Fastest-growing counties in New York

Written by:
July 1, 2022
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Fastest-growing counties in New York

Why do people move from one county or region to another? The usual suspects are jobs, family, significant others, and overall cost of living, but there are other elements at play. For those with children, moving within close proximity of a highly rated school district is a key contributing factor. For younger adults just starting out, living someplace with a vibrant social scene might be a top priority. And for those whose careers have wound down after a lifetime of work, finding retirement-friendly communities is the goal—communities deemed to be safe, offer accessibility to medical resources and leisure activities in equal measure, and be affordable for those on a limited income.

This is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list. People's reasons for choosing to live where they do are as diverse as people themselves.

As far as why certain counties across the U.S. have experienced growth, relocation is not the sole, or even primary, reason why. While more than 1,800 counties saw population gains in 2021, approximately 73% of all U.S. counties saw what the U.S. Census Bureau characterizes as a natural decrease. This was a significant jump from 2020, when 55.5% of countries experienced such a decrease. According to the Bureau, natural decrease is the simple result of "when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period." In 2021, the conflation of fewer births with an aging population that was also absorbing a higher-than-usual mortality rate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to this "increased decrease."

Nonetheless, as stated 1,800 counties nationwide have grown larger over the last year, and a sizable percentage of them are in New York. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in New York using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census.

#50. St. Lawrence County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -3,439
--- #3,016 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.1%
--- #40 among counties in New York, #2,010 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 108,505
--- #27 largest county in New York, #566 largest county nationwide

#49. Cattaraugus County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -3,275
--- #2,998 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.1%
--- #45 among counties in New York, #2,181 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 77,042
--- #35 largest county in New York, #730 largest county nationwide

#48. Chenango County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -3,257
--- #2,996 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.5%
--- #57 among counties in New York, #2,536 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 47,220
--- #50 largest county in New York, #1,032 largest county nationwide

#47. Schoharie County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -3,035
--- #2,980 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -9.3%
--- #62 among counties in New York, #2,814 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 29,714
--- #58 largest county in New York, #1,438 largest county nationwide

#46. Oneida County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,753
--- #2,956 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.2%
--- #27 among counties in New York, #1,684 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 232,125
--- #17 largest county in New York, #295 largest county nationwide

#45. Tioga County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,670
--- #2,945 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.2%
--- #50 among counties in New York, #2,358 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 48,455
--- #47 largest county in New York, #1,013 largest county nationwide

#44. Orleans County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,540
--- #2,923 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.9%
--- #55 among counties in New York, #2,458 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 40,343
--- #55 largest county in New York, #1,179 largest county nationwide

#43. Cortland County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,527
--- #2,920 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.1%
--- #49 among counties in New York, #2,346 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 46,809
--- #51 largest county in New York, #1,037 largest county nationwide

#42. Allegany County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,490
--- #2,914 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.1%
--- #48 among counties in New York, #2,341 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 46,456
--- #52 largest county in New York, #1,043 largest county nationwide

#41. Wayne County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,489
--- #2,913 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.7%
--- #36 among counties in New York, #1,949 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 91,283
--- #31 largest county in New York, #655 largest county nationwide

#40. Clinton County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,285
--- #2,887 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.8%
--- #37 among counties in New York, #1,966 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 79,843
--- #33 largest county in New York, #714 largest county nationwide

#39. Fulton County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,207
--- #2,873 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.0%
--- #43 among counties in New York, #2,161 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 53,324
--- #45 largest county in New York, #945 largest county nationwide

#38. Putnam County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -2,042
--- #2,842 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.0%
--- #31 among counties in New York, #1,865 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 97,668
--- #29 largest county in New York, #620 largest county nationwide

#37. Essex County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,989
--- #2,832 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.1%
--- #47 among counties in New York, #2,339 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,381
--- #56 largest county in New York, #1,237 largest county nationwide

#36. Broome County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,917
--- #2,817 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.0%
--- #26 among counties in New York, #1,649 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 198,683
--- #19 largest county in New York, #341 largest county nationwide

#35. Washington County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,914
--- #2,816 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.0%
--- #39 among counties in New York, #2,001 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 61,302
--- #41 largest county in New York, #863 largest county nationwide

#34. Genesee County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,691
--- #2,762 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.8%
--- #38 among counties in New York, #1,972 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 58,388
--- #44 largest county in New York, #896 largest county nationwide

#33. Wyoming County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,624
--- #2,741 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.9%
--- #42 among counties in New York, #2,141 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 40,531
--- #54 largest county in New York, #1,170 largest county nationwide

#32. Dutchess County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,577
--- #2,728 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.5%
--- #25 among counties in New York, #1,578 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 295,911
--- #15 largest county in New York, #237 largest county nationwide

#31. Columbia County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,526
--- #2,714 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.4%
--- #33 among counties in New York, #1,914 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 61,570
--- #40 largest county in New York, #862 largest county nationwide

#30. Seneca County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,437
--- #2,691 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.1%
--- #44 among counties in New York, #2,180 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 33,814
--- #57 largest county in New York, #1,333 largest county nationwide

