Among the top 15 fastest-growing cities in the U.S., several have seen new healthcare projects proposed, completed or launched within the past year.
The data, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 estimates released in May, shows 12 of the 15 cities with the largest numeric gains are in the South or West.
Here are four of the top 15 cities and recent activity in those locations, listed with their rank among the fastest-growing cities:
- Celina, Texas (4): Methodist Celina Medical Center, a $237 million, 51-bed hospital, opened in March as the city’s first hospital and third-largest employer.
- Foley, Ala. (7): Baldwin Health, formerly known as South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, completed a 185,000-square-foot expansion in October, according to an Oct. 15 hospital news release. The project included new surgical facilities, a women’s and children’s unit and additional inpatient beds.
- Garner, N.C. (10): Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Health System proposed a new 12-bed hospital in Garner, which was denied by state regulators, The News Observer reported Feb. 20. Regulators approved five new acute care beds for Duke Raleigh Hospital.
- Leland, N.C. (14): Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health broke ground in April on an outpatient surgical center expected to be completed in 2026.
Additionally, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Frisco (Texas) at PGA Parkway is set to open soon; it is within 24 miles of three of the five fastest-growing cities: Princeton (1), Celina, and Anna (5).
Health systems are also expanding in cities with the largest numeric population growth between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, among cities with populations of 20,000 or more:
- New York City (1): New York state plans to invest more than $1 billion in SUNY Downstate’s hospital, including converting all double-occupancy rooms to private rooms and expanding emergency department capacity.
- Houston (2): Bellaire, Texas-based Harris Health plans to complete its $1.6 billion North Houston Hospital by early 2029. As of May 14, crews have begun constructing the first few levels of the building.
- Washington, D.C. (12): Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW, a $434 million, 406,000-square-foot facility, opened April 15. It is the first full-service hospital built in the city in 25 years.
