U.S. population growth slowed to just 0.6% in 2018 — the lowest growth rate in 80 years. The last time the annual population growth was this low, the nation was in the throes of the Great Depression, when job opportunities were limited and there was little optimism about the future.
While the national population growth just hit a historic low, there are towns and cities across the country where even a small 0.6% population bump would be a welcome change. In these places, population decline has been a defining demographic trend for years.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed population changes between 2010 and 2017 in nearly 15,000 cities, towns, villages, and Census designated places to identify the fastest shrinking place in every state. We only considered areas with populations of at least 1,000. To ensure accuracy, we did not consider places where the margin of error for population was greater than 10%. All data are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
National population growth is slowing primarily because the country’s population is aging. This also appears to be a factor in many of the cities and towns on this list.
In the fastest shrinking town in 38 states, the median age exceeds the national median of 37.8 years. Similarly, in the vast majority of places on this list, the share of residents 65 and older is greater than the comparable share statewide. While these places tend to have large shares of retirement-age residents, they are not necessarily the places with the oldest populations in their state. These are the oldest counties in every state.
Just like during the Great Depression, when population growth slowed nationwide, in many of these areas, economic conditions are lagging. In the majority of cities and towns on this list, the median household income is lower than it is across their respective state as a whole. This is in stark contrast to the fastest growing place in every state — which tend to be relatively affluent areas.
Click here to see the fastest shrinking place in every state
Click here to see the fastest growing place in every state
Click here to read our methodology
1. Alabama: Tuskegee
> 2010-2017 population change: -13.1% (state: +2.9%)
> Median household income: $27,314 (state: $46,472)
> Annual unemployment: 10.1% (state: 4.3%)
> Total population: 8,852
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2. Alaska: Valdez
> 2010-2017 population change: -0.4% (state: +6.9%)
> Median household income: $94,003 (state: $76,114)
> Annual unemployment: 6.5% (state: 5.2%)
> Total population: 3,921
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3. Arizona: New Kingman-Butler
> 2010-2017 population change: -9.9% (state: +9.0%)
> Median household income: $31,923 (state: $53,510)
> Annual unemployment: 9.3% (state: 4.2%)
> Total population: 13,060
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4. Arkansas: Brinkley
> 2010-2017 population change: -14.1% (state: +3.7%)
> Median household income: $31,694 (state: $43,813)
> Annual unemployment: 5.5% (state: 3.6%)
> Total population: 2,854
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5. California: Willowbrook
> 2010-2017 population change: -35.6% (state: +6.4%)
> Median household income: $40,279 (state: $67,169)
> Annual unemployment: 7.3% (state: 4.8%)
> Total population: 22,654
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6. Colorado: Air Force Academy
> 2010-2017 population change: -26.1% (state: +11.2%)
> Median household income: $70,179 (state: $65,458)
> Annual unemployment: 0.3% (state: 3.5%)
> Total population: 6,098
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7. Connecticut: Pawcatuck
> 2010-2017 population change: -13.8% (state: +1.4%)
> Median household income: $57,780 (state: $73,781)
> Annual unemployment: 5.2% (state: 4.8%)
> Total population: 4,999
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8. Delaware: North Star
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.8% (state: +7.1%)
> Median household income: $141,618 (state: $63,036)
> Annual unemployment: 1.3% (state: 4.0%)
> Total population: 7,390
See all stories featuring: Delaware
9. Florida: Zephyrhills West
> 2010-2017 population change: -19.2% (state: +9.5%)
> Median household income: $33,558 (state: $50,883)
> Annual unemployment: 3.1% (state: 4.2%)
> Total population: 4,734
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10. Georgia: Reidsville
> 2010-2017 population change: -38.2% (state: +7.7%)
> Median household income: $24,500 (state: $52,977)
> Annual unemployment: 1.6% (state: 4.7%)
> Total population: 2,652
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11. Hawaii: Ahuimanu
> 2010-2017 population change: -17.2% (state: +6.6%)
> Median household income: $103,825 (state: $74,923)
> Annual unemployment: 2.8% (state: 3.0%)
> Total population: 8,085
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12. Idaho: Kamiah
> 2010-2017 population change: -12.3% (state: +8.6%)
> Median household income: $36,905 (state: $50,985)
> Annual unemployment: 5.3% (state: 3.3%)
> Total population: 1,267
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13. Illinois: Mount Carroll
