Williamson County, Texas
A 4 bedroom, 3 bath with lots of luxury features in Georgetown Texas lists for $548,900.
Population: 410,686
Growth rate since April 2000: 64.3%
Wilco, as it's known locally, is the fastest growing part of a fast growing metro area -- Austin. The city, generally considered to be the hippest in the state, is the capital and the home of the gigantic University of Texas campus. It boasts a vibrant live-music scene. Less known, perhaps, is Austin's proximity to the Hill Country and nearby lakes that provide ample recreational opportunities for area residents, according to Williamson County spokeswoman Connie Watson.
One of the biggest factors driving Wilco's growth is that Dell is headquartered in Round Rock, the county's biggest town and one of Money Magazine's Best Places to Live. The company employs more than 10,000 well-paid workers here.
The housing market never bubbled and that has left home prices very reasonable: The median home sold in the metro area during the first three months of 2010 was $182,500, according to the National Association of Realtors.
"There's been a slight drop recently but prices have held up well," said Watson.
There has been, however, a troubling rise in foreclosure filings, up 73% in May compared with 12 months ago, according to RealtyTrac. Nearly 300 homes were lost to repossessions and one of every 472 households was hit with a filing.
NEXT: Douglas County, Colo.
Last updated June 21 2010: 1:03 PM ET
Source: Census Bureau
Population and growth data is from July 1, 2009, the most recent available from the Census Bureau.
Population and growth data is from July 1, 2009, the most recent available from the Census Bureau.
