The five metro areas spotlighted by Placer.ai are located in five different regions of the U.S., but all have consumer momentum in common. Their populations increased by more than the average U.S. metro between 2024 and 2025, and their year-over-year retail and dining traffic trends outpace the nationwide average, Placer.ai says in its 5 Markets to Watch in 2027 white paper.
These metro areas include Stockton, CA; Phoenix; Boise; Nashville; and Ocala, FL. Leading the pack in terms of retail and dining growth is Stockton, long viewed as an alternative to its more costly neighbors in the nearby Bay Area. In particular, Stockton’s foot traffic gains in dining establishments run counter to the national picture, in which traffic dipped by 0.3% Y-O-Y.
The white paper delves into each metro area’s economic drivers for growth in household formation and retail. “Stockton, Phoenix, Boise, Nashville, and Ocala each approach 2027 on strong footing and with a growth story of their own – though only time will tell what the year has in store,” the white paper states.
Pictured: Downtown Stockton, CA. Photo courtesy of Visit Stockton.
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