> 2010-2017 population change: -19.1% (state: +0.9%)
> Median household income: $42,404 (state: $61,229)
> Annual unemployment: 3% (state: 4.8%)
> Total population: 1,475
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14. Indiana: Shorewood Forest
> 2010-2017 population change: -16.7% (state: +3.1%)
> Median household income: $102,950 (state: $52,182)
> Annual unemployment: 1% (state: 3.9%)
> Total population: 2,512
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15. Iowa: Reinbeck
> 2010-2017 population change: -17.1% (state: +3.4%)
> Median household income: $59,453 (state: $56,570)
> Annual unemployment: 4% (state: 2.8%)
> Total population: 1,628
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16. Kansas: Belleville
> 2010-2017 population change: -15.9% (state: +0.9%)
> Median household income: $42,406 (state: $61,229)
> Annual unemployment: 4.5% (state: 4.8%)
> Total population: 42,283
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17. Kentucky: Fort Knox
> 2010-2017 population change: -23.8% (state: +3.2%)
> Median household income: $55,196 (state: $46,535)
> Annual unemployment: 1.6% (state: 4.0%)
> Total population: 9,092
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18. Louisiana: Jefferson
> 2010-2017 population change: -13.1% (state: +5.3%)
> Median household income: $46,199 (state: $46,710)
> Annual unemployment: 3.8% (state: 4.3%)
> Total population: 10,469
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19. Maine: Madawaska
> 2010-2017 population change: -18.4% (state: +0.2%)
> Median household income: $37,753 (state: $53,024)
> Annual unemployment: 0% (state: 3.3%)
> Total population: 2,816
See all stories featuring: Maine
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20. Maryland: Friendship Heights Village
> 2010-2017 population change: -12.4% (state: +5.3%)
> Median household income: $92,593 (state: $78,916)
> Annual unemployment: 2.6% (state: 4.1%)
> Total population: 5,051
See all stories featuring: Maryland
21. Massachusetts: North Scituate
> 2010-2017 population change: -11.0% (state: +4.8%)
> Median household income: $104,159 (state: $74,167)
> Annual unemployment: 4% (state: 4.0%)
> Total population: 4,890
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22. Michigan: Beecher
> 2010-2017 population change: -19.9% (state: -0.3%)
> Median household income: $23,856 (state: $52,668)
> Annual unemployment: 11.3% (state: 4.5%)
> Total population: 9,490
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23. Minnesota: Appleton
> 2010-2017 population change: -33.5% (state: +4.7%)
> Median household income: $35,300 (state: $65,699)
> Annual unemployment: 5.6% (state: 3.0%)
> Total population: 1,449
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24. Mississippi: Winona
> 2010-2017 population change: -12.3% (state: +4.7%)
> Median household income: $43,551 (state: $65,699)
> Annual unemployment: 4.8% (state: 3.0%)
> Total population: 27,153
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25. Missouri: Spanish Lake
> 2010-2017 population change: -15.1% (state: +2.6%)
> Median household income: $37,929 (state: $51,542)
> Annual unemployment: 10.6% (state: 3.6%)
> Total population: 18,511
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26. Montana: Malmstrom AFB
> 2010-2017 population change: -18.5% (state: +5.8%)
> Median household income: $48,787 (state: $50,801)
> Annual unemployment: 1.8% (state: 3.0%)
> Total population: 3,929
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27. Nebraska: Fairbury
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.3% (state: +0.9%)
> Median household income: $42,808 (state: $61,229)
> Annual unemployment: 3.2% (state: 4.8%)
> Total population: 3,558
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28. Nevada: Hawthorne
> 2010-2017 population change: -26.1% (state: +9.7%)
> Median household income: $42,250 (state: $55,434)
> Annual unemployment: 11.4% (state: 5.1%)
> Total population: 2,689
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29. New Hampshire: Exeter
> 2010-2017 population change: -3.4% (state: +1.4%)
> Median household income: $66,412 (state: $71,305)
> Annual unemployment: 3.2% (state: 3.0%)
> Total population: 9,130
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30. New Jersey: Leisure Village East
> 2010-2017 population change: -24.4% (state: +2.7%)
> Median household income: $43,915 (state: $76,475)
> Annual unemployment: 3.6% (state: 4.6%)
> Total population: 3,526
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31. New Mexico: Nambe
> 2010-2017 population change: -11.4% (state: +3.6%)
> Median household income: $45,750 (state: $46,718)
> Annual unemployment: 4.1% (state: 4.5%)
> Total population: 1,876
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32. New York: West Point
> 2010-2017 population change: -30.8% (state: +3.0%)
> Median household income: $100,039 (state: $62,765)
> Annual unemployment: 0.5% (state: 4.3%)
> Total population: 6,536
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33. North Carolina: Plymouth
> 2010-2017 population change: -8.0% (state: +8.4%)
