Special Report
This Is the City in Every State Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest
Published:
The U.S. has reported more than 49.9 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of December 16. There have been more than 794,000 reported deaths from COVID-19-related causes — the highest death toll of any country.
The extent of the spread of the novel coronavirus continues to vary considerably from state to state, and from city to city. Even as the number of daily new cases is flattening or even declining in some parts of the country, it is surging at a growing rate in others.
Nationwide, the number of new cases is growing at a steady rate. There were an average of 35.6 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans in the week ending December 16, essentially unchanged from the week prior, when there were an average of 33.2 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people.
Metropolitan areas with a high degree of mobility and a large population may be particularly vulnerable to outbreaks. While science and medical professionals are still studying how exactly the virus spreads, experts agree that outbreaks are more likely to occur in group settings where large numbers of people routinely have close contact with one another. Cities with high concentrations of dense spaces such as colleges, correctional facilities, and nursing homes are particularly at risk.
The city with the highest seven-day average of new daily COVID-19 cases per capita is in Illinois. In the Danville, IL, metro area, there were an average of 136.7 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the week ending December 16, the most of any U.S. metro area. Other cities where COVID-19 is growing the fastest include St. Cloud, MN; Flint, MI; and Manchester-Nashua, NH.
To determine the metropolitan area in each state where COVID-19 is growing the fastest, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed data from state and local health departments. We ranked metropolitan areas according to the average number of new daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the seven days ending December 16. Data was aggregated from the county level to the metropolitan area level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data used to adjust case and death totals came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates. Unemployment data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is seasonally adjusted.
Alabama: Florence-Muscle Shoals
Avg. new daily cases in Florence in week ending December 16: 16.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Florence in week ending December 9: 13.9 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Florence as of December 16: 24,663 (16,740.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Florence: 16.2% (April 2020)
Florence population: 147,327 (116.9 people per sq. mi.)
Alaska: Anchorage
Avg. new daily cases in Anchorage in week ending December 16: 26.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Anchorage in week ending December 9: 39.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Anchorage as of December 16: 87,091 (21,832.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Anchorage: 14.8% (April 2020)
Anchorage population: 398,900 (15.2 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Alaska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Arizona: Prescott Valley-Prescott
Avg. new daily cases in Prescott Valley in week ending December 16: 64.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Prescott Valley in week ending December 9: 71.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Prescott Valley as of December 16: 34,702 (15,215.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Prescott Valley: 14.5% (April 2020)
Prescott Valley population: 228,067 (28.1 people per sq. mi.)
Arkansas: Jonesboro
Avg. new daily cases in Jonesboro in week ending December 16: 37.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Jonesboro in week ending December 9: 38.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Jonesboro as of December 16: 28,008 (21,340.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Jonesboro: 9.3% (April 2020)
Jonesboro population: 131,241 (89.5 people per sq. mi.)
California: El Centro
Avg. new daily cases in El Centro in week ending December 16: 49.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in El Centro in week ending December 9: 47.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in El Centro as of December 16: 39,801 (22,025.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in El Centro: 30.0% (April 2020)
El Centro population: 180,701 (43.3 people per sq. mi.)
Colorado: Grand Junction
Avg. new daily cases in Grand Junction in week ending December 16: 61.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Grand Junction in week ending December 9: 61.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Grand Junction as of December 16: 29,116 (19,254.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Grand Junction: 12.5% (April 2020)
Grand Junction population: 151,218 (45.4 people per sq. mi.)
Connecticut: Norwich-New London
Avg. new daily cases in Norwich in week ending December 16: 64.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Norwich in week ending December 9: 43.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Norwich as of December 16: 32,421 (12,125.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Norwich: 15.0% (May 2020)
Norwich population: 267,390 (402.2 people per sq. mi.)
Delaware: Dover
Avg. new daily cases in Dover in week ending December 16: 72.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Dover in week ending December 9: 62.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Dover as of December 16: 30,106 (17,038.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Dover: 17.3% (May 2020)
Dover population: 176,699 (301.4 people per sq. mi.)
