Wendell is the fastest-growing town in North Carolina, according to US Census data.
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US Census data shows population growth in small towns across every state from 2020 to 2025.
Many of the towns are in proximity to major cities, often within 25 miles.
They range from rural mountain towns to desert communities.
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 five-year Census population estimates, covering July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, to calculate the population growth percentage for each state’s towns and cities over the period.
Census population estimates are revised every year, so some 2020 figures differ slightly from estimates published in previous years.
To avoid municipalities with negligible populations, we considered only places with more than 1,000 residents in the 2020 population estimates. We also excluded unincorporated areas and Census-designated places belonging to a larger city. Of the 50 places, 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.
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2020 population : 3,003
2025 population : 5,244
Percentage growth : 75%
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.
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2020 population : 9,113
2025 population : 10,556
Percentage growth : 16%
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.
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2020 population : 13,425
2025 population : 19,959
Percentage growth : 49%
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.
Highfill, Arkansas
Roberto Galan/Getty Images
2020 population : 1,672
2025 population : 3,676
Percentage growth : 120%
Highfill is about 15 miles away from Bentonville, Arkansas, and is near the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.
Paradise, California
Paradise, California.
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2020 population : 5,090
2025 population : 10,023
Percentage growth : 97%
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.
Elizabeth, Colorado
Elizabeth, Colorado.
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2020 population : 1,710
2025 population : 2,957
Percentage growth : 73%
Elizabeth is about 40 miles from Denver, making it popular for those seeking a rural life while living within commuting distance of Colorado’s economic hub, according to a report by Outside .
Woodmont, Connecticut
Woodmont is a borough of Milford, Connecticut.
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2020 population : 1,554
2025 population : 2,391
Percentage growth : 54%
Woodmont, a borough of Milford, is a popular summer destination, according to the Connecticut Tourism Office . It is about 7 miles away from New Haven.
Cheswold, Delaware
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2020 population : 1,938
2025 population : 2,653
Percentage growth : 37%
In 2000, Cheswold had just over 300 residents, per the Census.
Westlake, Florida
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2020 population : 1,048
2025 population : 9,042
Percentage growth : 763%
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.
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2020 population : 2,775
2025 population : 8,623
Percentage growth : 211%
Hoschton lies about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 30 miles northwest of Athens.
Hawai’i County, Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
2020 population : 200,744
2025 population : 210,043
Percentage growth : 4.6%
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 2025.
Star, Idaho
Boise, Idaho, about 15 miles southeast of Star.
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2020 population : 11,488
2025 population : 20,874
Percentage growth : 82%
Star is located just 15 miles northwest of Boise.
Wonder Lake, Illinois
Nearby Woodstock, Illinois.
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2020 population : 4,004
2025 population : 5,593
Percentage growth : 40%
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.
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2020 population : 10,383
2025 population : 15,767
Percentage growth : 52%
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.
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2020 population : 4,625
2025 population : 7,156
Percentage growth : 55%
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.
Maize, Kansas
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population : 5,818
2025 population : 7,853
Percentage growth : 35%
It takes under 20 minutes to drive from Maize to central Wichita.
Elkton, Kentucky
Elkton, Kentucky.
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2020 population : 2,061
2025 population : 2,387
Percentage growth : 16%
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.
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2020 population : 2,185
2025 population : 3,215
Percentage growth : 47%
Maurice is just southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana’s fourth-largest city.
Greenville, Maine
Greenville, Maine.
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2020 population : 1,440
2025 population : 1,743
Percentage growth : 21%
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
nearby Easton, Maryland.
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2020 population : 1,177
2025 population : 1,517
Percentage growth : 29%
Trappe has seen growth in population in part because of a modern housing development, Lakeside at Trappe.
Bolton, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts.
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2020 population : 5666
2025 population : 6477
Percentage growth : 14%
Bolton is about 18 miles northeast of Worcester and about 40 miles west of Boston.
Editor’s Note: Amherst had the largest estimated population increase from 2020 to 2025, but Business Insider chose second-place Bolton because Amherst’s unusually low 2020 estimate could have been distorted by pandemic-era student departures.
Manton, Michigan
The downtown area in nearby Cadillac, Michigan.
Roberto Galan/Getty Images
2020 population : 1,271
2025 population : 1,626
Percentage growth : 28%
Manton was a finalist in Reader’s Digest’s “Nicest Place in America” ranking in 2021.
Dayton, Minnesota
Dayton, Minnesota.
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2020 population : 7,432
2025 population : 11,402
Percentage growth : 53%
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
Neaby Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
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2020 population : 1,777
2025 population : 2,299
Percentage growth : 29%
Sumrall sits just over 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi’s fifth-largest city.
