltimore city 17 · 3. Hinds County 99
State-Level Rankings
All 50 States

Most Expensive States to Live In

All states ranked by median home value, from most to least expensive.
1. Hawaii · 2. District of Columbia · 3. California
All 50 States

Cheapest States to Buy a House

The cheapest states to buy a house, ranked by median home value.
1. West Virginia · 2. Ohio · 3. Alabama
All 50 States

Fastest Growing States in America

States ranked by population growth, GDP, and economic momentum.
1. Utah · 2. Idaho · 3. South Dakota
All 50 States

Best States to Buy a Home

States ranked by true affordability — home price + property taxes vs. income.
1. Alabama · 2. West Virginia · 3. Oklahoma
Rankings by State
Alaska 4 Alabama 27 Arkansas 13 Arizona 11 California 43 Colorado 15 District of Columbia 1 Delaware 3 Florida 41 Georgia 41 Hawaii 4 Iowa 11 Idaho 7 Illinois 28 Indiana 28 Kansas 10 Kentucky 19 Louisiana 21 Massachusetts 12 Maryland 18 Maine 9 Michigan 36 Minnesota 18 Missouri 22 Mississippi 15 Montana 6 North Carolina 51 North Dakota 4 Nebraska 5 New Hampshire 8 New Jersey 21 New Mexico 11 Nevada 6 New York 45 Ohio 49 Oklahoma 14 Oregon 18 Pennsylvania 44 Rhode Island 5 South Carolina 24 South Dakota 3 Tennessee 33 Texas 68 Utah 9 Virginia 37 Vermont 5 Washington 21 Wisconsin 29 West Virginia 11 Wyoming 2