#29. Greene County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -1,290
--- #2,640 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.6%
--- #35 among counties in New York, #1,943 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 47,931
--- #48 largest county in New York, #1,024 largest county nationwide

#28. Montgomery County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -687
--- #2,317 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.4%
--- #28 among counties in New York, #1,722 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 49,532
--- #46 largest county in New York, #1,000 largest county nationwide

#27. Ulster County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -642
--- #2,275 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.4%
--- #24 among counties in New York, #1,554 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 181,851
--- #20 largest county in New York, #367 largest county nationwide

#26. Yates County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -574
--- #2,220 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.3%
--- #32 among counties in New York, #1,888 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,774
--- #60 largest county in New York, #1,610 largest county nationwide

#25. Lewis County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -505
--- #2,155 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.9%
--- #30 among counties in New York, #1,816 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 26,582
--- #59 largest county in New York, #1,546 largest county nationwide

#24. Schuyler County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -445
--- #2,096 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.4%
--- #34 among counties in New York, #1,916 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,898
--- #61 largest county in New York, #1,924 largest county nationwide

#23. Warren County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +30
--- #1,453 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.0%
--- #23 among counties in New York, #1,481 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 65,737
--- #38 largest county in New York, #817 largest county nationwide

#22. Hamilton County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +271
--- #1,280 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.6%
--- #10 among counties in New York, #760 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,107
--- #62 largest county in New York, #2,818 largest county nationwide

#21. Jefferson County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +492
--- #1,151 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.4%
--- #22 among counties in New York, #1,425 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 116,721
--- #25 largest county in New York, #537 largest county nationwide

#20. Sullivan County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,077
--- #981 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.4%
--- #20 among counties in New York, #1,266 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 78,624
--- #34 largest county in New York, #721 largest county nationwide

#19. Rensselaer County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,701
--- #867 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.1%
--- #21 among counties in New York, #1,326 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 161,130
--- #21 largest county in New York, #416 largest county nationwide

#18. Schenectady County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,334
--- #675 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.2%
--- #17 among counties in New York, #1,158 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 158,061
--- #22 largest county in New York, #428 largest county nationwide

#17. Tompkins County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,176
--- #616 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.1%
--- #13 among counties in New York, #916 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 105,740
--- #28 largest county in New York, #580 largest county nationwide

#16. Ontario County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,527
--- #590 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.2%
--- #12 among counties in New York, #910 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 112,458
--- #26 largest county in New York, #546 largest county nationwide

#15. Onondaga County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,490
--- #440 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.0%
--- #18 among counties in New York, #1,179 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 476,516
--- #11 largest county in New York, #151 largest county nationwide

#14. Albany County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +10,644
--- #413 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.5%
--- #15 among counties in New York, #990 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 314,848
--- #14 largest county in New York, #225 largest county nationwide

#13. Monroe County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +15,099
--- #346 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.0%
--- #19 among counties in New York, #1,180 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 759,443
--- #9 largest county in New York, #89 largest county nationwide

#12. Saratoga County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +15,902
--- #337 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.2%
--- #5 among counties in New York, #613 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 235,509
--- #16 largest county in New York, #291 largest county nationwide

#11. Rockland County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +26,642
--- #241 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.5%
--- #2 among counties in New York, #515 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 338,329
--- #13 largest county in New York, #212 largest county nationwide

#10. Richmond County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +27,017
--- #237 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.8%
--- #9 among counties in New York, #745 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 495,747
--- #10 largest county in New York, #144 largest county nationwide

#9. Orange County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +28,497
--- #225 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.6%
--- #4 among counties in New York, #588 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 401,310
--- #12 largest county in New York, #179 largest county nationwide

#8. Suffolk County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +32,570
--- #192 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.2%
--- #16 among counties in New York, #1,157 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,525,920
--- #4 largest county in New York, #25 largest county nationwide

#7. Erie County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +35,196
--- #182 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.8%
--- #14 among counties in New York, #949 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 954,236
--- #8 largest county in New York, #57 largest county nationwide

#6. Westchester County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +55,344
--- #118 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.8%
--- #8 among counties in New York, #738 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,004,457
--- #7 largest county in New York, #48 largest county nationwide

#5. Nassau County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +56,242
--- #114 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.2%
--- #11 among counties in New York, #908 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,395,774
--- #6 largest county in New York, #30 largest county nationwide

#4. Bronx County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +87,546
--- #58 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.3%
--- #7 among counties in New York, #680 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,472,654
--- #5 largest county in New York, #27 largest county nationwide

#3. New York County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +108,378
--- #47 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.8%
--- #6 among counties in New York, #645 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,694,251
--- #3 largest county in New York, #20 largest county nationwide

#2. Queens County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +174,742
--- #24 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.8%
--- #3 among counties in New York, #577 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,405,464
--- #2 largest county in New York, #11 largest county nationwide

#1. Kings County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +231,374
--- #13 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +9.2%
--- #1 among counties in New York, #467 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,736,074
--- #1 largest county in New York, #7 largest county nationwide

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