Special Report
This Is the City in Every State Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest
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The U.S. has reported more than 70.1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of January 25. There have been more than 860,000 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 an increasing rate. There were an average of 237.6 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans in the week ending January 25, an increase from the week prior, when there were an average of 221.4 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 Wisconsin. In the Madison, WI, metro area, there were an average of 599.5 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the week ending January 25, the most of any U.S. metro area. Other cities where COVID-19 is growing the fastest include Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI; San Angelo, TX; and Green Bay, WI.
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 January 25. 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 January 25: 402.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Florence in week ending January 18: 178.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Florence as of January 25: 35,155 (23,861.9 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 January 25: 332.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Anchorage in week ending January 18: 224.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Anchorage as of January 25: 112,608 (28,229.6 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: Flagstaff
Avg. new daily cases in Flagstaff in week ending January 25: 413.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Flagstaff in week ending January 18: 246.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Flagstaff as of January 25: 37,760 (26,728.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Flagstaff: 17.9% (April 2020)
Flagstaff population: 141,274 (7.6 people per sq. mi.)
Arkansas: Jonesboro
Avg. new daily cases in Jonesboro in week ending January 25: 347.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Jonesboro in week ending January 18: 301.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Jonesboro as of January 25: 40,268 (30,682.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Jonesboro: 9.3% (April 2020)
Jonesboro population: 131,241 (89.5 people per sq. mi.)
California: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Avg. new daily cases in Los Angeles in week ending January 25: 364.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Los Angeles in week ending January 18: 328.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles as of January 25: 2,892,754 (21,832.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Los Angeles: 19.3% (May 2020)
Los Angeles population: 13,249,614 (2,732.8 people per sq. mi.)
Colorado: Pueblo
Avg. new daily cases in Pueblo in week ending January 25: 277.9 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Pueblo in week ending January 18: 212.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Pueblo as of January 25: 39,121 (23,569.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Pueblo: 11.8% (April 2020)
Pueblo population: 165,982 (69.6 people per sq. mi.)
Connecticut: Norwich-New London
Avg. new daily cases in Norwich in week ending January 25: 218.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Norwich in week ending January 18: 247.9 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Norwich as of January 25: 48,476 (18,129.3 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 January 25: 343.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Dover in week ending January 18: 278.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Dover as of January 25: 45,910 (25,982.0 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 January 25: 395.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Miami in week ending January 18: 374.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Miami as of January 25: 2,011,791 (33,030.8 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: Dalton
Avg. new daily cases in Dalton in week ending January 25: 319.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Dalton in week ending January 18: 250.8 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Dalton as of January 25: 39,857 (27,686.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Dalton: 20.3% (April 2020)
Dalton population: 143,961 (226.7 people per sq. mi.)
Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
Avg. new daily cases in Kahului in week ending January 25: 413.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Kahului in week ending January 18: 315.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Kahului as of January 25: 24,964 (15,040.5 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: Idaho Falls
Avg. new daily cases in Idaho Falls in week ending January 25: 212.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Idaho Falls in week ending January 18: 149.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Idaho Falls as of January 25: 33,097 (22,746.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Idaho Falls: 8.0% (April 2020)
Idaho Falls population: 145,507 (28.0 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 January 25: 405.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Danville in week ending January 18: 382.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Danville as of January 25: 25,102 (32,363.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Danville: 18.4% (April 2020)
Danville population: 77,563 (86.3 people per sq. mi.)
Indiana: Evansville, IN-KY
Avg. new daily cases in Evansville in week ending January 25: 362.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Evansville in week ending January 18: 234.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Evansville as of January 25: 83,073 (26,375.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Evansville: 15.2% (April 2020)
Evansville population: 314,960 (215.1 people per sq. mi.)
Iowa: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
Avg. new daily cases in Sioux City in week ending January 25: 256.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Sioux City in week ending January 18: 176.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Sioux City as of January 25: 36,539 (25,401.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Sioux City: 9.8% (April 2020)
Sioux City population: 143,846 (69.4 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 January 25: 375.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Topeka in week ending January 18: 172.3 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Topeka as of January 25: 54,738 (23,515.1 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: Bowling Green
Avg. new daily cases in Bowling Green in week ending January 25: 303.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Bowling Green in week ending January 18: 190.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Bowling Green as of January 25: 46,674 (26,747.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bowling Green: 18.8% (April 2020)
Bowling Green population: 174,498 (108.1 people per sq. mi.)
