What Outdoor Living Looks Like in America's Fastest-Growing Cities

America's fastest-growing cities are growing for reasons that go beyond economics. The people relocating to Austin, Nashville, Charlotte, Phoenix, and Tampa are pursuing a lifestyle — warmer weather, more space, a better quality of daily life. And in every one of these cities, outdoor living is central to that quality of life.

If you're relocating to one of these Sun Belt and Southeast cities, understanding the outdoor living culture and climate requirements of your new home city helps you make better furniture decisions from day one.

Austin, Texas

Austin's outdoor culture is legendary. The music venues, the Barton Springs swimming hole, the trail system along Lady Bird Lake — Austin is a city that lives outside. For the home outdoor space, Austin's climate presents specific challenges: intense summer heat (100°F+ days are common), high UV exposure, and the occasional dramatic weather event.

Best outdoor setup for Austin: shade is non-negotiable (a pergola or shade sail over primary seating), and furniture needs excellent UV and heat resistance. Poly wood in neutral tones — gray, tan, or white — handles Austin's sun without fading. Deep seating under a covered porch or pergola creates the shaded outdoor room that Austin summers demand.

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville's growth has brought a mixed urban-suburban culture with a strong tradition of front porch culture drawn from Southern roots. Nashville summers are hot and humid; winters are mild but with occasional hard freezes. The city's blend of historic neighborhoods and new construction creates a range of outdoor space types, from Victorian front porches to new construction patios.

Best outdoor setup for Nashville: a classic porch swing or glider for the covered front porch honors Nashville's Southern porch tradition beautifully. For the backyard, deep seating around a fire table creates year-round use across Nashville's variable seasons. Classic white or natural gray poly wood suits Nashville's blend of traditional and contemporary aesthetics.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte's outdoor climate is four-season but mild — summers are warm and humid, winters are occasionally cold but rarely severe. The city's rapid growth has created a large base of new construction homeowners with blank outdoor slates to furnish.

Best outdoor setup for Charlotte: the mild climate supports year-round outdoor use with minimal shelter requirements. A complete outdoor dining setup, a fire table for cooler months, and quality lounge seating creates a year-round outdoor living room. Charlotte's Southern-meets-modern aesthetic suits both traditional and contemporary poly wood styles.

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix's climate is uniquely demanding for outdoor furniture: extreme summer heat (115°F+), very high UV intensity, and extremely low humidity. The dry environment is actually kinder to some materials than humid climates (no rust, no mold), but UV exposure is among the most intense in the continental U.S.

Best outdoor setup for Phoenix: UV resistance is paramount. Quality poly wood with built-in UV stabilizers maintains its color and integrity in Phoenix sun better than virtually any alternative. Shade is essential — a pergola, ramada, or large umbrella is necessary for daytime use during summer months.

Tampa and the Tampa Bay Area, Florida

Tampa combines Florida's coastal humidity and salt air with intense summer thunderstorms and year-round warmth that makes outdoor living a daily rather than seasonal activity. Pool decks, screened lanais, and waterfront settings are common.

Best outdoor setup for Tampa: moisture resistance above all else. Poly wood's complete waterproof character makes it the obvious choice for Tampa's year-round rain exposure. Deep seating on a screened lanai and Adirondack chairs poolside are the quintessential Tampa outdoor living configurations.

Browse our complete outdoor furniture collection at The Porch Swing Store and find the perfect setup for wherever America's growth is taking you.