This Suburb Was Named 'Biggest Boomtown' In IL

PLAINFIELD, IL — A village in Will County is among the communities in the United States experiencing the most positive economic activity and population growth, according to a new ranking from a personal finance platform.

Plainfield is the No. 1 "Boomtown" in Illinois and ranks in 12th place out of 49 total states examined, GoBankingRates found.

GoBankingRates determined that the monthly cost of living in Plainfield is $4,226, the monthly mortgage cost $2,210, and the household median income is $143,064.

The survey used this data about Plainfield to determine its ranking:

• Change in population since 2014: 4,300 (9.6%)
• Change in per-capita income: 32.6%
• Change in occupied housing units: 1,946 (14.0%)
• Change in owner-occupied housing units: 2,220 (17.8%)

"I look at all of this growth as full of opportunity. In our growing population, we find strength and talent," Mayor John Argoudelis wrote of the findings on Facebook. "Artists and entrepreneurs. Our schools are thriving with talented kids excelling in all things. Our growing population supports our businesses and economy. We together are making the Best Plainfield."

GoBankingRates analyzed cities with total populations between 25,000 and 500,000 using U.S. Census data from 2015 to 2023. Researchers sourced each city's total population and per capita income and calculated the eight-year changes in quantity and percentages to identify the city in each state with the largest population increase.

"If business is booming, the rich are likely eying the area as a place to keep building wealth," GoBankingRates said.

Fulshear, Texas, is the biggest boomtown in the United States, the survey found. Located on the western edge of Houston, the city's population has grown by 736 percent.

Since Hawaii's locations are considered Census Designated Places, they weren't used in the study.