Rogersville, Missouri
Nearby Springfield, Missouri, 20 miles west of Rogersville.
ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population : 3,897
2025 population : 5,754
Percentage growth : 48%
According to 2024 Census data , there are about 2.98 households per resident in Rogersville, which is above the national average.
The town is located 20 miles east of Springfield.
Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell, Montana.
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2020 population : 25,263
2025 population : 31,851
Percentage growth : 26%
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.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
2020 population : 2,655
2025 population : 3,663
Percentage growth : 38%
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
A highway near Mesquite, Nevada.
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2020 population : 20,608
2025 population : 24,001
Percentage growth : 16%
Mesquite sits in the Mojave Desert and borders Arizona. The nearest major city is Las Vegas , roughly 80 miles southwest of Mesquite.
Epping, New Hampshire
Epping, New Hampshire.
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2020 population : 7,153
2025 population : 7,973
Percentage growth : 11%
The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute attributed Epping’s population growth to its proximity to major state highways and economic hubs in the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley, and Boston.
Seaside Park, New Jersey
Seaside Park, New Jersey.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images
2020 population : 1,445
2025 population : 2,135
Percentage growth : 48%
Seaside Park neighbors Seaside Heights, a popular Jersey Shore destination known for its amusement park.
Los Lunas, New Mexico
Los Lunas, New Mexico.
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2020 population : 17,454
2025 population : 20,572
Percentage growth : 18%
Los Lunas has held significance at different points in American history, including its use 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
Kiryas Joel, New York.
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2020 population : 33,507
2025 population: 47,147
Percentage growth: 41%
Kiryas Joel, coterminous with the town of Palm Tree, has a predominantly Hasidic Jewish population and covers only 1.46 square miles, according to the 2020 Census .
Wendell, North Carolina
Wendell, North Carolina.
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2020 population : 9,997
2025 population: 19,687
Percentage growth: 97%
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
Downtown of the nearby Fargo.
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2020 population : 3,249
2025 population : 7,001
Percentage growth : 115%
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.
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2020 population : 2,147
2025 population : 4,164
Percentage growth : 94%
South Bloomfield is located 20 miles south of Columbus.
Newcastle, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is located just north of Newcastle.
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2020 population : 11,171
2025 population : 15,198
Percentage growth : 36%
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
McIver Park, near Es
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2020 population : 4,531
2025 population : 5,814
Percentage growth : 28%
Estacada is roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland .
Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is about 34 miles north of Pittsburgh.
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2020 population : 2,765
2025 population : 3,734
Percentage growth : 35%
Lancaster Township is a small municipality in Butler County, western Pennsylvania, and is separate from the much larger city of Lancaster in southeastern Pennsylvania. It’s about 34 miles north of Pittsburgh.
Glocester, Rhode Island
Nearby Providence, Rhode Island.
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2020 population : 9,984
2025 population : 10,612
Percentage growth : 6.3%
Glocester, seated 20 miles northwest of Providence, contains the villages of Harmony and Chepachet.
Hardeeville, South Carolina
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge in Hardeeville, South Carolina.
Norm Lane/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population : 7,764
2025 population : 16,459
Percentage growth : 112%
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
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2020 population : 6,845
2025 population : 10,405
Percentage growth : 52%
Harrisburg, just 10 miles south of Sioux Falls , has 3.7 miles of land area, per 2020 Census data.
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon, Tennessee.
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2020 population : 38,908
2025 population : 53,412
Percentage growth : 37%
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
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2020 population : 2,283
2025 population : 10,208
Percentage growth : 347%
Josephine, 40 miles northeast of Dallas, 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
Homes under construction in Saratoga Springs, Utah.
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2020 population : 38,318
2025 population : 61,397
Percentage growth : 60%
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.
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2020 population : 1,581
2025 population : 2,583
Percentage growth : 63%
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
Louisa, Virginia.
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2020 population : 1,993
2025 population : 2,244
Percentage growth : 13%
Louisa is located roughly 50 miles northwest of Richmond .
Ridgefield, Washington
Ridgefield, Washington.
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2020 population : 10,875
2025 population : 16,132
Percentage growth : 48%
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
Charles Town, West Virginia.
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2020 population : 6,529
2025 population : 9,329
Percentage growth : 43%
Charles Town was notably founded by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of President George Washington, according to the city.
Lannon, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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2020 population : 1,419
2025 population : 2,057
Percentage growth : 45%
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
Alpine, Wyoming.
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2020 population : 1,229
2025 population : 1,382
Percentage growth : 13%
Alpine sits on the Idaho-Wyoming border and is near Jackson, one of the state’s 10 most populous cities.
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