These Colorado cities are among the fastest-growing in the US: 2024 report
Did your city make the list?
(NEXSTAR) — Does it feel like your city has gotten bigger in the last few years, or that more out-of-towners have moved in? Depending on where you live, that might be the case.
Personal finance website SmartAsset recently analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau to find the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Of the more than 600 cities analyzed based on one- and five-year changes in population, the report found five cities — two in Maryland and three in Texas — saw their population increase by more than 10% between 2022 and 2023.
The table below shows the five cities that grew the fastest over the one- and five-year frames analyzed by SmartAsset:
Cities with the largest one-year population increases Cities with the largest five-year population increases 1. Silver Spring, Maryland (12.86%) 1. Buckeye, Arizona (46.41%) 2. New Braunfels, Texas (12.49%) 2. Atascocita, Texas (38.56%) 3. Glen Burnie, Maryland (11.82%) 3. Lehi, Utah (36.65%) 4. Georgetown, Texas (11.34%) 4. Goodyear, Arizona (34.97%) 5. Atascocita, Texas (11.03%) 5. Riverview, Florida (33.04%)
You'll notice that no Colorado cities rank among the top five on either list. For one-year increases, you need to go all the way to No. 41 where Greeley ranked. It saw a population increase of slightly more than 3% year-over-year and nearly 5% between 2018 and 2023.
In total, 16 Colorado cities made SmartAsset's list, 14 of which saw population growth.
Include Greeley, three saw one-year population increases of more than 1%: Loveland (1.88%), Arvada (1.52%), and Thornton (1.12%). Broomfield and Centennial were close behind at 0.97% and 0.96%, respectively. Others that grew include Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Denver, Boulder, Aurora and Westminster.
Over the last five years, Broomfield saw the largest growth of any Colorado city at nearly 11%. The next closest cities were Aurora at 5.68% and Greeley.
You can view SmartAsset's list in the interactive table below:
Which cities are seeing population declines?
Over 260 cities experienced population declines between 2022 and 2023, ranging from 0.01% decreases to more than 10%, SmartAsset determined. The hardest hit was Spring Valley, Nevada, where the population dropped 10.14% over one year.
When ranked based on population decreases over the last five years, Spring Valley's neighbor, Paradise, landed at the top of the list. According to SmartAsset, Paradise — covering the area around Harry Reid International Airport — saw its population drop by nearly 27% between 2018 and 2023.
The table below shows the cities with the largest population declines over the one- and five-year periods.
Cities with largest drop in population over one year Cities with largest drop in population over five years 1. Spring Valley, Nevada (-10.14%) 1. Paradise, Nevada (-26.77%) 2. Town 'n' Country, Florida (-9.77%) 2. Flint, Michigan (-16.97%) 3. Kendall, Florida (-9.32%) 3. Arden-Arcade, California (-15.72%) 4. Carmichael, California (-7.82%) 4. Bloomington, Indiana (-14.44%) 5. Brandon, Florida (-7.8%) 5. Miami Beach, Florida (-13.19%)
Ranked by five-year population declines, California had among the most cities, six, on the bottom end of SmartAsset's list.
Four Colorado cities saw population dropoffs between 2022 and 2023, albeit far less than those listed above. Longmont had the biggest dip at 1.34%. Over the previous five years, though, its population has grown by 3.46%.
The remaining Colorado spots were Highlands Ranch (-0.61%), Pueblo (-0.33%) and Lakewood (-0.09%).
What's Your Reaction?
