Home·Best of·Bright spots in US states losing population Cities still growing in states whose overall population is declining: WV, LA, MS, PA, AK, NY, IL, CA, HI.
State-level statistics hide local dynamics. Even in states losing residents overall, individual cities can be net winners (employer concentration, lifestyle pulls, university anchors).
These are the bright spots — growing locally despite state-level headwinds.
1Ione, CA · pop 9,41159Stable+16.3%/yrpop growth 2Carencro, LALafayette · pop 12,88362Rising+8.6%/yrpop growth 3Charles Town, WVWashington-Arlington-Alexandria · pop 8,86973Rising+7.9%/yrpop growth 4Wonder Lake, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 5,29680Hot+7.5%/yrpop growth 5West Chester, PAPhiladelphia-Camden-Wilmington · pop 22,75876Rising+5.1%/yrpop growth 7Yorkville, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 25,98678Hot+4.8%/yrpop growth 8Volo, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 7,36181Hot+4.7%/yrpop growth 9Hammond, LAHammond · pop 23,42656Stable+4.6%/yrpop growth 14Scott, LALafayette · pop 9,46859Stable+3.9%/yrpop growth 15Hampshire, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 8,86479Hot+3.7%/yrpop growth 16Manhattan, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 10,77276Rising+3.5%/yrpop growth 17Sleepy Hollow, NYNew York-Newark-Jersey City · pop 11,42771Rising+3.4%/yrpop growth 18Menifee, CARiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario · pop 117,04166Rising+3.4%/yrpop growth 20Shafter, CABakersfield · pop 22,75469Rising+3.3%/yrpop growth 21Wasilla, AKAnchorage · pop 10,31876Rising+3.3%/yrpop growth 22Gonzales, LABaton Rouge · pop 13,83772Rising+3.1%/yrpop growth 24Lincoln, CASacramento-Roseville-Folsom · pop 56,26858Stable+3.1%/yrpop growth 26Mahomet, ILChampaign-Urbana · pop 10,61976Rising+3.0%/yrpop growth 27Palmer, AKAnchorage · pop 6,62682Hot+3.0%/yrpop growth 28Warrenville, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 15,24775Rising+3.0%/yrpop growth 29Beaumont, CARiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario · pop 59,50267Rising+2.9%/yrpop growth 30Oswego, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 38,77879Hot+2.9%/yrpop growth 31Addis, LABaton Rouge · pop 7,53874Rising+2.9%/yrpop growth 32Carlisle, PAHarrisburg-Carlisle · pop 22,51775Rising+2.9%/yrpop growth 33Fowler, CAFresno · pop 7,47075Rising+2.8%/yrpop growth 35Merced, CAMerced · pop 96,07365Rising+2.7%/yrpop growth 36Calimesa, CARiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario · pop 11,15066Rising+2.7%/yrpop growth 37Homer, AK · pop 6,13681Hot+2.7%/yrpop growth 39Ranson, WVWashington-Arlington-Alexandria · pop 6,03579Hot+2.7%/yrpop growth 41Beacon, NYPoughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown · pop 15,29282Hot+2.7%/yrpop growth 42Elburn, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 6,82675Rising+2.5%/yrpop growth 43Roseville, CASacramento-Roseville-Folsom · pop 163,30458Stable+2.5%/yrpop growth 44Winters, CASacramento-Roseville-Folsom · pop 7,82560Stable+2.4%/yrpop growth 45Folsom, CASacramento-Roseville-Folsom · pop 88,09155Stable+2.3%/yrpop growth 46Kerman, CAFresno · pop 17,49772Rising+2.2%/yrpop growth 47Plainfield, ILChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 48,88174Rising+2.2%/yrpop growth 49Phoenixville, PAPhiladelphia-Camden-Wilmington · pop 20,28674Rising+2.2%/yrpop growth 50Huron, CAFresno · pop 6,73766Rising+2.1%/yrpop growth