Fastest growing cities in North Dakota
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 North Dakota 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. Casselton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +274
--- #6,411 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.4%
--- #114 among cities in North Dakota, #7,830 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,479
--- #21 largest city in North Dakota, #9,738 largest city nationwide
#19. Surrey
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +323
--- #5,937 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 31.2%
--- #71 among cities in North Dakota, #3,690 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,357
--- #39 largest city in North Dakota, #13,044 largest city nationwide
#18. Belfield
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +344
--- #5,777 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 52.8%
--- #46 among cities in North Dakota, #2,070 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 996
--- #55 largest city in North Dakota, #14,809 largest city nationwide
#17. Jamestown
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 557
--- #4,577 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.6%
--- #145 among cities in North Dakota, #12,482 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 15,849
--- #9 largest city in North Dakota, #2,797 largest city nationwide
#16. Stanley
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +563
--- #4,550 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 32.0%
--- #69 among cities in North Dakota, #3,602 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,321
--- #22 largest city in North Dakota, #10,090 largest city nationwide
#15. Green Acres
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +591
--- #4,416 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4221.4%
--- #1 among cities in North Dakota, #5 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 605
--- #92 largest city in North Dakota, #17,911 largest city nationwide
#14. Mapleton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +662
--- #4,168 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 100.6%
--- #22 among cities in North Dakota, #847 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,320
--- #40 largest city in North Dakota, #13,226 largest city nationwide
#13. Horace
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +835
--- #3,659 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 37.1%
--- #60 among cities in North Dakota, #3,071 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,085
--- #17 largest city in North Dakota, #8,664 largest city nationwide
#12. Tioga
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 980
--- #3,347 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 80.2%
--- #26 among cities in North Dakota, #1,181 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,202
--- #25 largest city in North Dakota, #10,364 largest city nationwide
#11. New Town
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,129
--- #3,089 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 69.1%
--- #33 among cities in North Dakota, #1,462 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,764
--- #19 largest city in North Dakota, #9,193 largest city nationwide
#10. Lincoln
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,123
--- #2,059 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 99.5%
--- #23 among cities in North Dakota, #867 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,257
--- #15 largest city in North Dakota, #7,246 largest city nationwide
#9. Watford City
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,461
--- #1,112 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 255.5%
--- #7 among cities in North Dakota, #220 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,207
--- #13 largest city in North Dakota, #5,710 largest city nationwide
#8. Mandan
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,393
--- #810 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 35.9%
--- #64 among cities in North Dakota, #3,190 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,206
--- #8 largest city in North Dakota, #1,890 largest city nationwide
#7. Grand Forks
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,872
--- #760 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.1%
--- #110 among cities in North Dakota, #7,576 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 59,166
--- #3 largest city in North Dakota, #708 largest city nationwide
#6. Dickinson
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,511
--- #613 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 49.6%
--- #50 among cities in North Dakota, #2,234 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,679
--- #7 largest city in North Dakota, #1,754 largest city nationwide
#5. Minot
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,323
--- #556 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 23.9%
--- #85 among cities in North Dakota, #4,789 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 48,377
--- #4 largest city in North Dakota, #896 largest city nationwide
#4. Bismarck
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +13,634
--- #357 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 22.7%
--- #90 among cities in North Dakota, #5,017 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 73,622
--- #2 largest city in North Dakota, #521 largest city nationwide
#3. West Fargo
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +14,758
--- #327 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 61.8%
--- #39 among cities in North Dakota, #1,694 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 38,626
--- #5 largest city in North Dakota, #1,134 largest city nationwide
#2. Williston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +15,308
--- #304 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 110.5%
--- #21 among cities in North Dakota, #757 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 29,160
--- #6 largest city in North Dakota, #1,539 largest city nationwide
#1. Fargo
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +23,463
--- #158 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 22.9%
--- #89 among cities in North Dakota, #4,988 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 125,990
--- #1 largest city in North Dakota, #228 largest city nationwide
