Fastest growing cities in Delaware
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 Delaware 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. Selbyville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +625
--- #4,290 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 27.7%
--- #25 among cities in Delaware, #4,150 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,878
--- #32 largest city in Delaware, #9,017 largest city nationwide
#19. Ocean View
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +628
--- #4,278 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 31.3%
--- #21 among cities in Delaware, #3,680 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,636
--- #35 largest city in Delaware, #9,442 largest city nationwide
#18. Greenville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +651
--- #4,205 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 26.5%
--- #27 among cities in Delaware, #4,343 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,104
--- #30 largest city in Delaware, #8,636 largest city nationwide
#17. Bridgeville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +675
--- #4,129 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 35.7%
--- #18 among cities in Delaware, #3,210 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,568
--- #37 largest city in Delaware, #9,557 largest city nationwide
#16. Long Neck
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +797
--- #3,764 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 35.9%
--- #17 among cities in Delaware, #3,187 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,017
--- #31 largest city in Delaware, #8,780 largest city nationwide
#15. Milton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +811
--- #3,716 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 32.7%
--- #19 among cities in Delaware, #3,532 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,291
--- #29 largest city in Delaware, #8,356 largest city nationwide
#14. Georgetown
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +980
--- #3,349 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.9%
--- #37 among cities in Delaware, #6,670 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,134
--- #17 largest city in Delaware, #5,236 largest city nationwide
#13. Seaford
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,012
--- #3,280 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.6%
--- #39 among cities in Delaware, #7,105 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,957
--- #15 largest city in Delaware, #4,836 largest city nationwide
#12. Edgemoor
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,257
--- #2,883 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 23.4%
--- #28 among cities in Delaware, #4,888 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,635
--- #19 largest city in Delaware, #5,480 largest city nationwide
#11. Rising Sun-Lebanon
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,290
--- #2,840 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 45.8%
--- #9 among cities in Delaware, #2,445 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,104
--- #22 largest city in Delaware, #7,410 largest city nationwide
#10. Townsend
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,291
--- #2,839 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 90.5%
--- #5 among cities in Delaware, #984 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,717
--- #34 largest city in Delaware, #9,292 largest city nationwide
#9. Clayton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,323
--- #2,791 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 50.2%
--- #8 among cities in Delaware, #2,200 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,961
--- #23 largest city in Delaware, #7,559 largest city nationwide
#8. Millville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,327
--- #2,787 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 266.5%
--- #1 among cities in Delaware, #206 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,825
--- #43 largest city in Delaware, #11,381 largest city nationwide
#7. Milford
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,010
--- #2,159 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 21.9%
--- #31 among cities in Delaware, #5,193 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 11,190
--- #11 largest city in Delaware, #3,712 largest city nationwide
#6. Claymont
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,384
--- #1,885 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 31.7%
--- #20 among cities in Delaware, #3,630 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,895
--- #12 largest city in Delaware, #4,104 largest city nationwide
#5. Millsboro
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,223
--- #1,487 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 88.5%
--- #6 among cities in Delaware, #1,013 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,863
--- #18 largest city in Delaware, #5,363 largest city nationwide
#4. Smyrna
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,553
--- #1,359 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 38.1%
--- #16 among cities in Delaware, #2,986 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,883
--- #9 largest city in Delaware, #3,330 largest city nationwide
#3. Dover
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,929
--- #1,253 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.1%
--- #41 among cities in Delaware, #8,401 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 39,403
--- #2 largest city in Delaware, #1,113 largest city nationwide
#2. Bear
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,312
--- #1,150 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 23.0%
--- #29 among cities in Delaware, #4,967 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 23,060
--- #5 largest city in Delaware, #1,987 largest city nationwide
#1. Middletown
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,544
--- #797 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 39.3%
--- #15 among cities in Delaware, #2,895 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 23,192
--- #4 largest city in Delaware, #1,975 largest city nationwide
