Every US state's fastest-growing small town or city

Harrisburg, South Dakota, a suburb of Sioux Falls, saw a 49% population increase from 2020 to 2024. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock 2026-03-09T18:02:12.064Z Share Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. US Census data shows population growth in every state's small towns from 2020 to 2024. Many of the towns are in close proximity to major cities, often within 25 miles. Westlake, Florida, Hoschton, Georgia, and Josephine, Texas reported the largest population growth. The US population has grown by roughly 58 million since 2000, but the nation's biggest cities aren't the only areas seeing increases.Whether it's suburbs next to urban areas or towns that have become hot spots in their own right, all 50 states are seeing population growth in small- and medium-sized towns. Business Insider used the latest four-year Census data, ranging from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2024, to calculate the population growth percentage in each state's towns and cities across the time period.In the interest of avoiding municipalities with negligible populations, we focused on places with a population of more than 1,000 residents at the time of the 2020 Census. We also excluded unincorporated areas and Census-designated places belonging to a larger city. Of the 50 towns, most have populations under 20,000. Here's each state's fastest-growing city or town. Triana, Alabama Huntsville, Alabama, roughly 15 miles northeast of Triana. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock 2020 population: 3,0052024 population: 4,936Percentage growth: 64%Sitting in the northern region of Alabama along the Tennessee River, Triana was named the fourth-best suburb to live in Alabama by Niche, a real-estate and education ranking platform. Wasilla, Alaska Wasilla, Alaska, is about 40 miles north of Anchorage. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock 2020 population: 9,1152024 population: 10,318Percentage growth: 13%Wasilla sits roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage, the state's largest city. As of 2020, Wasilla had just 732 residents per square mile, according to Census data. Coolidge, Arizona The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, Arizona. Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock 2020 population: 13,4332024 population: 19,674Percentage growth: 46%Coolidge sits between Phoenix and Tucson and is home to the site of the Casa Grande Ruins, containing fragments of Native American structures. Sitting in the Sonoran Desert, the town sees frequent daily temperatures above 100-degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Tontitown, Arkansas The Washington County Courthouse building in nearby Fayetteville, Arkansas. shuttersv/Shutterstock 2020 population: 4,6852024 population: 7,941Percentage growth: 70%Tontitown sits in the Ozark Mountains and hosts the annual Tontitown Grape Festival, a popular tradition dating back 128 years. Paradise, California Buildings in Oroville, California, just south of Paradise. Matt Gush/Shutterstock 2020 population: 5,0892024 population: 9,114Percentage growth: 79%The rapid growth can largely be attributed to Paradise's recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, which ravaged the community. Per the Census, the town had over 26,000 residents in 2010, and is still rebuilding after being at the heart of the deadliest fire in the state's history. Keenesburg, Colorado A walkway over the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado. Grossinger/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,2592024 population: 2,054Percentage growth: 63%Located about 40 miles northeast of Denver, Keenesburg's main attraction is the Wild Animal Sanctuary, a 33,000-acre refuge designed for large carnivores. Somers, Connecticut Nearby Springfield, Massachusetts. Bordering Massachusetts, Somers is part of the Springfield metropolitan area.

Real Window Creative/Shutterstock 2020 population: 10,0802024 population: 10,905Percentage growth: 8%Located on the Connecticut-Massachusetts border, Somers was originally incorporated in Massachusetts before becoming part of Connecticut in 1749, according to the city. Cheswold, Delaware Dover, Delaware, about 6 miles southeast of Cheswold. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,9342024 population: 2,537Percentage growth: 31%In 2000, Cheswold had just over 300 residents, per the Census. Westlake, Florida A suburb in nearby West Palm Beach, Florida. Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,0502024 population: 7,664Percentage growth: 630%Westlake was formerly farmland before the land was purchased by Minto Group, a real-estate company with development plans for the area. The town only officially became a municipality in 2016.Occupying over 6 miles of land, Westlake has thousands of single-family residential homes with more under construction, according to the town. Hoschton, Georgia Nearby Athens, Georgia. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock 2020 population: 2,7582024 population: 6,723Percentage growth: 144%Hoschton lies about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 30 miles northwest of Athens. Hawai'i County, Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii. The state of Hawaii doesn't have official incorporated towns and is governed at the county level.

