The 15 Fastest-Growing Cities in the US

The U.S. Census Bureau released new 2023 population estimates on May 16 showing a slew of data for cities of all sizes and regions. Do you know the population change last year for the 15 largest cities in your state?

2 minute read

June 3, 2024, 8:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid

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New Africa / Adobe Stock

The Census Bureau began its May 16 press release by noting a bright spot for the Northeast, the only region that lost population from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023, according to the bureau's initial press release of population data for 2023 last December.

Large cities in the Northeast and Midwest grew in 2023, reversing earlier population declines, according to Vintage 2023 Population Estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The new update shows that among the 15 fastest growing cities with 20,000+ population as of July 1, 2023, over half were in Texas, with most of the remainder in the South. Notable exceptions were #5: Lathrop, California, and #15, Athens, Ohio.

Table 1. The 15 Fastest-Growing Cities Between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, With Populations of 20,000 or More as of July 1, 2022
Rank	Area Name	State	% Increase	2023 Total Population
1	Celina city	Texas	26.6	43,317
2	Fulshear city	Texas	25.6	42,616
3	Princeton city	Texas	22.3	28,027
4	Anna city	Texas	16.9	27,501
5	Lathrop city	California	13.6	39,857
6	Centerton city	Arkansas	11.2	23,953
7	Haines city	Florida	10.8	37,272
8	Georgetown city	Texas	10.6	96,312
9	Prosper town	Texas	10.5	41,660
10	Forney city	Texas	10.4	35,470
11	Kyle city	Texas	9.0	62,548
12	Lebanon city	Tennessee	8.9	48,112
13	Fort Mill town	South Carolina	8.8	33,626
14	Leesburg city	Florida	8.7	31,721
15	Athens city	Ohio	8.6	24,673

Credit: U.S. Census Bureau, May 16, 2024

State data

The Census staff constructed an interactive map of the U.S. showing the 15 largest cities in every state with their:

Population: July 1, 2022
Population: July 1, 2023
Percent difference
State total percent change in population

Put your browser on the state to see the data.

National data

Notwithstanding the population decline in the Northeast, "[m]ore states experienced population growth in 2023 than in any year since the start of the pandemic," noted the Census Bureau on Dec. 19, 2023. The nation grew by 0.5%, adding 1.6 million to nearly 335 million people

Small Towns Grow Faster Than Cities for First Time in Decades, May 15, 2024
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million, April 11, 2024
Population Losers, December 28, 2023
Southern States Lead US Population Growth, December 21, 2023
U.S. Population Growing Again in 2022 After Flatlining in 2021, December 27, 2022

Social / Demographics Athens [Ohio] Lathrop Census Data Midwest Northeast Population Population Estimates Population Growth South U.S. Census Bureau View More

Irvin Dawid

Irvin Dawid discovered Planetizen when a classmate in an urban planning lab at San Jose State University shared it with him in 2003. When he left San Jose State that year, he took with him an interest in Planetizen, if not the master's degree in urban & regional planning.

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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