The US population has grown by roughly 58 million since 2000, but the nation’s biggest cities aren’t the only areas seeing increases.
Whether it’s suburbs next to urban areas or towns that have become hot spots in their own right, all 50 states are seeing population growth in small- and medium-sized towns.
Business Insider used the latest four-year Census data, ranging from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2024, to calculate the population growth percentage in each state’s towns and cities across the time period.
In the interest of avoiding municipalities with negligible populations, we focused on places with a population of more than 1,000 residents at the time of the 2020 Census. We also excluded unincorporated areas and Census-designated places belonging to a larger city. Of the 50 towns, most have populations under 20,000.
Here’s each state’s fastest-growing city or town.
Triana, Alabama
2020 population: 3,005
2024 population: 4,936
Percentage growth: 64%
Sitting in the northern region of Alabama along the Tennessee River, Triana was named the fourth-best suburb to live in Alabama by Niche, a real-estate and education ranking platform.
Wasilla, Alaska
2020 population: 9,115
2024 population: 10,318
Percentage growth: 13%
Wasilla sits roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage, the state’s largest city. As of 2020, Wasilla had just 732 residents per square mile, according to Census data.
Coolidge, Arizona
2020 population: 13,433
2024 population: 19,674
Percentage growth: 46%
Coolidge sits between Phoenix and Tucson and is home to the site of the Casa Grande Ruins, containing fragments of Native American structures. Sitting in the Sonoran Desert, the town sees frequent daily temperatures above 100-degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
Tontitown, Arkansas
2020 population: 4,685
2024 population: 7,941
Percentage growth: 70%
Tontitown sits in the Ozark Mountains and hosts the annual Tontitown Grape Festival, a popular tradition dating back 128 years.
Paradise, California
2020 population: 5,089
2024 population: 9,114
Percentage growth: 79%
The rapid growth can largely be attributed to Paradise’s recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, which ravaged the community. Per the Census, the town had over 26,000 residents in 2010, and is still rebuilding after being at the heart of the deadliest fire in the state’s history.
Keenesburg, Colorado
2020 population: 1,259
2024 population: 2,054
Percentage growth: 63%
Located about 40 miles northeast of Denver, Keenesburg’s main attraction is the Wild Animal Sanctuary, a 33,000-acre refuge designed for large carnivores.
Somers, Connecticut
2020 population: 10,080
2024 population: 10,905
Percentage growth: 8%
Located on the Connecticut-Massachusetts border, Somers was originally incorporated in Massachusetts before becoming part of Connecticut in 1749, according to the city.
Cheswold, Delaware
2020 population: 1,934
2024 population: 2,537
Percentage growth: 31%
In 2000, Cheswold had just over 300 residents, per the Census.
Westlake, Florida
2020 population: 1,050
2024 population: 7,664
Percentage growth: 630%
Westlake was formerly farmland before the land was purchased by Minto Group, a real-estate company with development plans for the area. The town only officially became a municipality in 2016.
Occupying over 6 miles of land, Westlake has thousands of single-family residential homes with more under construction, according to the town.
Hoschton, Georgia
2020 population: 2,758
2024 population: 6,723
Percentage growth: 144%
Hoschton lies about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 30 miles northwest of Athens.
Hawai’i County, Hawaii
2020 population: 200,754
2024 population: 209,790
Percentage growth: 4.5%
Hawaii holds the distinction of being the only US state without official incorporated municipalities. The state’s towns are governed at the county level.
Of the five counties — Hawai’i, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kaua’i, and Maui — Hawai’i County, commonly known as the “Big Island,” reported the largest population growth from 2020 to 2024.
Star, Idaho
2020 population: 11,466
2024 population: 18,208
Percentage growth: 59%
Star is located just 15 miles northwest of Boise.
Wonder Lake, Illinois
2020 population: 3,970
2024 population: 5,296
Percentage growth: 33%
Wonder Lake sits just below the Illinois-Wisconsin border, about 65 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago.
Whitestown, Indiana
2020 population: 10,350
2024 population: 14,564
Percentage growth: 41%
Whitestown, which is just over 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis, is home to more than 50 acres of parks and 13 miles of trails.
