This Central Florida city just had the biggest population boom in America

OCALA, Fla. – On Thursday, the U.S. Census Bureau released a new report showing where people are moving — and one Central Florida city had the biggest boom nationwide.

The report includes migration data between July 1, 2024, through July 1, 2025, examining which areas of the country saw the largest volumes of comers and goers.

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While Florida has overall been a hotspot for movers in recent years, the report had some troubling results for the following counties:

• Pinellas County: Ranked No. 2 nationally for numeric population decline (-11,384 people)
• Miami-Dade County: Ranked No. 3 nationally for numeric population decline (-10,115 people)
• Taylor County: Ranked No. 1 nationally for percent population decline (-2.2%)
• Monroe County: Ranked No. 4 nationally for percent population decline (-2.0%)

But when it came to Central Florida, there were quite a few areas that saw a huge amount of growth instead.

For example, the Orlando metro area saw a nearly 40,000 gain in residents during this time, putting it No. 10 nationwide for numeric growth.

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And when it came to percentages, Ocala topped the entire country, with roughly 3.4% growth. The Lakeland metro area dipped just a bit under at No. 4, with 2.7% growth.

Last year, moveBuddha released its annual migration report, showing that Ocala had become the second-most popular city in America. The Villages, Palm Coast and St. Augustine followed closely behind.

"Ocala, FL, wasn’t the nation’s favorite in 2024, but this year, its in-to-out ratio has risen 74%, from 2.39 to an astronomical 3.09. Maybe that’s because it has landed on lists showcasing how to retire on a strict budget, or because its prices remain affordable compared to other Florida cities.

#2 Port St. Lucie, FL, and #3 Palm Coast, FL, have also seen 70%+ rises in their move ratios. In the case of Port St. Lucie, that’s skyrocketed its ranking up 113 places. What do all three of Florida’s most popular have in common? They’re retirement havens, affordable compared to nearby alternatives, and off the beaten path — none are truly commutable to Florida’s largest economic centers."

moveBuddha, "2025-2026 Migration Report"

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Meanwhile, the full rankings of U.S. cities by population growth are as follows: