I live in America's fastest-growing city. I see why so many Californians and young families are moving to Texas.

Tech Insider
Lauren Barrett in her home.
Lauren Barrett moved to Celina, Texas, a small town about an hour's drive from downtown Dallas, in 2023.

Courtesy of Lauren Barrett

The South's economic boom is masking a harsher reality. It still has several of the poorest states in the nation.

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Politics
people looking for work at job fair
Some Southern cities and states are thriving economically, but others are lagging behind.

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

A Gen Zer moved from South Florida to Texas after a job offer. She pays less than $2,000 a month in rent for her apartment in Dallas and says it's quieter than Miami.

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
Arielle Francois in Dallas
Arielle Francois in Dallas.

Courtesy of Arielle Francois

A boomer moved from Texas to Missouri for her retirement thinking everything would be cheaper. She was 'so wrong.'

Tech Insider : Economy
The Gateway Arch, St Louis, Missouri.
Donna, who recently retired, wasn't expecting St. Louis to be as expensive as it is.

Joe Daniel Price/Getty Images

New Yorkers who make six figures won't save as much moving to Texas and Florida anymore

Tech Insider
A person entering the beach between two palm trees.
The savings that come from moving to some lower-tax states are dwindling as the cost of living there increases.

Sylvain Sonnet/Getty Images

I had the opportunity to move from Chicago to Texas on Facebook's dime. I got nervous and backed out — a decision I now regret.

Tech Insider
Ayahna Wilbon sits on her bed in Chicago
A.W. has lived in Chicago, Illinois for nine years. She told Business Insider she regrets not moving to Texas when she had the chance.

Courtesy of Ayahna Wilbon

The future of the US economy is in the South

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
Dallas skyline
Dallas is among the Southern cities that could play a bigger role in the US's economic future.

Getty Images

The fastest-growing city in Texas is a tiny place no one's ever heard of

Tech Insider
Cassidy Moore and her husband Blake.
Cassidy Moore and her husband Blake moved to Josephine, Texas, in 2022.

Courtesy of Cassidy Moore

Of course Californians are pouring into Texas, the mayor of Dallas said. The state has the 2 things everyone wants.

Tech Insider
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson at podium
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.

Omar Vega/Getty Images

A boomer shares how Lyft driving has been a retirement hack — supplementing his income while allowing him to draw on his Social Security without penalty

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
Mark McCann
Mark McCann says Lyft driving was a better fit for him in retirement than a traditional part-time job.

Mark McCann

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