Many Americans hunkered down during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, residential relocations within the United States hit the lowest rate on record, according to the Pew Research Center.
Though a smaller share of Americans relocated domestically, millions still moved, affecting population sizes in some states, cities, and counties. Pew reports that 26.5 million people changed homes over a 12-month period ending March 2021. (This is the state where the population has grown the most since the pandemic.)
So what were the most popular places to relocate? To identify America’s fastest growing counties during the pandemic, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. counties and county equivalents were ranked based on the percent change in residents from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 13 of the top 50 U.S. counties that experienced net increases in population from July 2020 to July 2021 were in Texas, representing 2.1 million of the 4.7 million people living in the 50 counties on the list. Texas was also home to four of 10 fastest-growing counties during this time period. (This is every state’s best county to live in.)
The net population growth in these 50 counties ranged from 3.9% to 7.3%, though the counties vary in size — from 481 residents in Blaine, Nebraska, to 643,046 people in Williamson, Texas. Seven of the counties on this list have populations above 200,000, including St. Johns, Florida; Johnston, North Carolina; and Pinal, Arizona.
Four counties experienced a net population increase of 7% or higher — two in Texas and one each in Colorado and Nebraska.
Here are the counties that grew the fastest during the pandemic
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Chambers County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +3.9% (+1,814 people)
> Net change from migration: +1,553 people
> Natural population change: +282 people
> Total population, 2021: 48,865
> Largest place in county: Baytown
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49. McClain County, Oklahoma
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +3.9% (+1,629 people)
> Net change from migration: +1,662 people
> Natural population change: -8 people
> Total population, 2021: 43,516
> Largest place in county: Newcastle
48. Canadian County, Oklahoma
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.0% (+6,230 people)
> Net change from migration: +6,035 people
> Natural population change: +278 people
> Total population, 2021: 161,737
> Largest place in county: Oklahoma City
47. Lincoln County, Montana
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.0% (+794 people)
> Net change from migration: +991 people
> Natural population change: -180 people
> Total population, 2021: 20,525
> Largest place in county: Libby
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46. Sanders County, Montana
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.1% (+508 people)
> Net change from migration: +609 people
> Natural population change: -92 people
> Total population, 2021: 12,959
> Largest place in county: Thompson Falls
45. Johnston County, North Carolina
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.1% (+8,892 people)
> Net change from migration: +8,631 people
> Natural population change: +378 people
> Total population, 2021: 226,504
> Largest place in county: Clayton
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44. Wise County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.1% (+2,848 people)
> Net change from migration: +2,933 people
> Natural population change: -40 people
> Total population, 2021: 71,714
> Largest place in county: Decatur
43. Kootenai County, Idaho
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.1% (+7,143 people)
> Net change from migration: +7,283 people
> Natural population change: -33 people
> Total population, 2021: 179,789
> Largest place in county: Coeur d’Alene
42. San Juan County, Washington
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.1% (+739 people)
> Net change from migration: +831 people
> Natural population change: -78 people
> Total population, 2021: 18,557
> Largest place in county: Friday Harbor
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41. Kane County, Utah
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.2% (+319 people)
> Net change from migration: +306 people
> Natural population change: +18 people
> Total population, 2021: 7,992
> Largest place in county: Kanab
40. Bastrop County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.2% (+4,075 people)
> Net change from migration: +3,999 people
> Natural population change: +140 people
> Total population, 2021: 102,058
> Largest place in county: Elgin
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39. Camden County, North Carolina
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.2% (+437 people)
> Net change from migration: +441 people
> Natural population change: +5 people
> Total population, 2021: 10,835
> Largest place in county: N/A
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38. Petroleum County, Montana
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.2% (+21 people)
> Net change from migration: +21 people
> Natural population change: None
> Total population, 2021: 519
> Largest place in county: Winnett
37. Waller County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.2% (+2,432 people)
> Net change from migration: +2,233 people
