The U.S. population growth rate hit its lowest level since the Great Depression, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Over the past decade, the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic slowed immigration as well as caused many Americans to hold off on having kids.
Population growth did not stagnate everywhere in the U.S., however. In fact, in nearly every state at least one major metro area reported a faster population growth rate from 2010 to 2020 than the comparable national rate of 6.7%.
To determine the fastest growing city in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Estimates Program. Metropolitan areas were ranked based on total population change from 2010 to 2020.
While all but one state had at least one major metro area with a growing population over the past decade, the states with the biggest booming metro areas were primarily concentrated in the South and the West.
Still, there were 11 states where not a single metro area reported population growth even on par with the U.S. rate. Population growth in these cities was slower than the U.S. rate. Eight of those states were in the Northeast.Â
As a large share of the nation’s baby boomer generation hits retirement age, many in this age group are leaving colder areas up north in favor of warmer weather in the South and West. These areas often also have the added benefit of having relatively low costs of living. This is what it costs to retire in every state.
Click here to see the fastest growing city in each state.
To determine the fastest growing city in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Estimates Program. Metropolitan areas were ranked based on total population change from 2010 to 2020. Data on the components of population growth — births, deaths, international and domestic migration — also came from the PEP. Supplemental data on employment used to calculate employment growth from 2010 to 2020 came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May 2021 also came from the BLS. Data on median household income came from the Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are one-year estimates.
Source: George Dodd / Getty Images
Alabama: Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 25.8% (state: 3.0%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 2.9% (state: 3.4%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 25.0% (state: 5.1%)
> Median household income: $56,439 (state: $51,734)
Source: yenwen / Getty Images
Alaska: Anchorage, AK
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 4.2% (state: 2.9%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 6.4% (state: 6.6%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: -4.8% (state: -7.3%)
> Median household income: $80,676 (state: $75,463)
Source: dszc / Getty Images
Arizona: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 20.7% (state: 16.1%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 6.1% (state: 6.7%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 25.2% (state: 19.4%)
> Median household income: $67,896 (state: $62,055)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Arkansas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 24.7% (state: 3.9%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.4% (state: 4.4%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 30.7% (state: 6.8%)
> Median household income: $61,674 (state: $48,952)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
California: Stockton, CA
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 12.1% (state: 5.7%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 8.7% (state: 7.7%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 26.0% (state: 13.0%)
> Median household income: $68,997 (state: $80,440)
Source: marekuliasz / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Greeley, CO
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 32.1% (state: 15.5%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 6.6% (state: 6.2%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 34.6% (state: 19.1%)
> Median household income: $78,615 (state: $77,127)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Connecticut: Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 2.8% (state: -0.5%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 5.9% (state: 8.1%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: -5.5% (state: -3.3%)
> Median household income: $97,053 (state: $78,833)
Source: aimintang / Getty Images
Delaware: Dover, DE
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 13.1% (state: 9.9%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 6.6% (state: 5.9%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 4.2% (state: 6.2%)
> Median household income: $58,001 (state: $70,176)
Source: Michael Warren / Getty Images
Florida: The Villages, FL
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 48.8% (state: 15.6%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 6.6% (state: 4.9%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 50.0% (state: 18.4%)
> Median household income: $60,287 (state: $59,227)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Georgia: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 15.2% (state: 10.5%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.2% (state: 4.1%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 18.6% (state: 14.2%)
> Median household income: $71,742 (state: $61,980)
Source: unclegene / Getty Images
Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 8.4% (state: 3.4%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 11.3% (state: 8.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: -7.5% (state: -5.3%)
> Median household income: $80,754 (state: $83,102)
Source: Joecho-16 / Getty Images
Idaho: Boise City, ID
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 24.9% (state: 16.5%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.5% (state: 3.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 35.7% (state: 25.2%)
> Median household income: $66,466 (state: $60,999)
Source: gnagel / Getty Images
Illinois: Champaign-Urbana, IL