> Median household income: $18,314 (state: $50,320)
> Annual unemployment: 4.5% (state: 4.4%)
> Total population: 3,599
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34. North Dakota: Carrington
> 2010-2017 population change: -9.5% (state: +13.0%)
> Median household income: $54,722 (state: $61,285)
> Annual unemployment: 0.1% (state: 1.9%)
> Total population: 1,923
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35. Ohio: Wheelersburg
> 2010-2017 population change: -12.9% (state: +0.8%)
> Median household income: $52,500 (state: $52,407)
> Annual unemployment: 2% (state: 4.1%)
> Total population: 6,183
See all stories featuring: Ohio
36. Oklahoma: Watonga
> 2010-2017 population change: -42.9% (state: +6.0%)
> Median household income: $51,891 (state: $49,767)
> Annual unemployment: 1.2% (state: 3.5%)
> Total population: 2,932
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
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37. Oregon: Altamont
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.9% (state: +7.0%)
> Median household income: $41,048 (state: $56,119)
> Annual unemployment: 5% (state: 4.2%)
> Total population: 18,975
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38. Pennsylvania: West Wyomissing
> 2010-2017 population change: -18.9% (state: +1.4%)
> Median household income: $62,612 (state: $56,951)
> Annual unemployment: 2.9% (state: 4.1%)
> Total population: 3,195
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39. Rhode Island: Greenville
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.3% (state: +0.0%)
> Median household income: $77,219 (state: $61,043)
> Annual unemployment: 3.6% (state: 4.4%)
> Total population: 8,388
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
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40. South Carolina: Allendale
> 2010-2017 population change: -14.0% (state: +8.5%)
> Median household income: $19,420 (state: $48,781)
> Annual unemployment: 14.8% (state: 4.3%)
> Total population: 3,120
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41. South Dakota: Fort Thompson
> 2010-2017 population change: -11.0% (state: +7.0%)
> Median household income: $25,125 (state: $54,126)
> Annual unemployment: 9.4% (state: 2.6%)
> Total population: 1,271
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42. Tennessee: Belle Meade
> 2010-2017 population change: -10.6% (state: +5.8%)
> Median household income: $195,000 (state: $48,708)
> Annual unemployment: 0.2% (state: 4.0%)
> Total population: 2,584
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
43. Texas: San Elizario
> 2010-2017 population change: -35.5% (state: +12.8%)
> Median household income: $26,807 (state: $57,051)
> Annual unemployment: 6.3% (state: 3.7%)
> Total population: 9,213
See all stories featuring: Texas
44. Utah: Richmond
> 2010-2017 population change: -2.3% (state: +6.4%)
> Median household income: $61,045 (state: $67,169)
> Annual unemployment: 5.7% (state: 4.8%)
> Total population: 108,853
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45. Vermont: St. Johnsbury
> 2010-2017 population change: -13.9% (state: +0.1%)
> Median household income: $36,958 (state: $57,808)
> Annual unemployment: 2.6% (state: 2.9%)
> Total population: 5,789
See all stories featuring: Vermont
46. Virginia: Gloucester Point
> 2010-2017 population change: -10.7% (state: +6.7%)
> Median household income: $55,600 (state: $68,766)
> Annual unemployment: 1.9% (state: 3.5%)
> Total population: 9,291
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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47. Washington: Davenport
> 2010-2017 population change: -22.4% (state: +9.5%)
> Median household income: $42,015 (state: $50,883)
> Annual unemployment: 2.4% (state: 4.2%)
> Total population: 3,665
See all stories featuring: Washington
48. West Virginia: Bethlehem
> 2010-2017 population change: -13.1% (state: -0.2%)
> Median household income: $70,288 (state: $44,061)
> Annual unemployment: 3.5% (state: 3.8%)
> Total population: 2,459
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
49. Wisconsin: Park Falls
> 2010-2017 population change: -15.2% (state: +2.2%)
> Median household income: $36,250 (state: $56,759)
> Annual unemployment: 1.7% (state: 3.1%)
> Total population: 2,294
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
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50. Wyoming: Thermopolis
> 2010-2017 population change: -5.8% (state: +6.9%)
> Median household income: $50,417 (state: $60,938)
> Annual unemployment: 2.3% (state: 3.1%)
> Total population: 2,935
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
Methodology
To identify the fastest-shrinking place in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population change from 2010 to 2017 in nearly 15,000 cities, towns, villages, and Census designated places with populations of at least 1,000. We only considered places where the margin of error for population was less than 10%. All data are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. We also reviewed data on median household income and annual unemployment for 2017 from the ACS.
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