List of 15 fastest growing US cities ranked by population growth might surprise you in the end. While large, multi-million-inhabitant cities mostly exhibit steady growth rates – if they aren’t Detroit, Cleveland or Memphis, that is – smaller cities are the ones that take the biscuit percentage-wise. That’s why they grow the fastest, after all. While New York, for instance, has a steady rise in its population by roughly 80,000 people yearly, for the last 5 years, this only makes around 1% in a city of 8 million. Smaller cities like Austin, Texas, for instance, have seen a cumulative growth of 12.5% over the course of 5 years. This is the reason why you won’t find any of the 20 biggest cities in the United States on this list.
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Cities that will make the list are generally much smaller and don’t surpass the mark of 200,000 inhabitants that easy. They also don’t exhibit figures below the 50,000 inhabitants as well which creates a rather strict range with an amplitude of only 150,000 people. However, United States of America contain a vast number of cities and towns with exactly this type of population. Not all of them are as prolific as those that do make it to the list of 15 fastest growing US cities ranked by population growth, but it is evident that this population quantity is currently given city’s best shot at making a healthy, if somewhat scary growth.
In order to compile this list, we have used the most relevant data which came straight from the US Census Bureau. Data has been stretched across the last five years available which would include 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. This actually means that we have used the cumulative figures for the latest available 5-year period, and not percentage changes from last two available years. We do understand that this list might have looked slightly different otherwise, but these are the most concise data figures available and numbers don’t lie. Most of these cities aren’t as interesting as United States’ largest metropolises, and they can’t compete with most of them if sheer gross population growth is being considered. Still, they will win on any given day when it comes to the simple percentage game.
15. Odessa city, Texas
Found in the westernmost part of Texas, close to the border with New Mexico – Odessa city has been named after Ukrainian Black Sea port. It had started this journey with 99,880 inhabitants in 2010 and had featured 114,597 inhabitants on July 1, 2014. This translates to a growth of 14,717 people or 14.7% in total over the course of more than four years. Judging by the given numbers, Odessa city should have close to 120,000 inhabitants by now.
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14. Cary town, North Carolina
Town of Cary is positioned in the heart of North Carolina, more or less. It had had 135,276 inhabitants in the year 2010 which is an increase of hefty 43 percents since the year 2000. In other words, the city has almost doubled its population in only 10 years. With the cumulative growth of 14.7%, Cary town used to offer shelter to 155,227 inhabitants. That’s a growth of another 19,951 people in four and a half more years, and today’s population should stand at more than 160,000.
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13. Gilbert town, Arizona
If you still had some hopes that you’re about to see a really large city on this list, we’ll have to disappoint you – Gilbert town in the heart of Arizona is the second largest city here. Nevertheless, Gilbert, Arizona used to have 208,399 inhabitants during the year 2010. After additional 30,878 people had decided to migrate to the city (we aren’t forgetting the newborns as well), Gilbert’s population figure has risen to 239,277. Total growth rate, percentage-wise is 14.8% which means that the city is now supposed to have around 250,000, give or take.
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12. New Braunfels city, Texas
This is the second city on the list of 15 fastest growing US cities ranked by population growth coming from Texas. It’s no secret that The Lone Star State’s population is among fastest growing populations in the country. That’s why you’ll see more than a few more cities from Texas here. Just north-east of San Antonio, New Braunfels now boasts with the population of just shy of 70,000. Things weren’t always like that, though. The city has only had 57,727 inhabitants five years ago, but after a cumulative growth of 15%, it has reached the 66,394 mark over a year ago.
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11. Pearland city, Texas
Another one of Texas’ smaller cities, Pearland is actually Houston’s southern suburb. It had almost tripled its population number between years 2000 and 2010 for a staggering 142% of cumulative growth during that decade. It had 89,891 people living in it during April 1, 2010, and with the cumulative growth of 15.1% over the next four or so years, it had reached the 103,441 mark. While you’re reading this, Pearland should have more than 107,000 citizens.
10. Midland city, Texas
Just a tad bit north-east from Odessa, somewhere in the middle of the road between El Paso and Dallas – you’ll eventually bump onto Midland, Texas. At the beginning of considered period, Midland has had 111,127 inhabitants. This number subsequently grew by 16,910 to reach the total of 128,037 on July 1, 2014. Thanks to 15.2% growth during the course of these four years or so, Midland, Texas should now have close to 135,000 inhabitants.