Tiffin, Iowa
2020 population: 4,624
2024 population: 6,695
Percentage growth: 45%
The fast-growing suburb sits F. W. Kent County Park, a sought-after destination in the state for outdoor activities. Tiffin is located 22 miles south of Cedar Rapids.
Spring Hill, Kansas
2020 population: 3,068
2024 population: 3,843
Percentage growth: 25%
Located near Kansas City, Missouri, Spring Hill is part of both Miami and Johnson counties.
Elkton, Kentucky
2020 population: 2,064
2024 population: 2,330
Percentage growth: 13%
Nashville is the nearest major city to Elkton, located about 60 miles south of the town.
Maurice, Louisiana
2020 population: 2,185
2024 population: 3,071
Percentage growth: 41%
Maurice is just southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana’s fourth-largest city.
Greenville, Maine
2020 population: 1,441
2024 population: 1,677
Percentage growth: 16%
Far from the cities of Portland and Bangor, Greenville is located further inland at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, the state’s largest freshwater body, according to Visit Maine. Greenville sits roughly 60 miles from the US-Canada Border.
Trappe, Maryland
2020 population: 1,176
2024 population: 1,472
Percentage growth: 25%
Trappe has seen growth in population in part because of a modern housing development, Lakeside at Trappe.
Millis, Massachusetts
2020 population: 8,501
2024 population: 9,338
Percentage growth: 9.9%
Millis, less than 30 miles southwest of Boston, saw large population growth in the first half of the decade largely due to immigration.
The state’s population as a whole is slowing due to declining immigration in the past year, the Worcester Telegram reported.
Manton, Michigan
2020 population: 1,272
2024 population: 1,530
Percentage growth: 20%
Manton was a finalist in Reader’s Digest’s “Nicest Place in America” ranking in 2021.
Dayton, Minnesota
2020 population: 7,434
2024 population: 10,744
Percentage growth: 45%
Dayton is a relatively wealthy suburb, with a high homeownership rate and a median household income of $148,947 in 2024, per 2024 Census data.
Dayton is under 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
Sumrall, Mississippi
2020 population: 1,775
2024 population: 2,172
Percentage growth: 22%
Sumrall sits just over 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi’s fifth-largest city.
Rogersville, Missouri
2020 population: 3,898
2024 population: 5,344
Percentage growth: 37%
According to 2024 Census data, there’s a ratio of about 3.2 households to one resident in Rogersville, which is above the national average.
The town is located 20 miles east of Springfield.
Kalispell, Montana
2020 population: 25,267
2024 population: 31,296
Percentage growth: 24%
According to the 2024 Census data, Kalispell is the seventh-largest city in Montana by population and the eighth-largest by land area.
Hickman, Nebraska
2020 population: 2,637
2024 population: 3,285
Percentage growth: 25%
Hickman’s population has more than tripled since 2000, per the Census. The town is under 20 miles south of Lincoln, the state’s capital city.
Mesquite, Nevada
2020 population: 20,608
2024 population: 23,599
Percentage growth: 15%
Mesquite sits in the Mojave Desert and borders Arizona. The nearest major city is Las Vegas, roughly 80 miles southwest of Mesquite.
Merrimack, New Hampshire
2020 population: 26,835
2024 population: 29,367
Percentage growth: 9.4%
Merrimack is comprised of four villages.
Seaside Park, New Jersey
2020 population: 1,443
2024 population: 2,058
Percentage growth: 43%
Seaside Park neighbors Seaside Heights, a popular Jersey Shore destination known for its amusement park.
Los Lunas, New Mexico
2020 population: 17,440
2024 population: 19,907
Percentage growth: 14%
Los Lunas has held significance at different points in American history, including when it was used as a bombing range after World War II, according to the Center for Land Use Interpretation.
The town is about 20 miles south of Albuquerque.
Kiryas Joel, New York
2020 population: 33,510
2024 population: 43,863
Percentage growth: 31%
Also known as Palm Tree, the village of Kiryas Joel has a predominantly Hasidic Jewish population and covers only 1.46 square miles, per the 2020 Census.
