Brownsville–McAllen corridor Ranks among nation’s fastest-growing metros, U-Haul reports

PHOTO FROM MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

McALLEN, Texas — The Brownsville–McAllen metropolitan corridor is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, according to new migration data released by U-Haul.

The South Texas region ranked 10th nationwide on U-Haul’s 2025 Growth Index of metropolitan areas, a significant jump from 21st place last year. The ranking is based on the net number of one-way U-Haul rentals, tracking where people are moving in and out of major metros.

The Brownsville–McAllen area was the only Texas border metro to appear in the top 10, placing it alongside much larger regions such as Charlotte, Phoenix and Nashville.

Texas dominated the overall list. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro repeated as the nation’s top growth metro for the second straight year, followed by Houston and Austin. Six Texas metros ranked in the top 25 nationwide.

U-Haul’s data suggests the Rio Grande Valley continues to attract new residents, even as many Americans move away from higher-cost urban areas. While the index does not measure population growth directly, it is considered a strong indicator of migration trends.

The Growth Index is compiled from more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul transactions each year across the United States and Canada, including both interstate and intrastate moves.

Founded in 1945, U-Haul operates more than 24,000 rental locations across North America and releases the Growth Index annually as a snapshot of where Americans are relocating.