Cities Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest

By Mike Sauter Updated Aug 28, 10:01AM EDT · Published Aug 27, 8:50AM EDT

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Cities Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest — © Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images

[cnxvideo id=”1144055″ placement=”ros”]

On Aug. 24, 33,618 new coronavirus cases were reported across the U.S., the lowest such figure since June 22. While the spread of COVID-19 has begun to slow down nationwide, the nation likely has a long way to go before fears of the disease can subside. Even though new cases are declining nationwide, they remain close to the peak before the surge that began in June.

And while nationwide daily new cases are trending downward, they are still increasing in several major metropolitan areas.

Using data from state and local health departments, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed the average number of new daily confirmed COVID-19 cases for the week ending Aug. 24 and compared it to the average from the previous week to determine the cities where the virus is growing the fastest. For comparison purposes, we adjusted the number of confirmed cases per 100,000 people. We excluded metropolitan areas with fewer than 20 new daily cases as of the most recent week.

Nationwide, the average number of new daily cases fell slightly, week-over-week, by 1.9 cases per 100,000 people. Average daily cases in the 22 metro areas on this list climbed by at least 4 cases per 100,000 residents this week compared to the previous one, and by as many as 12 cases per 100,000.

In previous weeks, the cities where the spread of COVID-19 was growing the fastest were grouped within a relatively small number of states and concentrated in states with substantial growth. This week, however, these 22 cities are located in 14 different states all across the country, with representation in the West, Southwest, South, and Midwest.

Some of these metro areas are located in states that had especially severe surges during the summer, including Texas and Georgia. Others on this list are in states that have had a relatively mild outbreak so far, such as Missouri and South Dakota. These are the dates when COVID-19 is expected to peak in every state.

Click here to see the cities where COVID-19 is growing the fastest

22. Champaign-Urbana, IL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 11.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 7.2 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 951 per 100,000 people (total: 2,148)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 20
> Population: 237,356
> Avg. new daily cases in Illinois in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 15 per 100,000 (18th most)

[in-text-ad]

21. Rockford, IL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 8.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 4.0 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,441 per 100,000 people (total: 4,896)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 162
> Population: 337,658
> Avg. new daily cases in Illinois in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 15 per 100,000 (18th most)

[recirclink id=731188]

20. Anniston-Oxford, AL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 26.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 21.9 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,884 per 100,000 people (total: 2,168)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 23
> Population: 114,277
> Avg. new daily cases in Alabama in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 16 per 100,000 (15th most)

19. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 16.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 11.7 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,901 per 100,000 people (total: 11,739)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 226
> Population: 575,412
> Avg. new daily cases in North Carolina in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 13 per 100,000 (21st most)

[in-text-ad-2]

Carbondale, Illinois (CC BY 2.0) by Paul Sableman

18. Carbondale-Marion, IL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 24.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 19.5 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,200 per 100,000 people (total: 1,662)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 29
> Population: 124,475
> Avg. new daily cases in Illinois in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 15 per 100,000 (18th most)

17. Columbia, MO
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 23.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 17.9 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,089 per 100,000 people (total: 2,224)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 05
> Population: 180,005
> Avg. new daily cases in Missouri in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 18 per 100,000 (9th most)

[in-text-ad]

16. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 20.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 15.5 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 2,288 per 100,000 people (total: 3,893)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 78
> Population: 169,659
> Avg. new daily cases in Iowa in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 17 per 100,000 (10th most)

[recirclink id=731274]

15. Green Bay, WI
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 19.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 13.7 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,730 per 100,000 people (total: 5,497)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 60
> Population: 321,591
> Avg. new daily cases in Wisconsin in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 12 per 100,000 (25th most)

14. Bismarck, ND
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 41.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 35.1 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,798 per 100,000 people (total: 2,268)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 17
> Population: 132,317
> Avg. new daily cases in North Dakota in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 22 per 100,000 (6th most)

[in-text-ad-2]

13. Lewiston, ID-WA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 13.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 7.5 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 467 per 100,000 people (total: 292)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 21
> Population: 63,018
> Avg. new daily cases in Idaho in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 19 per 100,000 (8th most)

12. Rapid City, SD
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 12.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 6.6 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 907 per 100,000 people (total: 1,240)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 34
> Population: 147,316
> Avg. new daily cases in South Dakota in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 14 per 100,000 (20th most)

[in-text-ad]

11. Dothan, AL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 21.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 15.4 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,637 per 100,000 people (total: 2,422)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 19
> Population: 148,245
> Avg. new daily cases in Alabama in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 16 per 100,000 (15th most)

[recirclink id=731118]

10. Gadsden, AL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 29.7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 23.5 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 2,478 per 100,000 people (total: 2,551)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 37
> Population: 102,501
> Avg. new daily cases in Alabama in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 16 per 100,000 (15th most)

9. Iowa City, IA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 18.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 11.6 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,704 per 100,000 people (total: 2,882)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 34
> Population: 173,401
> Avg. new daily cases in Iowa in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 17 per 100,000 (10th most)

[in-text-ad-2]

8. Lawton, OK
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 14.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 7.4 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 915 per 100,000 people (total: 1,176)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 13
> Population: 125,696
> Avg. new daily cases in Oklahoma in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 17 per 100,000 (13th most)

7. Fresno, CA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 44.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 36.6 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 2,394 per 100,000 people (total: 23,414)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 226
> Population: 994,400
> Avg. new daily cases in California in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 17 per 100,000 (12th most)

[in-text-ad]

6. Pine Bluff, AR
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 46.7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 39.1 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 3,692 per 100,000 people (total: 3,409)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 59
> Population: 90,306
> Avg. new daily cases in Arkansas in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 17 per 100,000 (11th most)

[recirclink id=730902]

5. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +9.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 32.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 23.5 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,935 per 100,000 people (total: 139,088)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 1,871
> Population: 7,540,371
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 23 per 100,000 (3rd most)

4. Macon-Bibb County, GA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +9.8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 45.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 35.2 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 2,880 per 100,000 people (total: 6,614)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 143
> Population: 226,680
> Avg. new daily cases in Georgia in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 24 per 100,000 (2nd most)

[in-text-ad-2]

3. Ames, IA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +9.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 28.7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 18.8 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,531 per 100,000 people (total: 1,888)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 19
> Population: 98,105
> Avg. new daily cases in Iowa in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 17 per 100,000 (10th most)

2. Bloomington, IL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +10.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 19.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 8.7 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 657 per 100,000 people (total: 1,138)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 16
> Population: 190,884
> Avg. new daily cases in Illinois in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 15 per 100,000 (18th most)

[in-text-ad]

1. Grand Forks, ND-MN
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +12.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 25.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending Aug. 17: 13.6 per 100,000 people
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 24: 1,199 per 100,000 people (total: 1,223)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Aug. 24: 14
> Population: 102,299
> Avg. new daily cases in North Dakota in 7 days ending Aug. 24: 22 per 100,000 (6th most)

About the Author Mike Sauter →

Michael Sauter is Lead Editor at 24/7 Wall St. He has worked here in various capacities since 2010, starting out as a healthcare industry beat writer. He helped develop the site’s data-driven content, which contributed to 24/7 Wall St. becoming a recognized brand in the field of data journalism, covering a wide range of social and economic issues. Today, he rarely writes but enjoys working with authors and data to find the best way to present information clearly and effectively. In his occasional spare time, Michael loves cycling, listening to audiobooks, and (passably) playing the piano.