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 3.6% (state: -1.9%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.4% (state: 7.1%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 4.5% (state: 1.4%)
> Median household income: $53,081 (state: $69,187)
Source: Rodrigo A. Rodriguez Fuentes / Getty Images
Indiana: Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 10.9% (state: 4.2%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.0% (state: 4.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 7.5% (state: 6.7%)
> Median household income: $49,908 (state: $57,603)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Iowa: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 16.7% (state: 3.8%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.0% (state: 3.9%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 13.0% (state: 2.5%)
> Median household income: $71,164 (state: $61,691)
Source: BergmannD / Getty Images
Kansas: Lawrence, KS
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 10.6% (state: 2.1%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.6% (state: 3.5%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: -3.6% (state: 2.1%)
> Median household income: $64,233 (state: $62,087)
Source: Jacqueline Nix / Getty Images
Kentucky: Bowling Green, KY
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 14.0% (state: 3.2%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.9% (state: 4.5%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 9.3% (state: 4.3%)
> Median household income: $51,198 (state: $52,295)
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Source: Richard David Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana: Hammond, LA
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 13.0% (state: 2.5%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 8.0% (state: 7.1%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 4.7% (state: -2.7%)
> Median household income: $47,825 (state: $51,073)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Maine: Portland-South Portland, ME
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 5.7% (state: 1.6%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.9% (state: 4.8%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 5.4% (state: 0.5%)
> Median household income: $71,913 (state: $58,924)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Maryland: Salisbury, MD-DE
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 13.3% (state: 4.9%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 5.8% (state: 6.1%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 5.8% (state: 2.4%)
> Median household income: $61,283 (state: $86,738)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Massachusetts: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 7.2% (state: 5.3%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 5.9% (state: 5.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 5.8% (state: 4.5%)
> Median household income: $94,430 (state: $85,843)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Michigan: Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 8.8% (state: 0.8%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.4% (state: 5.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 14.7% (state: 4.3%)
> Median household income: $65,739 (state: $59,584)
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Source: StevenGaertner / Getty Images
Minnesota: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 9.7% (state: 6.7%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.0% (state: 4.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 7.8% (state: 5.2%)
> Median household income: $83,698 (state: $74,593)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 7.8% (state: 0.0%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 6.4% (state: 6.1%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: -3.7% (state: 1.5%)
> Median household income: $50,642 (state: $45,792)
Source: Ashley Kluver / Getty Images
Missouri: Columbia, MO
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 10.3% (state: 2.7%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (state: 4.2%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 6.9% (state: 3.9%)
> Median household income: $57,359 (state: $57,409)
Source: akpakp / Getty Images
Montana: Missoula, MT
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 11.3% (state: 9.2%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.8% (state: 3.6%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 9.8% (state: 9.7%)
> Median household income: $57,347 (state: $57,153)
Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
Nebraska: Lincoln, NE
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 11.8% (state: 6.1%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 2.3% (state: 2.6%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 7.4% (state: 4.7%)
> Median household income: $61,539 (state: $63,229)
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
Nevada: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 18.7% (state: 16.2%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 8.9% (state: 7.8%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 13.1% (state: 14.0%)
> Median household income: $62,107 (state: $63,276)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua, NH
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 4.5% (state: 3.8%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 1.4% (state: 2.9%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 6.8% (state: 2.7%)
> Median household income: $83,626 (state: $77,933)
Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
New Jersey: Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: -0.1% (state: 1.0%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 6.0% (state: 7.2%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 11.0% (state: 0.1%)
> Median household income: $79,492 (state: $85,751)
Source: renal / Getty Images
New Mexico: Las Cruces, NM
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 5.8% (state: 2.3%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 7.6% (state: 7.9%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 1.3% (state: -0.6%)
> Median household income: $43,038 (state: $51,945)
Source: Elisank79 / iStock via Getty Images