Florida: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
Avg. new daily cases in Miami in week ending December 16: 9.3 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Miami in week ending December 9: 11.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Miami as of December 16: 1,288,696 (21,158.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Miami: 13.8% (April 2020)
Miami population: 6,090,660 (1,199.6 people per sq. mi.)
Georgia: Gainesville
Avg. new daily cases in Gainesville in week ending December 16: 23.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Gainesville in week ending December 9: 21.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Gainesville as of December 16: 39,676 (19,971.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Gainesville: 10.9% (April 2020)
Gainesville population: 198,667 (505.8 people per sq. mi.)
Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
Avg. new daily cases in Kahului in week ending December 16: 7.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Kahului in week ending December 9: 11.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Kahului as of December 16: 10,590 (6,380.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Kahului: 34.8% (April 2020)
Kahului population: 165,979 (142.9 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Idaho: Coeur d’Alene
Avg. new daily cases in Coeur d’Alene in week ending December 16: 28.3 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Coeur d’Alene in week ending December 9: 32.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Coeur d’Alene as of December 16: 31,478 (20,008.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Coeur d’Alene: 17.2% (April 2020)
Coeur d’Alene population: 157,322 (126.5 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Idaho where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Illinois: Danville
Avg. new daily cases in Danville in week ending December 16: 136.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Danville in week ending December 9: 119.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Danville as of December 16: 17,691 (22,808.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Danville: 18.4% (April 2020)
Danville population: 77,563 (86.3 people per sq. mi.)
Indiana: Fort Wayne
Avg. new daily cases in Fort Wayne in week ending December 16: 90.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Fort Wayne in week ending December 9: 95.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Fort Wayne as of December 16: 77,265 (19,016.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Fort Wayne: 20.0% (April 2020)
Fort Wayne population: 406,305 (409.2 people per sq. mi.)
Iowa: Dubuque
Avg. new daily cases in Dubuque in week ending December 16: 86.9 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Dubuque in week ending December 9: 129.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Dubuque as of December 16: 19,729 (20,343.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Dubuque: 13.1% (April 2020)
Dubuque population: 96,982 (159.4 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Kansas: Topeka
Avg. new daily cases in Topeka in week ending December 16: 70.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Topeka in week ending December 9: 64.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Topeka as of December 16: 37,985 (16,318.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Topeka: 12.4% (April 2020)
Topeka population: 232,778 (72.0 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Kansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Kentucky: Owensboro
Avg. new daily cases in Owensboro in week ending December 16: 65.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Owensboro in week ending December 9: 65.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Owensboro as of December 16: 22,410 (18,915.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Owensboro: 15.5% (April 2020)
Owensboro population: 118,477 (131.9 people per sq. mi.)
Louisiana: Monroe
Avg. new daily cases in Monroe in week ending December 16: 18.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Monroe in week ending December 9: 19.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Monroe as of December 16: 41,421 (20,358.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Monroe: 12.8% (April 2020)
Monroe population: 203,457 (89.1 people per sq. mi.)
Maine: Lewiston-Auburn
Avg. new daily cases in Lewiston in week ending December 16: 90.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Lewiston in week ending December 9: 58.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Lewiston as of December 16: 14,319 (13,307.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lewiston: 10.3% (July 2020)
Lewiston population: 107,602 (230.0 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Maryland: Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV
Avg. new daily cases in Hagerstown in week ending December 16: 46.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Hagerstown in week ending December 9: 65.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Hagerstown as of December 16: 46,202 (16,317.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Hagerstown: 12.0% (April 2020)
Hagerstown population: 283,147 (280.9 people per sq. mi.)
Massachusetts: Worcester, MA-CT
Avg. new daily cases in Worcester in week ending December 16: 73.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Worcester in week ending December 9: 59.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Worcester as of December 16: 129,262 (13,731.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Worcester: 15.9% (June 2020)
Worcester population: 941,338 (465.2 people per sq. mi.)
Michigan: Flint
Avg. new daily cases in Flint in week ending December 16: 102.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Flint in week ending December 9: 108.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Flint as of December 16: 67,065 (16,442.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Flint: 31.0% (April 2020)
Flint population: 407,875 (640.3 people per sq. mi.)
