Fastest growing cities in Illinois
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 Illinois 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. Shorewood
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,468
--- #1,377 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 23.6%
--- #92 among cities in Illinois, #4,856 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 18,186
--- #141 largest city in Illinois, #2,476 largest city nationwide
#19. Orland Park
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,605
--- #1,346 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.5%
--- #274 among cities in Illinois, #10,640 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 58,703
--- #21 largest city in Illinois, #714 largest city nationwide
#18. Bloomington
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,816
--- #1,286 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.1%
--- #329 among cities in Illinois, #11,533 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 78,680
--- #13 largest city in Illinois, #481 largest city nationwide
#17. Skokie
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 4,000
--- #1,226 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.3%
--- #285 among cities in Illinois, #10,802 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 67,824
--- #19 largest city in Illinois, #590 largest city nationwide
#16. Evanston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,230
--- #1,172 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.7%
--- #304 among cities in Illinois, #11,140 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 78,110
--- #14 largest city in Illinois, #486 largest city nationwide
#15. Volo
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,263
--- #1,161 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 229.3%
--- #2 among cities in Illinois, #256 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,122
--- #302 largest city in Illinois, #5,764 largest city nationwide
#14. Montgomery
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,305
--- #1,151 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 27.0%
--- #72 among cities in Illinois, #4,277 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 20,262
--- #122 largest city in Illinois, #2,234 largest city nationwide
#13. Glenview
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,056
--- #1,004 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.6%
--- #184 among cities in Illinois, #8,172 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 48,705
--- #31 largest city in Illinois, #891 largest city nationwide
#12. O'Fallon
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,245
--- #966 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.4%
--- #109 among cities in Illinois, #5,768 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 32,289
--- #59 largest city in Illinois, #1,384 largest city nationwide
#11. Joliet
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,360
--- #943 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.7%
--- #375 among cities in Illinois, #12,452 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 150,362
--- #3 largest city in Illinois, #182 largest city nationwide
#10. Schaumburg
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,390
--- #938 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.4%
--- #256 among cities in Illinois, #10,220 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 78,723
--- #12 largest city in Illinois, #479 largest city nationwide
#9. Yorkville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,468
--- #803 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 42.9%
--- #36 among cities in Illinois, #2,642 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 21,533
--- #112 largest city in Illinois, #2,114 largest city nationwide
#8. Huntley
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,479
--- #801 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 30.5%
--- #63 among cities in Illinois, #3,787 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 27,740
--- #74 largest city in Illinois, #1,615 largest city nationwide
#7. Pingree Grove
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,585
--- #792 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 174.2%
--- #4 among cities in Illinois, #413 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,365
--- #222 largest city in Illinois, #3,948 largest city nationwide
#6. Oswego
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,866
--- #761 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 24.8%
--- #86 among cities in Illinois, #4,621 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 34,585
--- #54 largest city in Illinois, #1,282 largest city nationwide
#5. Elgin
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,960
--- #656 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.5%
--- #252 among cities in Illinois, #10,176 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 114,797
--- #6 largest city in Illinois, #263 largest city nationwide
#4. Naperville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,702
--- #596 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.2%
--- #288 among cities in Illinois, #10,858 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 149,540
--- #4 largest city in Illinois, #185 largest city nationwide
#3. Champaign
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,872
--- #586 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.2%
--- #192 among cities in Illinois, #8,356 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 88,302
--- #10 largest city in Illinois, #405 largest city nationwide
#2. Plainfield
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,054
--- #571 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 25.4%
--- #82 among cities in Illinois, #4,518 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 44,762
--- #33 largest city in Illinois, #966 largest city nationwide
#1. Chicago
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +42,922
--- #68 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 1.6%
--- #446 among cities in Illinois, #13,859 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,746,388
--- #1 largest city in Illinois, #3 largest city nationwide
