11 Towns in Florida That Will Be Important Cities by 2050

Florida, the Sunshine State, is the third biggest state in population. Its population is over 22 million and growing. In March 2023, it became the fastest-growing state in the union since it previously held that spot in 1957, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Some reasons for Florida’s growth aren’t new. It’s always been a warm haven for snowbirds and vacationers to migrate to, with many of those deciding to stay permanently. Many emerging towns in Florida will be important cities by 2050.

People are heading south for mainstream reasons, but also for newer ones. For example, between April 1, 2020, and July 21, 2022, more than 700,000 people flocked to Florida. This time period shifted many people’s mindset regarding work because, during the pandemic, people began working remotely. Even though more are now heading back into offices, that trend has largely stayed, enabling workers to choose to work from home. Coupled with a post-pandemic workforce, Florida enjoys both plenty of employment opportunities and no state income tax.

Where, then, are the eleven towns in Florida that will be important cities by 2050? Let’s take a look.

1. Parkland

In northern Broward County, Parkland saw its population grow 52% from 2010 to 2020. Near Fort Lauderdale and Miami, the town is known for its upscale atmosphere and strict zoning laws. Additionally, before the early 2000s, city zoning laws prohibited traffic lights and stores to ensure a park-like atmosphere. In addition to its atmosphere, this charming town is a safe place to live: Its crime rate is 77% lower than the U.S. average.

The main industry here is in professional, scientific, and technical services. The next largest are health care & social assistance and manufacturing. The most lucrative paying industries are information, utilities, transportation, and warehousing. Niche gives Parkland “A” ratings in public schools, good for families, jobs, outdoor activities, diversity, weather, and health and fitness.

Why does Parkland continue to grow? Its neighborhoods are quiet and safe, and the public school system is highly regarded. The medical care sector has grown here, and it features plenty of public parks and spaces. Parks include Pine Trails Park, which features a fishing pier, walking trails, and innovative playgrounds. Sports fields include ample facilities for baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and football.

As well, its centrally-located amphitheater features monthly concerts and other events. Liberty Park offers elaborate play spaces and pavilions for picnics. From November through April, Parkland Farmers Market — the largest outdoor farmers market in the county — offers fresh produce and interesting wares for its growing population.

Fabulous dining choices abound in this town. Los Bocados was voted as having Broward County’s “best tacos,” so choose one of these signature chef taco selections. Malbec Grill is a steakhouse staple, or choose Bluefin Sushi Thai Grill for a Thai and Japanese blend.

2. St. Cloud

St. Cloud, in Osceola County in central Florida, enjoyed a population growth of 44% from 2010 to 2020. Just south of Orlando, St. Cloud is only 30 minutes away from Orlando International Airport. It is surrounded by three large lakes, and its motto is “Celebrating Small Town Life.”

In addition to its accessible proximity to the airport and the Florida Turnpike, St. Cloud offers affordable new housing and auspicious future job growth. Major industries include construction, retail, health care, education, hotels and tourism, and public administration. Therefore, much of why St. Cloud will be an important city by 2050 is because the huge population growth necessitates more housing and industry.

In keeping with the small-town atmosphere, St. Cloud offers plenty of public parks. Its downtown entertainment district, just a few walking minutes from its historic downtown, offers quaint shopping, brick streets, and lavish landscaping. St. Cloud strives to stay simple, to separate itself from its theme-park-defined neighbor to the north. Grab some Hogfish Snapper or Island Mahi at Crabby Bills, or grab an omelet at Loading Gastrobrunch.

3. Doral

Doral, a suburb of Miami, is centrally located in Miami-Dade County. It enjoyed a 43% population growth from 2010 to 2020. As well, progressive industries have helped to provide jobs here as several large companies, such as Univision, the Miami Herald, and Carnival Corporation have employed many in the area.

Doral is lauded as being the best place to invest in real estate in Florida. Also, it is ranked as the third-best place in the United States to retire. The largest industries here are transportation and warehousing, retail, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Despite its closeness to Miami, Doral is considered a safe community with a B minus rating.

Furthermore, the city has invested in living and entertainment complexes, such as Downtown Doral and CityPlace. Downtown Doral, a 250-acre dynamic city center, offers diverse shops and health and wellness services.

Doral also has its own airport, extending the accessibility it already possesses with its prime location. Doral Central Park offers 82 acres of public access and hosts many large events such as the Independence Day celebration. The park also features a walking/jogging trail, exercise station, grills, and picnic benches available for rental. Dining choices include such diverse options as the Spanish La Tremenda Miami and Italian Divieto Ristorante, where lemon-butter sea bass is a favorite.

4. Fort Myers

In Lee County, Fort Myers saw a 40% increase in its population from 2010 to 2020. Although it is not necessarily a small city, Fort Myers possesses a few obvious reasons why it will be an important city by 2050.

