Special Report

The Fastest Growing City in Each State

Art Wager / Getty Images

The U.S. population growth rate recently hit a low point not seen since 1937, when the country was in the thick of the Great Depression. The U.S. population grew by just 0.62% between July 2017 and July 2018, according to Census Bureau data.

The slowing national population growth appears to be part of a long-term trend. Still, population growth rates vary in different parts of the country, and some areas buck the national trend. In nearly every state, there is at least one city that has reported rapid population growth in recent years.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed U.S. Census Bureau data on 382 metro areas from 2010 to 2018 to identify the fastest growing city in each state. With only one metro area in each New Hampshire, Vermont, and Delaware, the city listed is only the fastest growing by default. Still, each of those three metro areas is growing faster than the corresponding state as a whole. It stands to reason that rapidly growing cities are desirable places to live, and not surprisingly, parts of the metro areas on this list also rank as the best city to live in the state.

Population change is the product of two factors – net migration and natural growth. Natural growth is simply the number of births over a given period less the number of deaths. Net migration is the difference between the number of new residents – either from other parts of the country or from abroad – and the number of residents who have left the area.

The slowing national population growth rate in the last year is attributable to a slowing birth rate and a climbing death rate. In the majority of the cities on this list, the strong long-term population growth is primarily attributable to natural growth. In 11 cities on this list, the population growth has been driven by domestic migration.

People often move to a new city for economic reasons such as a strong job market and high incomes that provide a level of stability attractive to young families. These cities, more often than not, have faster than average job growth and relatively low unemployment. Some even rank among the 25 cities that added the most jobs last year. Most also have a higher than typical median income.

Click here to see the fastest growing city in every state
Click here to read our methodology

George Dodd / Getty Images

Alabama: Daphne-Fairhope-Foley
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 19.1% (state: 2.1%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.1% (state: 3.7%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 23.8% (state: 6.8%)
> Median household income: $55,342 (state: $48,123)

See all stories featuring: Alabama

[in-text-ad]

yenwen / Getty Images

Alaska: Anchorage
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 4.2% (state: 3.3%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 5.8% (state: 6.5%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 2.4% (state: 1.7%)
> Median household income: $76,871 (state: $73,181)

See all stories featuring: Alaska

Melikamp / Wikimedia Commons

Arizona: Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 15.6% (state: 11.9%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 4.3% (state: 5.1%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 20.1% (state: 16.6%)
> Median household income: $61,506 (state: $56,581)

See all stories featuring: Arizona

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Arkansas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 18.0% (state: 3.1%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 3.8%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 22.3% (state: 5.9%)
> Median household income: $56,038 (state: $45,869)

See all stories featuring: Arkansas

[in-text-ad-2]

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

California: Stockton-Lodi
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 9.5% (state: 6.0%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 6.2% (state: 4.2%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 22.9% (state: 18.1%)
> Median household income: $61,164 (state: $71,805)

See all stories featuring: California

Bryan Bean / Wikimedia Commons

Colorado: Greeley
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 23.7% (state: 12.8%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.9% (state: 3.7%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 34.1% (state: 19.9%)
> Median household income: $68,884 (state: $69,117)

See all stories featuring: Colorado

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Connecticut: Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 2.6% (state: -0.2%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.9% (state: 3.8%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 5.6% (state: 4.6%)
> Median household income: $91,198 (state: $74,168)

See all stories featuring: Connecticut

Ataraxy22 / Wikimedia Commons

Delaware: Dover
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 9.6% (state: 7.5%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.3% (state: 3.4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 10.5% (state: 10.7%)
> Median household income: $57,608 (state: $62,852)

See all stories featuring: Delaware

Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons

Florida: The Villages
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 36.6% (state: 13.0%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 5.1% (state: 3.5%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 42.9% (state: 19.5%)
> Median household income: $54,057 (state: $52,594)

See all stories featuring: Florida

[in-text-ad-2]

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Georgia: Gainesville
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 12.3% (state: 8.3%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.2% (state: 3.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 24.7% (state: 15.8%)
> Median household income: $61,977 (state: $56,183)

See all stories featuring: Georgia

unclegene / Getty Images

Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 7.9% (state: 4.1%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.9% (state: 2.7%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 17.2% (state: 11.5%)
> Median household income: $80,183 (state: $77,765)

See all stories featuring: Hawaii

[in-text-ad]

Joecho-16 / Getty Images

Idaho: Boise City
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 18.2% (state: 11.7%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.9% (state: 2.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 22.1% (state: 16.7%)
> Median household income: $55,324 (state: $52,225)

See all stories featuring: Idaho

Illinifan2003 / Wikimedia Commons

Illinois: Champaign-Urbana
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 3.1% (state: -0.8%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 4.6% (state: 4.3%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 2.5% (state: 7.9%)
> Median household income: $50,999 (state: $62,992)