> Natural population change: +229 people
> Total population, 2021: 59,781
> Largest place in county: Hempstead
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36. Flagler County, Florida
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.3% (+4,964 people)
> Net change from migration: +5,881 people
> Natural population change: -828 people
> Total population, 2021: 120,932
> Largest place in county: Palm Coast
35. Jasper County, South Carolina
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.3% (+1,251 people)
> Net change from migration: +1,289 people
> Natural population change: -25 people
> Total population, 2021: 30,324
> Largest place in county: Hardeeville
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34. Bryan County, Georgia
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.3% (+1,939 people)
> Net change from migration: +1,708 people
> Natural population change: +253 people
> Total population, 2021: 46,938
> Largest place in county: Richmond Hill
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33. Ellis County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.3% (+8,406 people)
> Net change from migration: +8,083 people
> Natural population change: +447 people
> Total population, 2021: 202,678
> Largest place in county: Waxahachie
32. Jasper County, Georgia
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.4% (+640 people)
> Net change from migration: +691 people
> Natural population change: -38 people
> Total population, 2021: 15,278
> Largest place in county: Monticello
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31. Bonner County, Idaho
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.4% (+2,101 people)
> Net change from migration: +2,302 people
> Natural population change: -162 people
> Total population, 2021: 49,491
> Largest place in county: Sandpoint
30. Brunswick County, North Carolina
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.4% (+6,131 people)
> Net change from migration: +7,527 people
> Natural population change: -1,283 people
> Total population, 2021: 144,215
> Largest place in county: Oak Island
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29. Currituck County, North Carolina
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.5% (+1,268 people)
> Net change from migration: +1,309 people
> Natural population change: -19 people
> Total population, 2021: 29,653
> Largest place in county: N/A
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28. Canyon County, Idaho
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.5% (+10,401 people)
> Net change from migration: +9,403 people
> Natural population change: +1,122 people
> Total population, 2021: 243,115
> Largest place in county: Nampa
27. Williamson County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.5% (+27,760 people)
> Net change from migration: +25,494 people
> Natural population change: +2,596 people
> Total population, 2021: 643,026
> Largest place in county: Round Rock
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26. Adams County, Idaho
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.5% (+201 people)
> Net change from migration: +212 people
> Natural population change: -7 people
> Total population, 2021: 4,625
> Largest place in county: Council
25. Teton County, Idaho
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.6% (+536 people)
> Net change from migration: +485 people
> Natural population change: +56 people
> Total population, 2021: 12,267
> Largest place in county: Victor
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24. Tooele County, Utah
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.6% (+3,359 people)
> Net change from migration: +2,836 people
> Natural population change: +565 people
> Total population, 2021: 76,640
> Largest place in county: Tooele
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23. Camas County, Idaho
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.6% (+50 people)
> Net change from migration: +50 people
> Natural population change: +1 person
> Total population, 2021: 1,139
> Largest place in county: Fairfield
22. Pinal County, Arizona
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.6% (+19,974 people)
> Net change from migration: +20,172 people
> Natural population change: +100 people
> Total population, 2021: 449,557
> Largest place in county: Casa Grande
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21. Jackson County, Georgia
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.7% (+3,574 people)
> Net change from migration: +3,519 people
> Natural population change: +109 people
> Total population, 2021: 80,286
> Largest place in county: Jefferson
20. Hays County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.8% (+11,588 people)
> Net change from migration: +10,734 people
> Natural population change: +999 people
> Total population, 2021: 255,397
> Largest place in county: San Marcos
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.jpg "Parker County Courthouse Weatherford Wiki (1 of 1).jpg by Renelibrary")
19. Parker County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +4.9% (+7,332 people)
> Net change from migration: +7,386 people
> Natural population change: +65 people
> Total population, 2021: 156,764
> Largest place in county: Weatherford
18. Iron County, Utah
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.0% (+2,879 people)
> Net change from migration: +2,512 people
> Natural population change: +401 people