Louisiana: Baton Rouge
Avg. new daily cases in Baton Rouge in week ending January 25: 345.3 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Baton Rouge in week ending January 18: 222.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Baton Rouge as of January 25: 194,032 (22,711.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Baton Rouge: 13.9% (April 2020)
Baton Rouge population: 854,318 (195.7 people per sq. mi.)
Maine: Portland-South Portland
Avg. new daily cases in Portland in week ending January 25: 94.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Portland in week ending January 18: 87.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Portland as of January 25: 65,067 (12,228.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Portland: 10.9% (April 2020)
Portland population: 532,075 (255.8 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Maryland: Salisbury, MD-DE
Avg. new daily cases in Salisbury in week ending January 25: 258.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Salisbury in week ending January 18: 205.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Salisbury as of January 25: 86,849 (21,475.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Salisbury: 16.0% (April 2020)
Salisbury population: 404,417 (192.7 people per sq. mi.)
Massachusetts: Springfield
Avg. new daily cases in Springfield in week ending January 25: 251.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Springfield in week ending January 18: 329.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Springfield as of January 25: 150,632 (21,534.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Springfield: 17.1% (June 2020)
Springfield population: 699,480 (379.4 people per sq. mi.)
Michigan: Bay City
Avg. new daily cases in Bay City in week ending January 25: 239.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Bay City in week ending January 18: 175.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Bay City as of January 25: 23,782 (22,844.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bay City: 25.6% (April 2020)
Bay City population: 104,104 (235.4 people per sq. mi.)
Minnesota: Rochester
Avg. new daily cases in Rochester in week ending January 25: 244.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Rochester in week ending January 18: 201.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Rochester as of January 25: 45,686 (20,960.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Rochester: 9.7% (May 2020)
Rochester population: 217,964 (88.0 people per sq. mi.)
Mississippi: Hattiesburg
Avg. new daily cases in Hattiesburg in week ending January 25: 351.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Hattiesburg in week ending January 18: 196.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Hattiesburg as of January 25: 41,954 (24,946.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Hattiesburg: 13.3% (April 2020)
Hattiesburg population: 168,177 (83.1 people per sq. mi.)
Missouri: Columbia
Avg. new daily cases in Columbia in week ending January 25: 304.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Columbia in week ending January 18: 206.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Columbia as of January 25: 44,653 (21,742.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Columbia: 7.1% (April 2020)
Columbia population: 205,369 (119.8 people per sq. mi.)
Montana: Missoula
Avg. new daily cases in Missoula in week ending January 25: 153.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Missoula in week ending January 18: 129.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Missoula as of January 25: 21,459 (18,292.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Missoula: 13.3% (April 2020)
Missoula population: 117,309 (45.2 people per sq. mi.)
Nebraska: Grand Island
Avg. new daily cases in Grand Island in week ending January 25: 346.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Grand Island in week ending January 18: 133.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Grand Island as of January 25: 17,085 (22,635.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Grand Island: 11.4% (April 2020)
Grand Island population: 75,480 (47.2 people per sq. mi.)
Nevada: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
Avg. new daily cases in Las Vegas in week ending January 25: 296.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Las Vegas in week ending January 18: 172.3 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Las Vegas as of January 25: 465,458 (21,331.7 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 January 25: 251.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Manchester in week ending January 18: 233.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Manchester as of January 25: 84,719 (20,511.3 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 January 25: 310.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Vineland in week ending January 18: 285.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Vineland as of January 25: 35,352 (23,272.3 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 January 25: 341.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Las Cruces in week ending January 18: 198.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Las Cruces as of January 25: 52,217 (24,166.8 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 January 25: 262.3 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Elmira in week ending January 18: 250.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Elmira as of January 25: 19,459 (22,921.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Elmira: 16.4% (April 2020)
Elmira population: 84,895 (208.4 people per sq. mi.)
North Carolina: Raleigh-Cary
Avg. new daily cases in Raleigh in week ending January 25: 398.4 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Raleigh in week ending January 18: 363.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Raleigh as of January 25: 305,997 (22,967.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Raleigh: 11.7% (May 2020)
Raleigh population: 1,332,311 (629.0 people per sq. mi.)
North Dakota: Fargo, ND-MN
Avg. new daily cases in Fargo in week ending January 25: 359.3 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Fargo in week ending January 18: 228.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Fargo as of January 25: 67,371 (28,022.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Fargo: 7.7% (April 2020)
Fargo population: 240,421 (85.5 people per sq. mi.)
