Fastest growing cities in Louisiana

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 Louisiana 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. Arabi
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,938
--- #2,211 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 74.7%
--- #9 among cities in Louisiana, #1,296 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,533
--- #119 largest city in Louisiana, #6,963 largest city nationwide

#19. Bayou Blue
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,166
--- #2,031 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.4%
--- #66 among cities in Louisiana, #5,775 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 13,352
--- #37 largest city in Louisiana, #3,225 largest city nationwide

#18. Bossier City
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,299
--- #1,949 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.8%
--- #140 among cities in Louisiana, #12,385 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 62,701
--- #8 largest city in Louisiana, #649 largest city nationwide

#17. Harvey
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,318
--- #1,928 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.6%
--- #95 among cities in Louisiana, #8,153 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 22,236
--- #19 largest city in Louisiana, #2,054 largest city nationwide

#16. Meraux
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,456
--- #1,845 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 56.5%
--- #16 among cities in Louisiana, #1,898 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,804
--- #83 largest city in Louisiana, #5,393 largest city nationwide

#15. Lafayette
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,571
--- #1,769 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 2.2%
--- #159 among cities in Louisiana, #13,471 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 121,374
--- #5 largest city in Louisiana, #238 largest city nationwide

#14. Covington
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,623
--- #1,748 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 29.3%
--- #43 among cities in Louisiana, #3,926 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 11,564
--- #47 largest city in Louisiana, #3,624 largest city nationwide

#13. Gonzales
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,635
--- #1,739 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 27.5%
--- #47 among cities in Louisiana, #4,197 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,231
--- #44 largest city in Louisiana, #3,474 largest city nationwide

#12. Terrytown
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,653
--- #1,728 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.7%
--- #93 among cities in Louisiana, #8,119 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,278
--- #18 largest city in Louisiana, #1,792 largest city nationwide

#11. Central
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,678
--- #1,715 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.0%
--- #100 among cities in Louisiana, #8,906 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 29,565
--- #14 largest city in Louisiana, #1,518 largest city nationwide

#10. Gardere
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,688
--- #1,710 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 25.6%
--- #52 among cities in Louisiana, #4,491 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 13,203
--- #38 largest city in Louisiana, #3,257 largest city nationwide

#9. Addis
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,280
--- #1,457 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 95.0%
--- #6 among cities in Louisiana, #908 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,731
--- #85 largest city in Louisiana, #5,426 largest city nationwide

#8. Zachary
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,032
--- #1,005 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 35.2%
--- #32 among cities in Louisiana, #3,243 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,316
--- #25 largest city in Louisiana, #2,332 largest city nationwide

#7. Broussard
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,656
--- #902 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 72.9%
--- #11 among cities in Louisiana, #1,346 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 13,417
--- #36 largest city in Louisiana, #3,209 largest city nationwide

#6. Prairieville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,065
--- #745 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 27.0%
--- #49 among cities in Louisiana, #4,266 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 33,197
--- #12 largest city in Louisiana, #1,342 largest city nationwide

#5. Metairie
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,625
--- #685 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.6%
--- #127 among cities in Louisiana, #11,216 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 143,507
--- #4 largest city in Louisiana, #193 largest city nationwide

#4. Youngsville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,593
--- #603 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 117.1%
--- #4 among cities in Louisiana, #700 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 15,929
--- #31 largest city in Louisiana, #2,787 largest city nationwide

#3. Chalmette
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,109
--- #568 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 73.1%
--- #10 among cities in Louisiana, #1,337 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 21,562
--- #22 largest city in Louisiana, #2,112 largest city nationwide

#2. Lake Charles
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +13,648
--- #356 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.2%
--- #68 among cities in Louisiana, #5,815 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 84,872
--- #6 largest city in Louisiana, #430 largest city nationwide

#1. New Orleans
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +88,712
--- #22 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 30.0%
--- #42 among cities in Louisiana, #3,838 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 383,997
--- #1 largest city in Louisiana, #53 largest city nationwide