See all stories featuring: Illinois

John Schanlaub / Wikimedia Commons

Indiana: Lafayette-West Lafayette
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 9.8% (state: 3.1%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.4% (state: 3.5%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 13.9% (state: 11.4%)
> Median household income: $52,224 (state: $54,181)

See all stories featuring: Indiana

[in-text-ad-2]

KudicM / Getty Images

Iowa: Des Moines-West Des Moines
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 14.6% (state: 3.5%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.2% (state: 2.4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 15.4% (state: 7.2%)
> Median household income: $68,649 (state: $58,570)

See all stories featuring: Iowa

Ian Ballinger / Wikimedia Commons

Kansas: Lawrence
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 9.2% (state: 1.9%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.3% (state: 3.4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 6.5% (state: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $55,646 (state: $56,422)

See all stories featuring: Kansas

[in-text-ad]

navycrackerjack74 / Flickr

Kentucky: Bowling Green
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 11.4% (state: 2.8%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.6% (state: 4.1%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 30.0% (state: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $46,478 (state: $48,375)

See all stories featuring: Kentucky

Z28scrambler / Wikimedia Commons

Louisiana: Hammond
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 10.1% (state: 2.5%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 5.5% (state: 4.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 5.9% (state: 4.1%)
> Median household income: $44,861 (state: $46,145)

See all stories featuring: Louisiana

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Maine: Portland-South Portland
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 4.2% (state: 0.8%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 3.4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 8.9% (state: 5.4%)
> Median household income: $68,570 (state: $56,277)

See all stories featuring: Maine

[in-text-ad-2]

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Maryland: Salisbury
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 9.4% (state: 4.4%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 4.5% (state: 3.7%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 209.8% (state: 8.2%)
> Median household income: $59,273 (state: $80,776)

See all stories featuring: Maryland

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Massachusetts: Boston-Cambridge-Newton
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 6.8% (state: 5.1%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.6% (state: 3%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 13.4% (state: 12.5%)
> Median household income: $85,691 (state: $77,385)

See all stories featuring: Massachusetts

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Michigan: Grand Rapids-Wyoming
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 8.1% (state: 1.2%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.6% (state: 4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 58.2% (state: 13.9%)
> Median household income: $61,298 (state: $54,909)

See all stories featuring: Michigan

StevenGaertner / Getty Images

Minnesota: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 8.2% (state: 5.7%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.9% (state: 3.1%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 14.9% (state: 11.6%)
> Median household income: $76,856 (state: $68,388)

See all stories featuring: Minnesota

Woodlot / Wikimedia Commons

Mississippi: Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 7.0% (state: 0.5%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 5% (state: 4.8%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 47.7% (state: 5.0%)
> Median household income: $47,099 (state: $43,529)

See all stories featuring: Mississippi

[in-text-ad-2]

Ashley Kluver / Getty Images

Missouri: Columbia
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 10.3% (state: 2.2%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.4% (state: 3.2%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 11.1% (state: 8.1%)
> Median household income: $51,340 (state: $53,578)

See all stories featuring: Missouri

Ken Eckert / Wikimedia Commons

Montana: Missoula
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 8.6% (state: 7.2%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.4% (state: 3.8%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 10.2% (state: 9.6%)
> Median household income: $54,311 (state: $53,386)

See all stories featuring: Montana

[in-text-ad]

Collin Ulness / Wikimedia Commons

Nebraska: Lincoln
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 10.4% (state: 5.5%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.6% (state: 2.8%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 10.2% (state: 8.5%)
> Median household income: $60,057 (state: $59,970)

See all stories featuring: Nebraska

Lasvegaslover / Wikimedia Commons

Nevada: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 14.3% (state: 12.3%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 4.2% (state: 4.3%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 21.0% (state: 19.7%)
> Median household income: $57,189 (state: $58,003)

See all stories featuring: Nevada

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 3.5% (state: 3.0%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.3% (state: 2.4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 9.8% (state: 8.8%)
> Median household income: $78,769 (state: $73,381)

See all stories featuring: New Hampshire

[in-text-ad-2]

ChrisBoswell / Getty Images

New Jersey: Trenton
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 0.5% (state: 1.2%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.8% (state: 4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 10.0% (state: 7.3%)
> Median household income: $79,173 (state: $80,088)

See all stories featuring: New Jersey

pedrosz / Flickr

New Mexico: Santa Fe
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 3.8% (state: 1.5%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 4.1% (state: 5.1%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 0.2% (state: 3.7%)
> Median household income: $58,821 (state: $46,744)

See all stories featuring: New Mexico

[in-text-ad]

Eloi_Omella / Getty Images

New York: New York-Newark-Jersey City
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 1.9% (state: 0.7%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.9% (state: 3.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 15.7% (state: 11.2%)
> Median household income: $75,368 (state: $64,894)