Ohio: Springfield
Avg. new daily cases in Springfield in week ending January 25: 344.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Springfield in week ending January 18: 156.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Springfield as of January 25: 32,156 (23,867.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Springfield: 17.6% (April 2020)
Springfield population: 134,726 (339.0 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
Avg. new daily cases in Oklahoma City in week ending January 25: 290.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Oklahoma City in week ending January 18: 199.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma City as of January 25: 294,950 (21,329.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Oklahoma City: 15.2% (April 2020)
Oklahoma City population: 1,382,841 (250.9 people per sq. mi.)
Oregon: Bend
Avg. new daily cases in Bend in week ending January 25: 323.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Bend in week ending January 18: 299.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Bend as of January 25: 37,530 (20,150.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bend: 18.3% (April 2020)
Bend population: 186,251 (61.7 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Pennsylvania: York-Hanover
Avg. new daily cases in York in week ending January 25: 269.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in York in week ending January 18: 233.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in York as of January 25: 109,889 (24,662.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in York: 15.3% (April 2020)
York population: 445,565 (492.8 people per sq. mi.)
Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
Avg. new daily cases in Providence in week ending January 25: 358.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Providence in week ending January 18: 349.3 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Providence as of January 25: 423,839 (26,190.9 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 January 25: 401.2 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Greenville in week ending January 18: 292.0 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Greenville as of January 25: 255,128 (28,476.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Greenville: 12.5% (April 2020)
Greenville population: 895,942 (330.5 people per sq. mi.)
South Dakota: Rapid City
Avg. new daily cases in Rapid City in week ending January 25: 270.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Rapid City in week ending January 18: 198.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Rapid City as of January 25: 35,581 (25,708.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Rapid City: 13.8% (April 2020)
Rapid City population: 138,402 (22.2 people per sq. mi.)
Tennessee: Jackson
Avg. new daily cases in Jackson in week ending January 25: 311.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Jackson in week ending January 18: 138.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Jackson as of January 25: 46,157 (25,866.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Jackson: 14.0% (April 2020)
Jackson population: 178,442 (104.3 people per sq. mi.)
Texas: San Angelo
Avg. new daily cases in San Angelo in week ending January 25: 517.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in San Angelo in week ending January 18: 448.4 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in San Angelo as of January 25: 37,586 (31,856.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in San Angelo: 11.1% (April 2020)
San Angelo population: 117,986 (77.5 people per sq. mi.)
These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Utah: Salt Lake City
Avg. new daily cases in Salt Lake City in week ending January 25: 387.8 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Salt Lake City in week ending January 18: 339.6 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Salt Lake City as of January 25: 325,814 (27,127.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Salt Lake City: 11.3% (April 2020)
Salt Lake City population: 1,201,043 (156.3 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 January 25: 209.6 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Burlington in week ending January 18: 141.5 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Burlington as of January 25: 31,109 (14,219.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Burlington: 14.8% (April 2020)
Burlington population: 218,784 (174.7 people per sq. mi.)
Virginia: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
Avg. new daily cases in Virginia Beach in week ending January 25: 230.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Virginia Beach in week ending January 18: 241.9 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Virginia Beach as of January 25: 308,063 (17,486.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Virginia Beach: 12.5% (April 2020)
Virginia Beach population: 1,761,729 (497.8 people per sq. mi.)
Washington: Kennewick-Richland
Avg. new daily cases in Kennewick in week ending January 25: 272.7 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Kennewick in week ending January 18: 139.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Kennewick as of January 25: 66,871 (23,096.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Kennewick: 13.7% (April 2020)
Kennewick population: 289,527 (98.4 people per sq. mi.)
West Virginia: Beckley
Avg. new daily cases in Beckley in week ending January 25: 350.1 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Beckley in week ending January 18: 182.2 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Beckley as of January 25: 28,599 (24,067.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Beckley: 18.4% (April 2020)
Beckley population: 118,828 (93.8 people per sq. mi.)
Wisconsin: Madison
Avg. new daily cases in Madison in week ending January 25: 599.5 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Madison in week ending January 18: 131.7 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Madison as of January 25: 133,642 (20,443.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Madison: 11.6% (April 2020)
Madison population: 653,725 (197.5 people per sq. mi.)
Wyoming: Cheyenne
Avg. new daily cases in Cheyenne in week ending January 25: 232.0 per 100,000
Avg. new daily cases in Cheyenne in week ending January 18: 141.1 per 100,000
COVID-19 cases in Cheyenne as of January 25: 22,343 (22,724.8 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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