It is close to Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, and Sanibel Island, and it offers a quaint downtown atmosphere. U.S. News and World Report not only named it the second-best place to retire in the U.S. for 2022-2023, but they also ranked Fort Myers the third safest place to live in the U.S.

The most prominent industries in Fort Myers are retail trade, health care, social assistance, and construction. The city rates highly in weather, outdoor activities, and cost of living. Employment here is low at just under 3% (below the national average of 3.8% as of this writing). 

Recreation

Fort Myers offers much in the way of recreation, and the River District is the hub of the action. With its brick-paved streets and downtown staples such as city hall, the county courthouse, and restored historic buildings, Fort Myers represents an old-school feel in a growing, modern town.

Additionally, the Sidney and Berne Davis Arts Center brings world-class art exhibits to Fort Myers, and it also hosts concerts, galas, lectures, and educational opportunities throughout the year.

Edison Ford and Winter Estates is a museum and garden that showcases the winter havens of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve offers 3,500 wetland acres where patrons can view a myriad of plants and animals along the lavish boardwalk trail.

Newcomers to this upward-focused Florida town can enjoy cranberry-pecan encrusted grouper or mango chipotle salmon at Whiskey Creek Station. Another unique option is a loaded breakfast skillet brunch at Ten Twenty-Five on Patio de Leon.

5. Bonita Springs

South of Fort Myers lies beautiful Bonita Springs, an up-and-coming Gulf Coast town. In Lee County, Bonita Springs’ population grew 36% from 2010 to 2020. Touted by Money Magazine as “One of the Best Eight Places to Retire,” Bonita Springs’ beauty isn’t the only reason it’s growing.

The largest industries in the town are construction, health care and social assistance, and retail trade. As well, Bonita Springs received an overall “A” rating from Niche. It boasts an “A” score in being good for families, jobs, outdoor activities, and weather.

The unparalleled beaches aren’t the only outdoor contribution to Bonita Springs’ appeal. It houses several public parks, including River Park, Depot Park, Lover’s Key State Park, and Corkscrew Swamp and Sanctuary. Numerous golf courses offer something for the scratch golfer and novice alike, and shopping choices cater to both the upscale market and the outlet bargain seeker.

Accordingly, diverse and quality dining has also enhanced the movement towards Bonita Springs, and the exquisite choices are too numerous to list. A Table Apart and The Bohemian are consistently highly-rated restaurants.

6. Ocoee

Ocoee, in Orange County, FL, saw its population grow 35% from 2010 to 2020. Certainly, proximity is one factor that trends Ocoee toward becoming one of the most important cities in Florida in the next 25 years.

It is easily accessible from the Florida Turnpike, East-West Expressway 408, and the Western Beltway (429). Additionally, Ocoee is just minutes away from downtown Orlando and its various attractions, the Convention Center, and Orlando International Airport.

Ocoee ranks highly in diversity, outdoor activities, and weather, and it is consistently rated as a safe area to live. Additionally, the cost of living in Ocoee is less than many other cities in Florida.

It offers plenty of recreation outside of the theme parks to the east. Bill Breeze Park offers three lakeside pavilions with access to electrical power and charcoal grills as well as “Food Truck Friday and Movie Night.” Forest Lake Golf Club offers great value for the area, with five sets of tees and undulating greens.

Favorite eating joints include RusTeak where you can enjoy a lobster grilled cheese sandwich or tiki crabcake sliders. Another option is Bike Life Cafe where you can grab a flatbread or panini to go.

7. Clermont

Located just west of Orlando in Lake County, FL, Clermont’s population grew 34% from 2010 to 2020. Clermont is called the “Choice of Champions” as Florida’s hub for health, wellness, and fitness, and many world-class athletes prefer Clermont as their choice to train, play, and live.

The largest industries in Clermont are retail trade, health care and social assistance, and arts, entertainment, and recreation. This town rates highly in economic growth and quality of life, promoting a small-town feel while consistently expanding.

Recreation abounds, such as Victory Point Park which was finished in 2018 as a part of Clermont’s downtown revitalization project. The 10-acre park serves as a host for community, culture, and sporting events such as athletic festivals and youth and adult races.

Downtown is full of historic buildings and quaint shops, and the anomalous hilly (for Florida) landscape provides an added aesthetic. Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards on 127 acres boasts the largest premium winery in Florida, offering tasting tours seven days a week.

The Southern on 8th is a contemporary eatery offering local fare such as gulf oysters and southern fried Florida flounder. Alternatively, The Boathouse provides waterfront dining where you can appreciate staples like grilled salmon and Maine-style lobster rolls.

8. Winter Garden

In Orange County, Winter Garden is an Orlando suburb whose population rose 33% from 2010 to 2020. Officially incorporated as a city in 1908, Winter Garden’s largest industries are accommodation and food services, retail trade, and health care and social assistance.

Adjacent to Lake Apopka, Winter Garden has remained diligent in preserving its historical downtown culture and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Niche gives it an overall grade of “A,” with top scores in public schools, family living, diversity, and weather. Winter Park continues to be an up-and-coming important town because of its small business community, its historic downtown, and its thriving community promotion.

