Fastest growing cities in Mississippi
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 Mississippi 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. Horn Lake
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,241
--- #2,912 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.9%
--- #102 among cities in Mississippi, #11,661 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 26,736
--- #13 largest city in Mississippi, #1,687 largest city nationwide
#19. Mississippi State
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,468
--- #2,621 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 41.9%
--- #20 among cities in Mississippi, #2,715 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,968
--- #68 largest city in Mississippi, #6,576 largest city nationwide
#18. Diamondhead
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,593
--- #2,495 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 20.1%
--- #44 among cities in Mississippi, #5,598 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,529
--- #44 largest city in Mississippi, #4,225 largest city nationwide
#17. Long Beach
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,011
--- #2,157 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.6%
--- #61 among cities in Mississippi, #7,396 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,780
--- #25 largest city in Mississippi, #2,652 largest city nationwide
#16. Pearl
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,057
--- #2,108 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 8.2%
--- #80 among cities in Mississippi, #9,743 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 27,115
--- #12 largest city in Mississippi, #1,657 largest city nationwide
#15. Byram
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,155
--- #2,040 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 20.5%
--- #43 among cities in Mississippi, #5,496 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,666
--- #32 largest city in Mississippi, #3,374 largest city nationwide
#14. Flowood
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,616
--- #1,750 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 34.5%
--- #24 among cities in Mississippi, #3,312 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,202
--- #41 largest city in Mississippi, #3,991 largest city nationwide
#13. Leakesville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,800
--- #1,661 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 287.2%
--- #2 among cities in Mississippi, #184 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,775
--- #84 largest city in Mississippi, #7,758 largest city nationwide
#12. Clinton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 2,958
--- #1,600 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.8%
--- #65 among cities in Mississippi, #8,104 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,100
--- #10 largest city in Mississippi, #1,598 largest city nationwide
#11. Hattiesburg
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,017
--- #1,576 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.6%
--- #93 among cities in Mississippi, #10,616 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 48,730
--- #5 largest city in Mississippi, #890 largest city nationwide
#10. Tupelo
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,560
--- #1,357 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.4%
--- #71 among cities in Mississippi, #8,713 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,923
--- #7 largest city in Mississippi, #1,160 largest city nationwide
#9. D'Iberville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,816
--- #1,283 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 42.9%
--- #19 among cities in Mississippi, #2,650 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,721
--- #30 largest city in Mississippi, #3,361 largest city nationwide
#8. Hernando
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,885
--- #1,264 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 29.3%
--- #31 among cities in Mississippi, #3,929 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,138
--- #24 largest city in Mississippi, #2,595 largest city nationwide
#7. Brandon
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,066
--- #1,207 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.3%
--- #45 among cities in Mississippi, #5,789 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,138
--- #15 largest city in Mississippi, #1,806 largest city nationwide
#6. Madison
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,453
--- #1,114 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.1%
--- #46 among cities in Mississippi, #5,829 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 27,747
--- #11 largest city in Mississippi, #1,614 largest city nationwide
#5. Biloxi
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,528
--- #922 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.6%
--- #63 among cities in Mississippi, #7,774 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 49,449
--- #4 largest city in Mississippi, #873 largest city nationwide
#4. Gulfport
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,640
--- #786 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.0%
--- #73 among cities in Mississippi, #8,880 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 72,926
--- #2 largest city in Mississippi, #528 largest city nationwide
#3. Oxford
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,426
--- #707 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 41.3%
--- #21 among cities in Mississippi, #2,761 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,416
--- #14 largest city in Mississippi, #1,773 largest city nationwide
#2. Olive Branch
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,801
--- #670 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 24.4%
--- #35 among cities in Mississippi, #4,677 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 39,711
--- #6 largest city in Mississippi, #1,104 largest city nationwide
#1. Southaven
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,905
--- #661 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 16.9%
--- #52 among cities in Mississippi, #6,425 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 54,648
--- #3 largest city in Mississippi, #773 largest city nationwide