See all stories featuring: New York

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

North Carolina: Raleigh
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 19.8% (state: 8.5%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.5% (state: 3.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 24.7% (state: 14.3%)
> Median household income: $72,576 (state: $52,752)

See all stories featuring: North Carolina

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

North Dakota: Fargo
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 17.3% (state: 12.7%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.3% (state: 2.4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 16.1% (state: 15.4%)
> Median household income: $63,353 (state: $61,843)

See all stories featuring: North Dakota

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Ohio: Columbus
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 10.5% (state: 1.3%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.6% (state: 4.6%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 17.6% (state: 9.3%)
> Median household income: $63,764 (state: $54,021)

See all stories featuring: Ohio

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 11.0% (state: 4.9%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.1% (state: 3.3%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 10.6% (state: 6.4%)
> Median household income: $56,260 (state: $50,051)

See all stories featuring: Oklahoma

[in-text-ad]

fdastudillo / Getty Images

Oregon: Bend-Redmond
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 21.7% (state: 9.2%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 4.5% (state: 4.4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 36.0% (state: 17.8%)
> Median household income: $66,273 (state: $60,212)

See all stories featuring: Oregon

SEASTOCK / Getty Images

Pennsylvania: Lebanon
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 5.8% (state: 0.8%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.2% (state: 4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 5.7% (state: 6.0%)
> Median household income: $57,372 (state: $59,195)

See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 1.2% (state: 0.3%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.5% (state: 3.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 7.5% (state: 6.7%)
> Median household income: $65,226 (state: $63,870)

See all stories featuring: Rhode Island

[in-text-ad-2]

Curtis and Eric from Crawfordville, FL, USA / Wikimedia Commons

South Carolina: Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 27.0% (state: 9.7%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.9% (state: 3.2%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 50.5% (state: 15.8%)
> Median household income: $48,727 (state: $50,570)

See all stories featuring: South Carolina

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 15.9% (state: 8.1%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.4% (state: 2.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 16.0% (state: 8.6%)
> Median household income: $64,882 (state: $56,521)

See all stories featuring: South Dakota

[in-text-ad]

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

Tennessee: Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 15.2% (state: 6.5%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.4% (state: 3.2%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 29.0% (state: 14.6%)
> Median household income: $63,939 (state: $51,340)

See all stories featuring: Tennessee

Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons

Texas: Midland
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 25.8% (state: 13.7%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.2% (state: 3.8%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 36.4% (state: 18.0%)
> Median household income: $75,266 (state: $59,206)

See all stories featuring: Texas

MojaveNC / Wikimedia Commons

Utah: St. George
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 24.1% (state: 13.9%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3% (state: 3%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 39.2% (state: 24.3%)
> Median household income: $54,842 (state: $68,358)

See all stories featuring: Utah

[in-text-ad-2]

ErikaMitchell / Getty Images

Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 4.5% (state: 0.1%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 1.8% (state: 2.4%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 9.2% (state: 5.6%)
> Median household income: $63,160 (state: $57,513)

See all stories featuring: Vermont

NicolasMcComber / Getty Images

Virginia: Winchester
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 8.6% (state: 6.2%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 2.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 14.9% (state: 8.5%)
> Median household income: $65,334 (state: $71,535)

See all stories featuring: Virginia

[in-text-ad]

Cecil_Kindle / Getty Images

Washington: Kennewick-Richland
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 15.9% (state: 11.8%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 5.8% (state: 4.5%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 11.5% (state: 17.1%)
> Median household income: $63,617 (state: $70,979)

See all stories featuring: Washington

BackyardProduction / Getty Images

West Virginia: Morgantown
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 7.6% (state: -2.6%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 4.2% (state: 5.2%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 9.0% (state: -1.2%)
> Median household income: $49,475 (state: $43,469)

See all stories featuring: West Virginia

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Wisconsin: Madison
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 8.9% (state: 2.2%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 2.2% (state: 2.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 17.0% (state: 8.2%)
> Median household income: $71,301 (state: $59,305)

See all stories featuring: Wisconsin

[in-text-ad-2]

Davel5957 / Getty Images

Wyoming: Cheyenne
> 2010-2018 pop. growth: 7.3% (state: 2.3%)
> Feb. 2019 unemployment: 3.3% (state: 3.9%)
> 2010-2017 job growth: 7.5% (state: -0.6%)
> Median household income: $61,961 (state: $60,434)

See all stories featuring: Wyoming

Methodology

To determine the fastest growing city in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population change between July 2010 and July 2018 (the latest available data) in every U.S. metro area with data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program. The components of population growth — births, deaths, and international and domestic migration — were also from this report. Jobs added between 2010 and 2017 came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. February 2019 unemployment rates came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics and are seasonally adjusted.

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.