> Total population, 2021: 60,519
> Largest place in county: Cedar City
17. Kendall County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.1% (+2,261 people)
> Net change from migration: +2,416 people
> Natural population change: -115 people
> Total population, 2021: 46,788
> Largest place in county: Boerne
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16. Washington County, Utah
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.1% (+9,302 people)
> Net change from migration: +9,204 people
> Natural population change: +237 people
> Total population, 2021: 191,226
> Largest place in county: St. George
15. Lewis County, Idaho
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.2% (+184 people)
> Net change from migration: +196 people
> Natural population change: -9 people
> Total population, 2021: 3,715
> Largest place in county: Kamiah
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14. Long County, Georgia
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.3% (+865 people)
> Net change from migration: +772 people
> Natural population change: +105 people
> Total population, 2021: 17,152
> Largest place in county: Ludowici
13. Dawson County, Georgia
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.4% (+1,450 people)
> Net change from migration: +1,439 people
> Natural population change: +32 people
> Total population, 2021: 28,497
> Largest place in county: Dawsonville
12. Walton County, Florida
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.6% (+4,214 people)
> Net change from migration: +4,323 people
> Natural population change: -40 people
> Total population, 2021: 80,069
> Largest place in county: Miramar Beach
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11. St. Johns County, Florida
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.6% (+15,550 people)
> Net change from migration: +16,349 people
> Natural population change: -528 people
> Total population, 2021: 292,466
> Largest place in county: Fruit Cove
10. Liberty County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.7% (+5,270 people)
> Net change from migration: +5,168 people
> Natural population change: +201 people
> Total population, 2021: 97,621
> Largest place in county: Liberty
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9. Boise County, Idaho
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +5.8% (+447 people)
> Net change from migration: +503 people
> Natural population change: -46 people
> Total population, 2021: 8,094
> Largest place in county: Horseshoe Bend
8. Broadwater County, Montana
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +6.5% (+442 people)
> Net change from migration: +461 people
> Natural population change: -11 people
> Total population, 2021: 7,288
> Largest place in county: Townsend
7. Mineral County, Montana
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +6.5% (+295 people)
> Net change from migration: +326 people
> Natural population change: -25 people
> Total population, 2021: 4,860
> Largest place in county: Superior
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6. Mineral County, Colorado
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +6.6% (+57 people)
> Net change from migration: +59 people
> Natural population change: None
> Total population, 2021: 924
> Largest place in county: Creede
5. Rockwall County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +6.7% (+7,291 people)
> Net change from migration: +7,125 people
> Natural population change: +290 people
> Total population, 2021: 116,381
> Largest place in county: Rowlett
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4. Blaine County, Nebraska
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +7.0% (+30 people)
> Net change from migration: +36 people
> Natural population change: -4 people
> Total population, 2021: 461
> Largest place in county: Dunning
3. Comal County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +7.0% (+11,413 people)
> Net change from migration: +11,557 people
> Natural population change: +51 people
> Total population, 2021: 174,986
> Largest place in county: New Braunfels
2. Custer County, Colorado
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +7.1% (+333 people)
> Net change from migration: +356 people
> Natural population change: -16 people
> Total population, 2021: 5,045
> Largest place in county: Silver Cliff
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1. Kaufman County, Texas
> Net population change, 2020-2021: +7.3% (+10,782 people)
> Net change from migration: +10,510 people
> Natural population change: +467 people
> Total population, 2021: 157,768
> Largest place in county: Terrell
Methodology
To identify America’s fastest growing counties during the pandemic, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population change data from the U.S. Census Bureau. We ranked all U.S. counties and county equivalents on the percent change in residents from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021.
The components of population change are net migration – the number of people who moved to a given county less the number of people who move out – and natural population change, meaning the number of births in a given county less the number of deaths.
Due to margins of error in the census estimates, the raw population change number is close to, but not precisely equal to, the sum of net migration and natural population change.
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