Get outside on the West Orange Trail featuring 22.26 miles of pavement from the Orange/Lake County line to Welch Road. Additionally, cultural destinations include the renowned Garden Theatre featuring a series of Broadway plays and musicals, and the SoBo Art Gallery, an exquisite cultural and educational icon.

Enjoy upscale dining at Chef’s Table at the Edgewater where you can relish the three-course dinner with offerings such as tartare de boeuf, New Zealand rack of lamb, and butterscotch creme brulee. For lighter fare, try Uno Pizzaria and Grill featuring Chicago pizza and signature salads.

9. West Melbourne

Located in Brevard County, West Melbourne is a small city, but its population rose 33% from 2010 to 2020. On Florida’s east coast, West Melbourne sits alongside Melbourne and Melbourne Beach. Melbourne is a safe town with a family atmosphere, and it rates highly in public schools, families, nightlife, diversity, and weather.

Known as “The Heart of the Space Coast,” the city’s government prioritizes creating value-added jobs, supporting existing industries and recruiting complementary industries, diversifying its economic base, and enhancing overall quality of life. The Space Coast Town Center is an innovative community that provides a walkable community in the hub of West Melbourne and the surrounding area’s employers, attractions, and traffic patterns.

West Melbourne is definitely a residential city, and as such it offers much to its inhabitants. Erna Nixon Park features almost 54 acres of area to explore with a 3,000-foot elevated boardwalk winding through a natural hammock. Its nature preserve is filled with evergreens, live oaks with Spanish moss, gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, and pileated woodpeckers. The park also offers a nature center with a pavilion containing picnic tables and restrooms.

Try Hemingway’s Tavern for Cuban pork empanadas or a snapper sandwich or nearby Breakfast In Havana, an authentic Cuban eatery owned by a mother-daughter duo. Delightful dishes include lemon butter scallops and Spanish chorizo omelets.

10. Winter Haven

Located in Polk County, Winter Haven is about an hour away from both Tampa and Orlando. Located in Florida’s Super Region, which generates $300 billion per year in economic activity, Winter Haven is close to two major international airports and the U.S.’s newest island port and logistics center.

Winter Haven’s target industries include healthcare, technology and innovation, freight transportation and logistics, business development, tourism and hospitality, and agribusiness.

New and affordable housing units have also been added recently to answer Winter Haven’s expansion. It rates highly in outdoor activities, diversity, and weather, and has a suburban, family-friendly feel. The combination of progressive industry and resident-focused living contributes to making Winter Haven one of the Florida towns that will be important cities by 2050.

Winter Haven has its own major theme park in LEGOLAND Florida Resort & Peppa Pig Theme Park. Children and “children at heart” enjoy the park’s plastic-toyed theme as it continues to grow, offering the Peppa Pig Theme Park as well as a hotel and beach resort.

A restored downtown historic district offers a bevy of culture such as the Graham Parsons Derry Downtown, a historic live music venue, the Ritz Theatre, and Theatre Winter Haven, a community theater.

Known as “The Water Ski Capital of the Year,” Winter Haven is the home of Lake Eloise and the renowned Cypress Gardens. Agape Agora Trattoria & Marketplace is a relatively new eatery offering influences from Black, Latin, and Asian cultures. Favorites include chicken salad sandwiches, local pastries, and kombucha. Arabellas Ristorante.

11. North Port

As of January 30, 2023, Quicken Loans ranked North Port as the second-fastest growing city in the U.S. Located in Sarasota County, North Port is only a 30-minute drive to beaches in Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties.

Much of North Port’s growth is its accessibility to I-75 and the lower cost of living compared to other towns in Sarasota County. Additionally, North Port’s Wellen Park, a nationally recognized, master-planned community, provides a hospital, a downtown center, and many new shopping and dining destinations.

Niche ranks North Port an “A” in housing, outdoor activities, and weather. Its largest industries are health care and social assistance, retail trade, and construction. This community is one of the youngest in the area, and it attracts many young couples in search of a safe family atmosphere.

The National Community Survey in 2019 reflected that eight of ten North Port residents rate the quality of life here as good or excellent. Also, nine of ten residents feel safe in their neighborhoods, and the emergency services scored a 98% favorable response rate. North Port offers many livable communities such as The West Villages, the Jockey Club at North Point, North Point East, and Lakeside Plantation.

North Port is rich with natural springs, including Warm Mineral Springs, the only natural warm mineral springs in the state. Health lovers from all over the globe come to the springs, whose mineral-infused waters are said to contain healing properties.

Canoeing and kayaking opportunities abound in the town’s freshwater canals, Myakkahatchee Creek, and the Myakka River. North Port also contains the 8,000-acre Myakka State Forest as well as horse and mountain bike trails, hiking paths, and bird-watching sites.