Wendell, North Carolina
2020 population: 9,991
2024 population: 16,845
Percentage growth: 69%
Wendell is within 20 miles of Raleigh, North Carolina’s second most-populous city. The growth is expected to continue, with 1,900 new homes under construction in the town, the area’s ABC 11 reported.
Horace, North Dakota
2020 population: 3,249
2024 population: 6,286
Percentage growth: 93%
Horace is a suburb of Fargo, North Dakota’s largest city by population, and is itself the 13th most populous city in the state.
South Bloomfield, Ohio
2020 population: 2,149
2024 population: 3,747
Percentage growth: 74%
South Bloomfield is located 20 miles south of Columbus.
Newcastle, Oklahoma
2020 population: 11,170
2024 population: 14,677
Percentage growth: 31%
A suburb of Oklahoma City, Newcastle appeared on 24/7 Wall St.’s “The Best City to Live in Every State” list in 2019.
Estacada, Oregon
2020 population: 4,538
2024 population: 5,591
Percentage growth: 23%
Estacada is roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland.
Westfall, Pennsylvania
2020 population: 2,533
2024 population: 3,394
Percentage growth: 34%
Westfall is located in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania and borders both New Jersey and New York.
A big factor in the town’s population growth has been the spike in its Hispanic and Latino population since 2010, the Pike County Courier reported.
Glocester, Rhode Island
2020 population: 9,981
2024 population: 10,512
Percentage growth: 5.3%
Glocester, seated 20 miles northwest of Providence, contains the villages of Harmony and Chepachet.
Hardeeville, South Carolina
2020 population: 7,733
2024 population: 13,862
Percentage growth: 79%
Located under 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, Hardeeville has historically had the nickname “The Lowcountry Host” for its many hotels and accommodations for travelers, per the Hardeeville Police Department.
Harrisburg, South Dakota
2020 population: 6,847
2024 population: 10,203
Percentage growth: 49%
Harrisburg, just 10 miles south of Sioux Falls, has 3.7 miles of land area, per 2020 Census data.
Lebanon, Tennessee
2020 population: 38,894
2024 population: 51,501
Percentage growth: 32%
Located 30 minutes east of Nashville, Lebanon is becoming a population hub in its own right. The town is home to the Nashville Superspeedway and Cumberland University.
Josephine, Texas
2020 population: 2,260
2024 population: 8,807
Percentage growth: 290%
Josephine, 40 miles from the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, is experiencing a major housing boom. Companies like D.R. Horton are constructing developments with hundreds of homes, and the low cost of living in the area is attracting a lot of millennial first-time homebuyers, Business Insider’s Alcynna Lloyd reported.
Saratoga Springs, Utah
2020 population: 38,300
2024 population: 57,411
Percentage growth: 50%
Saratoga Springs sits along Utah Lake and is among Utah’s 15 most populous cities. Saratoga Springs has a reputation for safety, with its total crime rate 69% below the national average, per Best Utah Real Estate.
Newport, Vermont
2020 population: 1,582
2024 population: 2,421
Percentage growth: 53%
The town, a distinct municipality from the neighboring city of Newport, is just over 5 miles south of the US-Canada border and is one of Vermont’s least populous municipalities.
Louisa, Virginia
2020 population: 1,993
2024 population: 2,201
Percentage growth: 10%
Louisa is located roughly 50 miles northwest of Richmond.
Ridgefield, Washington
2020 population: 10,872
2024 population: 15,359
Percentage growth: 41%
Located near Vancouver, Washington, Ridgefield has a history as a Native American village site, which was visited during the Lewis and Clark expedition, the city says.
Charles Town, West Virginia
2020 population: 6,526
2024 population: 8,869
Percentage growth: 36%
Charles Town was notably founded by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of President George Washington, according to the city.
Lannon, Wisconsin
2020 population: 1,419
2024 population: 2,048
Percentage growth: 44%
Lannon’s growth can largely be attributed to new investments in the town, such as housing developments, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reported. Lannon is located about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
Alpine, Wyoming
2020 population: 1,231
2024 population: 1,360
Percentage growth: 10%
Alpine sits on the Idaho-Wyoming border and is near Jackson, one of the state’s 10 most populous cities.
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