Claudine Van Massenhove/Shutterstock 2020 population: 200,7542024 population: 209,790Percentage growth: 4.5%Hawaii holds the distinction of being the only US state without official incorporated municipalities. The state's towns are governed at the county level.Of the five counties — Hawai'i, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kaua'i, and Maui — Hawai'i County, commonly known as the "Big Island," reported the largest population growth from 2020 to 2024. Star, Idaho Boise, Idaho, about 15 miles southeast of Star. Charles Knowles/Shutterstock 2020 population: 11,4662024 population: 18,208Percentage growth: 59%Star is located just 15 miles northwest of Boise. Wonder Lake, Illinois Buildings in nearby Woodstock, Illinois. Eddie J. Rodriquez/Shutterstock 2020 population: 3,9702024 population: 5,296Percentage growth: 33%Wonder Lake sits just below the Illinois-Wisconsin border, about 65 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago. Whitestown, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana, is about 20 miles southeast of Whitestown. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock 2020 population: 10,3502024 population: 14,564Percentage growth: 41%Whitestown, which is just over 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis, is home to more than 50 acres of parks and 13 miles of trails. Tiffin, Iowa Nearby Cedar Rapids, just north of Tiffin, Iowa. Jonathannsegal/Shutterstock 2020 population: 4,6242024 population: 6,695Percentage growth: 45%The fast-growing suburb sits F. W.

Kent County Park, a sought-after destination in the state for outdoor activities. Tiffin is located 22 miles south of Cedar Rapids. Spring Hill, Kansas Kansas City, Missouri, is located just northeast of Spring Hill. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock 2020 population: 3,0682024 population: 3,843Percentage growth: 25%Located near Kansas City, Missouri, Spring Hill is part of both Miami and Johnson counties. Elkton, Kentucky Nashville, Tennessee, is located 60 miles south of Elkton. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock 2020 population: 2,0642024 population: 2,330Percentage growth: 13%Nashville is the nearest major city to Elkton, located about 60 miles south of the town. Maurice, Louisiana Nearby Lafayette, Louisiana, just 11 miles northeast of Maurice. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock 2020 population: 2,1852024 population: 3,071Percentage growth: 41%Maurice is just southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana's fourth-largest city. Greenville, Maine Greenville is located on the southern tip of Moosehead Lake. Isaac Crabtree/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,4412024 population: 1,677Percentage growth: 16%Far from the cities of Portland and Bangor, Greenville is located further inland at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, the state's largest freshwater body, according to Visit Maine. Greenville sits roughly 60 miles from the US-Canada Border. Trappe, Maryland Storefronts in nearby Easton, Maryland. JE Dean/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,1762024 population: 1,472Percentage growth: 25%Trappe has seen growth in population in part because of a modern housing development, Lakeside at Trappe. Millis, Massachusetts Nearby Bellingham, Massachusetts. Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock 2020 population: 8,5012024 population: 9,338Percentage growth: 9.9%Millis, less than 30 miles southwest of Boston, saw large population growth in the first half of the decade largely due to immigration.The state's population as a whole is slowing due to declining immigration in the past year, the Worcester Telegram reported. Manton, Michigan A street corner in nearby Cadillac, Michigan. Roberto Galan/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,2722024 population: 1,530Percentage growth: 20%Manton was a finalist in Reader's Digest's "Nicest Place in America" ranking in 2021. Dayton, Minnesota Nearby Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock 2020 population: 7,4342024 population: 10,744Percentage growth: 45%Dayton is a relatively wealthy suburb, with a high homeownership rate and a median household income of $148,947 in 2024, per 2024 Census data.Dayton is under 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Sumrall, Mississippi Nearby Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,7752024 