9. Conroe city, Texas
You won’t believe it, but here’s yet another city from Texas on this list. I did promise you that, by the way – didn’t I? Slightly north of Houston, Conroe is supposed to house just shy of 70,000 people. It had started with 56,992 people in 2010, but the population has gradually increased to 65,871 over four years time thanks to 15.6% of cumulative growth.
8. Goodyear city, Arizona
Established by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in 1917, it’s easy to see how the city got its name. Goodyear, Arizona can boast with immense growth percentage of 245% for the period between 1990 and 2010. While current figures certainly can’t compare to that, the city is still growing rapidly; there’s no denying that. With 65,225 inhabitants in 2010 and 75,664 people in 2014, Goodyear city boasts with cumulative percentage growth of 16%. It should have close to 80,000 inhabitants these days.
7. Meridian city, Idaho
Meridian, Idaho is positioned in the south-western corner of the Gem State, quite close to Oregon border. Thanks to the 81% increase in population between 2000 and 2010, Meridian has become Idaho’s third largest city, behind Boise and Nampa. It had 75,130 inhabitants in the latter year, and thanks to additional 12,613 people from the cumulative growth of 16.8%, it had reached the 87,743 mark in 2014. It should now be a home to more than 80,000 people.
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6. Buckeye town, Arizona
This is the westernmost suburb of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Buckeye, Arizona is also the smallest city on this list with only 50,891 inhabitants during the year 2010. Number of people living in the city has risen over the next four years to the mark of 59,470. With 16.9% cumulative growth, Buckeye town should house more than 61,000 citizens.
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5. Irvine city, California
The largest city on this list of 15 fastest growing US cities ranked by population growth is a seat of few notable gaming companies, including Blizzard Entertainment. Being in Orange County, Irvine is considered as one of the best places to live in the United States. Irvine’s starting population for our period of consideration was 211,906. After four years and 17.3% growth rate, population figure has risen to 248,531, and current population should be around 255,000, more or less.
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4. McKinney city, Texas
Brace yourself – we are just entering another Texas towns’ streak. McKinney city is a part of Dallas-Fort Worth conurbation. It was ranked the fastest growing city in the country on more than few occasions since 2000, and now boasts with population of almost 165,000 people. In 2010, however, it had only 131,025 inhabitants, but things were soon changed thanks to more than healthy 19.6% cumulative growth. That way, McKinney, Texas had reached 156,767 inhabitants in 2014.
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3. Cedar Park city, Texas
Since Austin, Texas boasts with already mentioned 12.5% cumulative growth rate, it’s no wonder why its major suburb. Cedar Park makes such a high position on this list. With only 51,743 inhabitants in 2010, Cedar Park has grew to boast with the population of 63,574 thanks to 22.9% of cumulative growth rate. Thanks to these strong percentage figures, the city should now have more than 65,000 citizens.
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2. Frisco city, Texas
No more Texas after this one, but not much has left of the list anyway. Another northern part of Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex, Frisco should now have more than 150,000 inhabitants. During the year 2010, it only had 117,084 citizens, and these have turned into 145,035 people in 2014. 23.9% of cumulative growth rate tends to do that to a city in short time.
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1. South Jordan city, Utah
This used to be the smallest city on our list in 2010 with only 50,420 citizens. Well, it’s obviously no longer the smallest one around. Part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, South Jordan lies south from Utah’s capital, naturally. It boasts with the highest cumulative growth rate in percentages of all the cities and towns in the country with more than 50,000 people. 24.5% is the number and it has given the city additional 12,361 citizens over the course of 4 years, bringing the total to 62,781 people in 2014 and to more than 65,000 currently.
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When all is said and done, this list of 15 fastest growing US cities ranked by population growth might come as a surprise to some. Most of these cities aren’t that prolific in terms of fame, but then again, most of them are quiet suburbs of some of the largest cities in the United States. This explains why they exhibit such a high cumulative growth rates in these past 5 years, and they will certainly continue to grow for an unforeseeable time.
