People are moving from big cities to the southern suburbs in large numbers.

The citrus industry's hub, an American county, attracts numerous visitors to its groves.

In 2020, Haines City in Polk County, Florida, experienced a population boom of 30,000 new residents, making it one of the "hottest migration destinations" in the country.

These areas, referred to as "ex-burbs," are typically located 40-60 miles from major metropolitan cities and provide a more tranquil lifestyle along with "affordable housing" options.

High population increases are being celebrated in Anna, TX, Fort Mill, SC, and Lebanon, TN, among other popular locations.

Anna, TX, located 45 miles north of Dallas, has experienced a 33% increase in population since 2020. The city's growth can be attributed to its location, housing options, and development plans for both residential and commercial purposes, as stated in a press release earlier this year.

The population of Fort Mill, SC, which is home to PuckerButt Pepper Company, the world's hottest pepper producer, has grown by 37.2% since 2020, according to a local paper.

The population of Lebanon in the middle of Tennessee increased by 8.9% from July 2023 to July 2024, with a current population of approximately 48,000 residents.

Polk County is experiencing a boom in "ex-burbs," according to Senior Vice President Katy Worthington Decker of the Lakeland Economic Development Council, who provided an explanation for this phenomenon.

Polk County, Florida, which is part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA, has experienced significant growth for many years, but it accelerated over the last four years. We attribute this growth to pandemic-era policies that allowed Florida to reopen quickly compared to other parts of the country. Additionally, the diversity of businesses in Polk County helped our economy bounce back quickly after 2020, as we are not as reliant on tourism as many other areas of Florida.

Polk County, situated in the heart of Florida, boasts similar moderate weather to its surrounding metro markets, but with a lower median home price (around $100,000 less than Tampa and Orlando), lower tax rates, easy access to other metro markets via car, rail, or commercial air service, and a range of diverse quality of life offerings, from urban downtown living in Lakeland to 55+ communities, 554 lakes, and numerous areas of farmland acreage.

The trend of more migration to different communities for those who could work remotely or from any location, in search of lower housing and living expenses, has been attributed to COVID-19 by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Several American cities, including Bend, OR and Asheville, NC, experienced significant population growth during the time known as "zoom towns," as workers utilized Zoom to maintain connections with their employers and colleagues.

As some major companies reintroduce a return to office policy, it remains uncertain what the future of remote work and suburban living will entail.

Return to the office policies may affect individuals who have opted for remote work to enjoy a better quality of life, but Polk County and Central Florida are well-equipped to provide employment opportunities if they choose to remain.

Decker expressed her views on whether it would be advantageous for both the company and the employer to return to the office.

Return to work policies are beneficial for both the company culture and employees' long-term career growth, but employees will continue to demand flexibility and work-life balance when choosing where to work. Employers who recognize this will be more competitive in their recruitment efforts. Polk County has a limited number of companies that remain fully remote, and even our largest employers quickly reverted to a full-time or hybrid schedule in the office within a year of the pandemic beginning.