Plant City was named one of the top 25 suburbs in America where home values are growing the fastest.
An analysis of median home values from May 2014 to May 2019 by Business Insider, in partnership with Zillow, created a list of 25 suburbs which had a population between 50,000 and 100,000, highlighting the ideal locations in the U.S. for families to plant their roots. Of those, 12 were in Florida and three in Georgia. Plant City neared the top of the list due to the fact that over the past five years, the median home value has increased by 70.5 percent.
“Our city commission and staff have worked hard to keep Plant City an affordable place to live,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “Plant City has one of the lowest taxes on the I-4 corridor. We have a major focus on job growth and rising wages. People are realizing that Plant City is a great place to live and raise a family. I believe we are on the right path with an even brighter future.”
With a population of 78,500, Plant City is flourishing. Nestled along the I-4 corridor, it acts as a harbor between Tampa and Orlando. Those who work or enjoy spending time in the city, but want the amenities of living in a rural destination, are flocking to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. A recent study by the U.S. Census Bureau found that suburbs in the Southern and Western United States are growing exponentially in both popularity and price.
“One interesting trend we are seeing this year is that metro areas not among the most populous are ranked in the top 10 for population growth,” said Sandra Johnson, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. “Though no new metro areas moved into the top 10 largest areas, Phoenix, Seattle, Austin and Orlando all experienced numeric increases in population since 2010, rivaling growth in areas with much larger populations. This trend is consistent with the overall growth we are seeing in the south and the west.”
Hillsborough County ranked number ten in the Top 10 Counties in Numeric Growth from 2017 to 2018, growing by 26,773 in a single year. Tampa and St. Petersburg ranked number nine in Top 10 Metropolitan Areas in Numeric Growth from 2017 to 2018 and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford ranked number five. With Plant City lying between the two, many incoming residents are seeking out housing in the rural town while they commute to work each day.
A multitude of studies over the last five years have found that long-time city dwellers are turning their eyes toward greener pastures, especially when it comes time to raise their families.
With several massive residential communities on the way, Plant City seems ready to open its arms to the influx of residents as it continues to attempt to find the perfect balance between agriculture and industry, residential and commercial. After all, as Lott frequently mentions in commission meetings, the goal of city leaders is to ensure Plant City is the ideal place to work, live and play.