Central Texans are flocking to the suburbs in droves, helping cities like Cedar Park and Pflugerville to be named some of the fastest growing suburban areas in the nation by Forbes magazine.

Forbes compiled its list using census data from 2000 to 2006 and information from a St. Louis-based research firm. The magazine found that part of the growth is fueled by lower housing prices.

Cedar Park ranked 11th on the list with a 93.3 percent increase in population over six years. There were 52,058 Cedar Park residents in 2006, up from 26,926 in 2000. The City of Pflugerville ranked 23rd on the list with a 70.5 percent increase in population since 2000 -- 29,747 residents. Round Rock ranked 49th on the list with 92,392 residents -- a 47.7 percent increase in population.

"One of the challenges we have is to maintain the small town quality and warmth that we've had over the years," said Bob Lemon, Cedar Park mayor.

Cedar Park prides itself on its family-friendly appeal. Lemon said the city was concentrating on the area's transportation structure and park space in order to keep up the quality of life that residents now enjoy. The city is putting together a bond package to present to voters in November. Some ideas in the mix include building city hall, more roads and a baseball complex.

"We have a lot of big things on the horizon," Lemon said.

A total of 20 Texas suburbs were ranked in the Forbes study, with the majority in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The researchers excluded towns that did not have significant economic and social ties to the nearest metropolitan area.