Fastest growing cities in Alaska
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in Alaska using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. Funny River
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +495
--- #4,851 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 81.4%
--- #26 among cities in Alaska, #1,161 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,103
--- #61 largest city in Alaska, #14,244 largest city nationwide
#19. Talkeetna
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +514
--- #4,762 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 95.0%
--- #18 among cities in Alaska, #910 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,055
--- #63 largest city in Alaska, #14,484 largest city nationwide
#18. Fritz Creek
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +519
--- #4,744 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 30.0%
--- #74 among cities in Alaska, #3,842 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,248
--- #41 largest city in Alaska, #10,245 largest city nationwide
#17. Lazy Mountain
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +532
--- #4,676 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 54.6%
--- #42 among cities in Alaska, #1,977 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,506
--- #54 largest city in Alaska, #12,462 largest city nationwide
#16. Cohoe
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +552
--- #4,597 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 60.1%
--- #36 among cities in Alaska, #1,766 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,471
--- #55 largest city in Alaska, #12,612 largest city nationwide
#15. Homer
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +553
--- #4,595 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.1%
--- #125 among cities in Alaska, #8,373 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,522
--- #21 largest city in Alaska, #6,140 largest city nationwide
#14. Big Lake
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 583
--- #4,463 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.9%
--- #109 among cities in Alaska, #6,150 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,833
--- #28 largest city in Alaska, #7,690 largest city nationwide
#13. Deltana
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +599
--- #4,380 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 34.0%
--- #64 among cities in Alaska, #3,361 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,359
--- #39 largest city in Alaska, #9,995 largest city nationwide
#12. Sterling
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 610
--- #4,341 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.5%
--- #124 among cities in Alaska, #8,216 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,918
--- #17 largest city in Alaska, #5,898 largest city nationwide
#11. Farmers Loop
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +766
--- #3,866 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.5%
--- #101 among cities in Alaska, #5,755 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,704
--- #23 largest city in Alaska, #6,819 largest city nationwide
#10. Badger
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +885
--- #3,542 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.9%
--- #149 among cities in Alaska, #11,654 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,031
--- #5 largest city in Alaska, #2,364 largest city nationwide
#9. Kalifornsky
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,009
--- #3,285 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.5%
--- #119 among cities in Alaska, #7,445 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,487
--- #10 largest city in Alaska, #4,595 largest city nationwide
#8. Juneau
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,280
--- #2,854 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.1%
--- #157 among cities in Alaska, #12,172 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 32,255
--- #3 largest city in Alaska, #1,387 largest city nationwide
#7. Fairbanks
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,337
--- #2,772 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.3%
--- #154 among cities in Alaska, #12,066 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 32,515
--- #2 largest city in Alaska, #1,372 largest city nationwide
#6. Wasilla
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,566
--- #2,531 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 20.9%
--- #94 among cities in Alaska, #5,407 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,054
--- #8 largest city in Alaska, #4,399 largest city nationwide
#5. Point MacKenzie
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,622
--- #2,463 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 705.2%
--- #2 among cities in Alaska, #55 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,852
--- #49 largest city in Alaska, #11,311 largest city nationwide
#4. Farm Loop
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,643
--- #2,443 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 148.8%
--- #10 among cities in Alaska, #518 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,747
--- #34 largest city in Alaska, #9,232 largest city nationwide
#3. Meadow Lakes
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,563
--- #1,778 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 38.6%
--- #58 among cities in Alaska, #2,957 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,197
--- #7 largest city in Alaska, #4,348 largest city nationwide
#2. Anchorage municipality
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,980
--- #751 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 2.5%
--- #166 among cities in Alaska, #13,292 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 291,247
--- #1 largest city in Alaska, #72 largest city nationwide
#1. Knik-Fairview
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,063
--- #746 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 57.7%
--- #38 among cities in Alaska, #1,850 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,297
--- #4 largest city in Alaska, #2,336 largest city nationwide