Minnesota: St. Cloud
Avg. new daily cases in St. Cloud in week ending December 16: 108.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in St. Cloud in week ending December 9: 102.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in St. Cloud as of December 16: 45,284 (22,803.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in St. Cloud: 9.4% (May 2020)
St. Cloud population: 198,581 (113.4 people per sq. mi.)
Mississippi: Jackson
Avg. new daily cases in Jackson in week ending December 16: 12.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Jackson in week ending December 9: 9.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Jackson as of December 16: 87,446 (14,629.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Jackson: 15.0% (April 2020)
Jackson population: 597,727 (110.6 people per sq. mi.)
Missouri: St. Joseph, MO-KS
Avg. new daily cases in St. Joseph in week ending December 16: 62.3 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in St. Joseph in week ending December 9: 65.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in St. Joseph as of December 16: 22,163 (17,565.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in St. Joseph: 7.5% (April 2020)
St. Joseph population: 126,173 (76.2 people per sq. mi.)
Montana: Great Falls
Avg. new daily cases in Great Falls in week ending December 16: 23.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Great Falls in week ending December 9: 27.9 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Great Falls as of December 16: 16,929 (20,740.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Great Falls: 12.6% (April 2020)
Great Falls population: 81,625 (30.3 people per sq. mi.)
Nebraska: Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
Avg. new daily cases in Omaha in week ending December 16: 56.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Omaha in week ending December 9: 60.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Omaha as of December 16: 163,149 (17,509.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Omaha: 10.2% (April 2020)
Omaha population: 931,779 (214.2 people per sq. mi.)
Nevada: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
Avg. new daily cases in Las Vegas in week ending December 16: 22.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Las Vegas in week ending December 9: 20.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Las Vegas as of December 16: 350,742 (16,074.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Las Vegas: 34.2% (April 2020)
Las Vegas population: 2,182,004 (276.5 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Nevada where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua
Avg. new daily cases in Manchester in week ending December 16: 100.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Manchester in week ending December 9: 75.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Manchester as of December 16: 59,390 (14,378.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Manchester: 17.5% (April 2020)
Manchester population: 413,035 (471.4 people per sq. mi.)
New Jersey: Vineland-Bridgeton
Avg. new daily cases in Vineland in week ending December 16: 61.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Vineland in week ending December 9: 39.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Vineland as of December 16: 23,343 (15,366.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Vineland: 17.5% (June 2020)
Vineland population: 151,906 (314.1 people per sq. mi.)
New Mexico: Las Cruces
Avg. new daily cases in Las Cruces in week ending December 16: 86.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Las Cruces in week ending December 9: 106.9 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Las Cruces as of December 16: 38,873 (17,991.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Las Cruces: 12.6% (July 2020)
Las Cruces population: 216,069 (56.7 people per sq. mi.)
New York: Elmira
Avg. new daily cases in Elmira in week ending December 16: 83.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Elmira in week ending December 9: 81.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Elmira as of December 16: 13,857 (16,322.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Elmira: 16.4% (April 2020)
Elmira population: 84,895 (208.4 people per sq. mi.)
North Carolina: Winston-Salem
Avg. new daily cases in Winston in week ending December 16: 41.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Winston in week ending December 9: 33.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Winston as of December 16: 104,494 (15,684.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Winston: 13.2% (April 2020)
Winston population: 666,216 (331.7 people per sq. mi.)
North Dakota: Fargo, ND-MN
Avg. new daily cases in Fargo in week ending December 16: 65.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Fargo in week ending December 9: 76.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Fargo as of December 16: 50,241 (20,897.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Fargo: 7.7% (April 2020)
Fargo population: 240,421 (85.5 people per sq. mi.)
Ohio: Lima
Avg. new daily cases in Lima in week ending December 16: 80.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Lima in week ending December 9: 88.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Lima as of December 16: 19,831 (19,220.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lima: 20.4% (April 2020)
Lima population: 103,175 (256.3 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Oklahoma: Tulsa
Avg. new daily cases in Tulsa in week ending December 16: 39.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Tulsa in week ending December 9: 25.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Tulsa as of December 16: 171,903 (17,354.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Tulsa: 15.7% (April 2020)
Tulsa population: 990,544 (158.0 people per sq. mi.)
