I live in a Texas city that's one of the fastest-growing in America. I see why so many Californians are moving here — and the impact they have on home prices and traffic.

• Eric Newland, 56, lives in New Braunfels, Texas, one of America's fastest-growing cities.
• The city between Austin and San Antonio wins over movers with relatively affordable homes, he said.
• The transplants lead to benefits, like higher wages, and drawbacks, like increased traffic, he said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eric Newland, a 56-year-old retired Medical Service Corps officer who is now a real-estate agent in New Braunfels, Texas. Census data shows that New Braunfels' population has surged by more than 15% since 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.