New York: Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 1.2% (state: -0.2%)
> May 2021 unemployment: N/A (state: 7.8%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: N/A (state: 2.7%)
> Median household income: $85,152 (state: $72,108)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
North Carolina: Raleigh-Cary, NC
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 25.6% (state: 11.2%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.8% (state: 4.8%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 25.6% (state: 13.3%)
> Median household income: $80,096 (state: $57,341)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
North Dakota: Fargo, ND-MN
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 19.1% (state: 13.8%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.2% (state: 4.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 14.8% (state: 9.3%)
> Median household income: $62,820 (state: $64,577)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Ohio: Columbus, OH
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 12.5% (state: 1.4%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.9% (state: 5.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 15.6% (state: 4.3%)
> Median household income: $67,207 (state: $58,642)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, OK
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 13.8% (state: 6.1%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.8% (state: 3.9%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 10.8% (state: 4.2%)
> Median household income: $60,605 (state: $54,449)
Source: JamesBrey / Getty Images
Oregon: Bend, OR
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 27.9% (state: 10.7%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 6.2% (state: 5.8%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 35.4% (state: 13.7%)
> Median household income: $71,643 (state: $67,058)
Source: SEASTOCK / Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Lebanon, PA
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 6.0% (state: 0.6%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 5.6% (state: 7.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 1.8% (state: -0.3%)
> Median household income: $61,204 (state: $63,463)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 1.4% (state: 0.4%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 5.9% (state: 6.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 0.6% (state: -0.4%)
> Median household income: $70,967 (state: $71,169)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
South Carolina: Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 36.6% (state: 12.8%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 5.4% (state: 4.6%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 15.0% (state: 14.8%)
> Median household income: $56,977 (state: $56,227)
Source: Geoff Eccles / iStock via Getty Images
South Dakota: Sioux Falls, SD
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 19.8% (state: 9.6%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 2.7% (state: 2.8%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 17.1% (state: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $65,566 (state: $59,533)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Tennessee: Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 19.1% (state: 8.5%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.3% (state: 5.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 31.0% (state: 14.5%)
> Median household income: $70,262 (state: $56,071)
Source: dszc / Getty Images
Texas: Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 33.7% (state: 16.8%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.7% (state: 6.6%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 38.3% (state: 18.2%)
> Median household income: $80,954 (state: $64,034)
Source: SweetyMommy / iStock via Getty Images
Utah: St. George, UT
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 33.9% (state: 17.6%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 2.7%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 54.7% (state: 29.6%)
> Median household income: $63,595 (state: $75,780)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington, VT
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 4.7% (state: -0.4%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 1.4% (state: 3.0%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 1.0% (state: -3.8%)
> Median household income: $74,909 (state: $63,001)
Source: NicolasMcComber / Getty Images
Virginia: Winchester, VA-WV
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 10.6% (state: 7.4%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.6% (state: 4.5%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 18.7% (state: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $76,583 (state: $76,456)
Source: Cecil_Kindle / Getty Images
Washington: Kennewick-Richland, WA
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 19.8% (state: 14.4%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 5.8% (state: 5.2%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 11.4% (state: 15.8%)
> Median household income: $68,283 (state: $78,687)
Source: BackyardProduction / Getty Images
West Virginia: Morgantown, WV
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 8.1% (state: -3.7%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.3% (state: 5.5%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 4.0% (state: -6.0%)
> Median household income: $56,395 (state: $48,850)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Wisconsin: Madison, WI
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 10.7% (state: 2.6%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 3.2% (state: 3.9%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 8.6% (state: 3.4%)
> Median household income: $75,545 (state: $64,168)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Wyoming: Cheyenne, WY
> 2010-2020 pop. growth: 9.5% (state: 3.3%)
> May 2021 unemployment: 4.9% (state: 5.4%)
> 2010-2020 employment growth: 6.7% (state: -4.0%)
> Median household income: $70,567 (state: $65,003)
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