Fastest growing cities in Maryland
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 Maryland 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. Columbia
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,302
--- #815 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.4%
--- #258 among cities in Maryland, #10,710 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 104,681
--- #2 largest city in Maryland, #313 largest city nationwide
#19. Germantown
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,402
--- #809 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.5%
--- #239 among cities in Maryland, #10,122 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 91,249
--- #3 largest city in Maryland, #385 largest city nationwide
#18. Wheaton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,071
--- #743 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.7%
--- #152 among cities in Maryland, #6,750 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 52,150
--- #17 largest city in Maryland, #822 largest city nationwide
#17. Glen Burnie
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,368
--- #713 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.2%
--- #187 among cities in Maryland, #8,327 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 72,891
--- #8 largest city in Maryland, #529 largest city nationwide
#16. Odenton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,548
--- #694 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 21.3%
--- #116 among cities in Maryland, #5,332 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 42,947
--- #23 largest city in Maryland, #1,022 largest city nationwide
#15. Rockville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,817
--- #589 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.1%
--- #160 among cities in Maryland, #6,926 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 67,117
--- #12 largest city in Maryland, #599 largest city nationwide
#14. Middle River
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,404
--- #551 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 39.5%
--- #61 among cities in Maryland, #2,881 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 33,203
--- #36 largest city in Maryland, #1,341 largest city nationwide
#13. Bethesda
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,519
--- #542 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 16.3%
--- #148 among cities in Maryland, #6,579 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 68,056
--- #10 largest city in Maryland, #587 largest city nationwide
#12. North Bethesda
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,605
--- #535 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 23.7%
--- #102 among cities in Maryland, #4,825 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 50,094
--- #19 largest city in Maryland, #861 largest city nationwide
#11. Pasadena
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +10,790
--- #479 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 48.6%
--- #50 among cities in Maryland, #2,283 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 32,979
--- #38 largest city in Maryland, #1,351 largest city nationwide
#10. Silver Spring
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +10,966
--- #472 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.7%
--- #153 among cities in Maryland, #6,764 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 81,015
--- #5 largest city in Maryland, #458 largest city nationwide
#9. Ellicott City
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +10,977
--- #471 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 16.9%
--- #145 among cities in Maryland, #6,429 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 75,947
--- #7 largest city in Maryland, #503 largest city nationwide
#8. Gaithersburg
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,488
--- #448 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.7%
--- #128 among cities in Maryland, #5,685 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 69,657
--- #9 largest city in Maryland, #568 largest city nationwide
#7. Elkridge
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,659
--- #439 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 86.3%
--- #25 among cities in Maryland, #1,053 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,171
--- #57 largest city in Maryland, #1,801 largest city nationwide
#6. Bel Air South
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,879
--- #426 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 26.0%
--- #89 among cities in Maryland, #4,424 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 57,648
--- #15 largest city in Maryland, #734 largest city nationwide
#5. Waldorf
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +14,267
--- #333 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 21.2%
--- #118 among cities in Maryland, #5,350 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 81,410
--- #4 largest city in Maryland, #453 largest city nationwide
#4. Frederick
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +14,440
--- #331 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 22.7%
--- #110 among cities in Maryland, #5,033 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 78,171
--- #6 largest city in Maryland, #485 largest city nationwide
#3. Severn
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +15,365
--- #302 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 36.8%
--- #63 among cities in Maryland, #3,094 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 57,118
--- #16 largest city in Maryland, #741 largest city nationwide
#2. Clarksburg
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +18,508
--- #238 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 175.5%
--- #12 among cities in Maryland, #404 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 29,051
--- #48 largest city in Maryland, #1,542 largest city nationwide
#1. North Laurel
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +21,303
--- #185 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 522.6%
--- #2 among cities in Maryland, #86 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,379
--- #56 largest city in Maryland, #1,781 largest city nationwide
