Fastest growing cities in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire 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. Londonderry
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +732
--- #3,978 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.7%
--- #43 among cities in New Hampshire, #10,559 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 11,645
--- #13 largest city in New Hampshire, #3,608 largest city nationwide
#19. Newmarket
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +762
--- #3,880 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.1%
--- #30 among cities in New Hampshire, #6,922 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,797
--- #23 largest city in New Hampshire, #5,973 largest city nationwide
#18. Wolfeboro
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +892
--- #3,525 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 37.0%
--- #12 among cities in New Hampshire, #3,078 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,300
--- #36 largest city in New Hampshire, #8,349 largest city nationwide
#17. Raymond
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +922
--- #3,464 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 32.7%
--- #16 among cities in New Hampshire, #3,527 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,738
--- #32 largest city in New Hampshire, #7,796 largest city nationwide
#16. East Merrimack
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +947
--- #3,414 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 22.4%
--- #25 among cities in New Hampshire, #5,094 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,176
--- #26 largest city in New Hampshire, #6,397 largest city nationwide
#15. Portsmouth
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +993
--- #3,318 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.7%
--- #48 among cities in New Hampshire, #11,756 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 21,956
--- #8 largest city in New Hampshire, #2,073 largest city nationwide
#14. Concord
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,015
--- #3,278 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 2.4%
--- #54 among cities in New Hampshire, #13,350 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 43,976
--- #3 largest city in New Hampshire, #990 largest city nationwide
#13. Epping
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,121
--- #3,105 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 71.3%
--- #7 among cities in New Hampshire, #1,391 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,693
--- #40 largest city in New Hampshire, #9,345 largest city nationwide
#12. Lebanon
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,155
--- #3,044 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 8.8%
--- #37 among cities in New Hampshire, #9,452 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,282
--- #10 largest city in New Hampshire, #3,043 largest city nationwide
#11. Meredith
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,177
--- #2,998 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 87.2%
--- #5 among cities in New Hampshire, #1,040 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,527
--- #42 largest city in New Hampshire, #9,634 largest city nationwide
#10. Plymouth
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 1,184
--- #2,983 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 33.4%
--- #15 among cities in New Hampshire, #3,449 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,730
--- #29 largest city in New Hampshire, #6,799 largest city nationwide
#9. Pinardville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,273
--- #2,861 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 33.8%
--- #14 among cities in New Hampshire, #3,387 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,034
--- #27 largest city in New Hampshire, #6,510 largest city nationwide
#8. Hooksett
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,349
--- #2,754 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 34.3%
--- #13 among cities in New Hampshire, #3,333 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,283
--- #25 largest city in New Hampshire, #6,306 largest city nationwide
#7. Henniker
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,437
--- #2,660 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 83.1%
--- #6 among cities in New Hampshire, #1,128 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,166
--- #37 largest city in New Hampshire, #8,537 largest city nationwide
#6. Conway
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,751
--- #2,339 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 95.9%
--- #3 among cities in New Hampshire, #900 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,576
--- #33 largest city in New Hampshire, #7,990 largest city nationwide
#5. Durham
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,207
--- #2,013 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 24.7%
--- #21 among cities in New Hampshire, #4,639 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 11,147
--- #14 largest city in New Hampshire, #3,725 largest city nationwide
#4. Rochester
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,691
--- #1,709 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.0%
--- #36 among cities in New Hampshire, #9,340 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 32,492
--- #5 largest city in New Hampshire, #1,376 largest city nationwide
#3. Dover
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,062
--- #1,560 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.3%
--- #34 among cities in New Hampshire, #8,738 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 32,741
--- #4 largest city in New Hampshire, #1,359 largest city nationwide
#2. Nashua
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,280
--- #1,159 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.9%
--- #47 among cities in New Hampshire, #11,625 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 91,322
--- #2 largest city in New Hampshire, #383 largest city nationwide
#1. Manchester
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,853
--- #872 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.3%
--- #46 among cities in New Hampshire, #11,391 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 115,644
--- #1 largest city in New Hampshire, #256 largest city nationwide