Oregon: Albany-Lebanon
Avg. new daily cases in Albany in week ending December 16: 35.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Albany in week ending December 9: 35.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Albany as of December 16: 15,279 (12,218.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Albany: 15.2% (April 2020)
Albany population: 125,048 (54.6 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Pennsylvania: Lebanon
Avg. new daily cases in Lebanon in week ending December 16: 81.9 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Lebanon in week ending December 9: 65.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Lebanon as of December 16: 24,615 (17,616.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lebanon: 14.1% (April 2020)
Lebanon population: 139,729 (386.2 people per sq. mi.)
Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
Avg. new daily cases in Providence in week ending December 16: 58.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Providence in week ending December 9: 66.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Providence as of December 16: 278,981 (17,239.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Providence: 18.5% (April 2020)
Providence population: 1,618,268 (1,019.8 people per sq. mi.)
South Carolina: Greenville-Anderson
Avg. new daily cases in Greenville in week ending December 16: 26.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Greenville in week ending December 9: 20.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Greenville as of December 16: 189,142 (21,111.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Greenville: 12.5% (April 2020)
Greenville population: 895,942 (330.5 people per sq. mi.)
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
Avg. new daily cases in Sioux Falls in week ending December 16: 55.9 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Sioux Falls in week ending December 9: 66.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Sioux Falls as of December 16: 55,472 (21,389.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Sioux Falls: 10.7% (April 2020)
Sioux Falls population: 259,348 (100.7 people per sq. mi.)
Tennessee: Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Avg. new daily cases in Kingsport in week ending December 16: 52.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Kingsport in week ending December 9: 55.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Kingsport as of December 16: 55,517 (18,110.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Kingsport: 14.1% (April 2020)
Kingsport population: 306,546 (152.5 people per sq. mi.)
Texas: Amarillo
Avg. new daily cases in Amarillo in week ending December 16: 47.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Amarillo in week ending December 9: 49.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Amarillo as of December 16: 54,000 (20,471.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Amarillo: 9.2% (April 2020)
Amarillo population: 263,776 (51.2 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Utah: Provo-Orem
Avg. new daily cases in Provo in week ending December 16: 51.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Provo in week ending December 9: 60.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Provo as of December 16: 141,927 (23,010.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Provo: 8.1% (April 2020)
Provo population: 616,791 (114.3 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington
Avg. new daily cases in Burlington in week ending December 16: 49.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Burlington in week ending December 9: 50.9 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Burlington as of December 16: 19,243 (8,795.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Burlington: 14.8% (April 2020)
Burlington population: 218,784 (174.7 people per sq. mi.)
Virginia: Winchester, VA-WV
Avg. new daily cases in Winchester in week ending December 16: 65.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Winchester in week ending December 9: 50.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Winchester as of December 16: 21,187 (15,395.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Winchester: 10.5% (April 2020)
Winchester population: 137,621 (129.5 people per sq. mi.)
Washington: Bellingham
Avg. new daily cases in Bellingham in week ending December 16: 28.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Bellingham in week ending December 9: 25.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Bellingham as of December 16: 19,113 (8,655.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bellingham: 18.1% (April 2020)
Bellingham population: 220,821 (104.8 people per sq. mi.)
West Virginia: Beckley
Avg. new daily cases in Beckley in week ending December 16: 59.9 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Beckley in week ending December 9: 56.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Beckley as of December 16: 20,265 (17,054.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Beckley: 18.4% (April 2020)
Beckley population: 118,828 (93.8 people per sq. mi.)
Wisconsin: Wausau-Weston
Avg. new daily cases in Wausau in week ending December 16: 100.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Wausau in week ending December 9: 90.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Wausau as of December 16: 32,135 (19,697.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Wausau: 11.9% (April 2020)
Wausau population: 163,140 (67.3 people per sq. mi.)
Wyoming: Cheyenne
Avg. new daily cases in Cheyenne in week ending December 16: 44.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Cheyenne in week ending December 9: 47.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Cheyenne as of December 16: 18,093 (18,402.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Cheyenne: 9.2% (April 2020)
Cheyenne population: 98,320 (36.6 people per sq. mi.)
Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.
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