Fastest growing cities in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island 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. Misquamicut
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +54
--- #11,195 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.2%
--- #8 among cities in Rhode Island, #7,212 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 434
--- #28 largest city in Rhode Island, #19,912 largest city nationwide
#19. Clayville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +93
--- #9,643 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 42.5%
--- #3 among cities in Rhode Island, #2,674 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 312
--- #32 largest city in Rhode Island, #21,760 largest city nationwide
#18. Foster Center
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +106
--- #9,255 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 46.7%
--- #2 among cities in Rhode Island, #2,381 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 333
--- #31 largest city in Rhode Island, #21,413 largest city nationwide
#17. Newport
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 206
--- #7,260 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 0.8%
--- #20 among cities in Rhode Island, #14,329 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,163
--- #7 largest city in Rhode Island, #1,802 largest city nationwide
#16. Chepachet
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +221
--- #7,054 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.9%
--- #7 among cities in Rhode Island, #7,016 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,704
--- #20 largest city in Rhode Island, #11,748 largest city nationwide
#15. Wyoming
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +246
--- #6,733 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 145.6%
--- #1 among cities in Rhode Island, #538 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 415
--- #30 largest city in Rhode Island, #20,184 largest city nationwide
#14. Hope Valley
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +282
--- #6,323 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.8%
--- #5 among cities in Rhode Island, #6,187 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,870
--- #18 largest city in Rhode Island, #11,260 largest city nationwide
#13. Greenville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 294
--- #6,207 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.4%
--- #18 among cities in Rhode Island, #12,677 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,061
--- #12 largest city in Rhode Island, #4,397 largest city nationwide
#12. Cumberland Hill
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +320
--- #5,962 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.1%
--- #16 among cities in Rhode Island, #12,198 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,140
--- #13 largest city in Rhode Island, #4,764 largest city nationwide
#11. Pascoag
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +407
--- #5,317 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.6%
--- #9 among cities in Rhode Island, #9,047 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,641
--- #16 largest city in Rhode Island, #6,868 largest city nationwide
#10. Tiverton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +513
--- #4,773 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.0%
--- #11 among cities in Rhode Island, #10,391 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,809
--- #15 largest city in Rhode Island, #4,895 largest city nationwide
#9. Valley Falls
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +576
--- #4,494 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.0%
--- #14 among cities in Rhode Island, #11,581 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,094
--- #11 largest city in Rhode Island, #3,508 largest city nationwide
#8. Newport East
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +700
--- #4,065 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.0%
--- #12 among cities in Rhode Island, #10,961 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,337
--- #10 largest city in Rhode Island, #3,458 largest city nationwide
#7. Westerly
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +871
--- #3,571 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.0%
--- #15 among cities in Rhode Island, #11,602 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 18,423
--- #9 largest city in Rhode Island, #2,446 largest city nationwide
#6. Woonsocket
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 1,558
--- #2,542 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.7%
--- #17 among cities in Rhode Island, #12,428 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 43,240
--- #6 largest city in Rhode Island, #1,013 largest city nationwide
#5. Kingston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,699
--- #2,387 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 27.7%
--- #4 among cities in Rhode Island, #4,153 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,825
--- #14 largest city in Rhode Island, #4,890 largest city nationwide
#4. Cranston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,354
--- #1,904 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 2.9%
--- #19 among cities in Rhode Island, #12,978 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 82,934
--- #2 largest city in Rhode Island, #442 largest city nationwide
#3. Central Falls
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,192
--- #1,508 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 16.5%
--- #6 among cities in Rhode Island, #6,526 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 22,583
--- #8 largest city in Rhode Island, #2,027 largest city nationwide
#2. Pawtucket
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,942
--- #1,249 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.5%
--- #13 among cities in Rhode Island, #11,277 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 75,604
--- #4 largest city in Rhode Island, #509 largest city nationwide
#1. Providence
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +12,648
--- #390 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.1%
--- #10 among cities in Rhode Island, #10,353 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 190,934
--- #1 largest city in Rhode Island, #138 largest city nationwide