population: 2,172Percentage growth: 22%Sumrall sits just over 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi's fifth-largest city. Rogersville, Missouri Nearby Springfield, Missouri, 20 miles west of Rogersville. Kristopher Kettner/Shutterstock 2020 population: 3,8982024 population: 5,344Percentage growth: 37%According to 2024 Census data, there's a ratio of about 3.2 households to one resident in Rogersville, which is above the national average.The town is located 20 miles east of Springfield. Kalispell, Montana Kalispell, Montana. Photo Spirit/Shutterstock 2020 population: 25,2672024 population: 31,296Percentage growth: 24%According to the 2024 Census data, Kalispell is the seventh-largest city in Montana by population and the eighth-largest by land area. Hickman, Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska, under 20 miles north of Hickman. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock 2020 population: 2,6372024 population: 3,285Percentage growth: 25%Hickman's population has more than tripled since 2000, per the Census. The town is under 20 miles south of Lincoln, the state's capital city. Mesquite, Nevada Mesquite, Nevada, is located in the Mojave Desert. Phakade'sPhotos/Shutterstock 2020 population: 20,6082024 population: 23,599Percentage growth: 15%Mesquite sits in the Mojave Desert and borders Arizona. The nearest major city is Las Vegas, roughly 80 miles southwest of Mesquite. Merrimack, New Hampshire Merrimack, New Hampshire's town hall. Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock 2020 population: 26,8352024 population: 29,367Percentage growth: 9.4%Merrimack is comprised of four villages. Seaside Park, New Jersey Seaside Park, New Jersey. FotosForTheFuture/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,4432024 population: 2,058Percentage growth: 43%Seaside Park neighbors Seaside Heights, a popular Jersey Shore destination known for its amusement park. Los Lunas, New Mexico Nearby Albuquerque, New Mexico, about 20 miles north of Los Lunas. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock 2020 population: 17,4402024 population: 19,907Percentage growth: 14%Los Lunas has held significance at different points in American history, including when it was used as a bombing range after World War II, according to the Center for Land Use Interpretation.The town is about 20 miles south of Albuquerque. Kiryas Joel, New York Woodbury Common Outlet Mall in nearby Woodbury, New York. Irina Chernysh/Shutterstock 2020 population: 33,5102024 population: 43,863Percentage growth: 31%Also known as Palm Tree, the village of Kiryas Joel has a predominantly Hasidic Jewish population and covers only 1.46 square miles, per the 2020 Census. Wendell, North Carolina Wendell, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, saw a large 69% increase in population from 2020 to 2024.

Oak City Drone/Shutterstock 2020 population: 9,9912024 population: 16,845Percentage growth: 69%Wendell is within 20 miles of Raleigh, North Carolina's second most-populous city. The growth is expected to continue, with 1,900 new homes under construction in the town, the area's ABC 11 reported. Horace, North Dakota Nearby Fargo, North Dakota. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock 2020 population: 3,2492024 population: 6,286Percentage growth: 93%Horace is a suburb of Fargo, North Dakota's largest city by population, and is itself the 13th most populous city in the state. South Bloomfield, Ohio Nearby Columbus, Ohio. Nicholas J Klein/Shutterstock 2020 population: 2,1492024 population: 3,747Percentage growth: 74%South Bloomfield is located 20 miles south of Columbus. Newcastle, Oklahoma Oklahoma City is located just north of Newcastle. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock 2020 population: 11,1702024 population: 14,677Percentage growth: 31%A suburb of Oklahoma City, Newcastle appeared on 24/7 Wall St.'s "The Best City to Live in Every State" list in 2019. Estacada, Oregon Nearby Portland, Oregon. Nicholas J Klein/Shutterstock 2020 population: 4,5382024 population: 5,591Percentage growth: 23%Estacada is roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland. Westfall, Pennsylvania Nearby Port Jervis, New York, on the border of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Jon Bilous/Shutterstock 2020 population: 2,5332024 population: 3,394Percentage growth: 34%Westfall is located in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania and borders both New Jersey and New York.A big factor in the town's population growth has been the spike in its Hispanic and Latino population since 2010, the Pike County Courier reported. Glocester, Rhode Island Nearby Providence, Rhode Island. NayaDadara/Shutterstock 2020 population: 9,9812024 population: 10,512Percentage growth: 5.3%Glocester, seated 20 miles northwest of Providence, contains the villages of Harmony and Chepachet. Hardeeville, South Carolina Savannah, Georgia, just 17 miles south of Hardeeville, South Carolina. Bilanol/Shutterstock 2020 population: 7,7332024 population: 13,862Percentage growth: 79%Located under 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, Hardeeville has historically had the nickname "The Lowcountry Host" for its many hotels and accommodations for travelers, per the Hardeeville Police Department. Harrisburg, South Dakota Harrisburg, South Dakota, a suburb of Sioux Falls. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock 2020 population: 6,8472024 population: 10,203Percentage growth: 49%Harrisburg, just 10 miles south of Sioux Falls, has 3.7 miles of land area, per 2020 Census data. Lebanon, Tennessee Memorial Hall Building at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. Tiago Pestana/Shutterstock 2020 population: 38,8942024 population: 51,501Percentage growth: 32%Located 30 minutes east of Nashville, Lebanon is becoming a population hub in its own right. The town is home to the Nashville Superspeedway and Cumberland University. Josephine, Texas Dallas, Texas, roughly 40 miles southwest of Josephine.

Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock 2020 population: 2,2602024 population: 8,807Percentage growth: 290%Josephine, 40 miles from the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, is experiencing a major housing boom. Companies like D.R. Horton are constructing developments with hundreds of homes, and the low cost of living in the area is attracting a lot of millennial first-time homebuyers, Business Insider's Alcynna Lloyd reported. Saratoga Springs, Utah Houses on the shore of Utah Lake in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Victoria Ditkovsky/Shutterstock 2020 population: 38,3002024 population: 57,411Percentage growth: 50%Saratoga Springs sits along Utah Lake and is among Utah's 15 most populous cities. Saratoga Springs has a reputation for safety, with its total crime rate 69% below the national average, per Best Utah Real Estate. Newport, Vermont Newport's neighboring eponymous city of Newport, Vermont. NEKVT/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,5822024 population: 2,421Percentage growth: 53%The town, a distinct municipality from the neighboring city of Newport, is just over 5 miles south of the US-Canada border and is one of Vermont's least populous municipalities. Louisa, Virginia Lake Anna, one of Virginia's largest lakes, is within 10 miles of Louisa. ButtermilkgirlVirginia/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,9932024 population: 2,201Percentage growth: 10%Louisa is located roughly 50 miles northwest of Richmond. Ridgefield, Washington Ridgefield, Washington. WEBB SHOW/Shutterstock 2020 population: 10,8722024 population: 15,359Percentage growth: 41%Located near Vancouver, Washington, Ridgefield has a history as a Native American village site, which was visited during the Lewis and Clark expedition, the city says. Charles Town, West Virginia The Historic Courthouse in Charles Town, West Virginia. George Sheldon/Shutterstock 2020 population: 6,5262024 population: 8,869Percentage growth: 36%Charles Town was notably founded by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of President George Washington, according to the city. Lannon, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 20 miles southeast of Lannon. Keith Homan/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,4192024 population: 2,048Percentage growth: 44%Lannon's growth can largely be attributed to new investments in the town, such as housing developments, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reported. Lannon is located about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Alpine, Wyoming Broadway Shops in nearby Jackson, Wyoming. Ceri Breeze/Shutterstock 2020 population: 1,2312024 population: 1,360Percentage growth: 10%Alpine sits on the Idaho-Wyoming border and is near Jackson, one of the state's 10 most populous cities.