Fastest growing cities in Vermont
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 Vermont 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. Montpelier
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 171
--- #7,818 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 2.2%
--- #51 among cities in Vermont, #13,472 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,074
--- #7 largest city in Vermont, #4,791 largest city nationwide
#19. South Royalton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +177
--- #7,698 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 37.1%
--- #11 among cities in Vermont, #3,072 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 654
--- #65 largest city in Vermont, #17,443 largest city nationwide
#18. South Barre
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +187
--- #7,531 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 18.6%
--- #26 among cities in Vermont, #5,975 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,193
--- #42 largest city in Vermont, #13,813 largest city nationwide
#17. East Barre
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +192
--- #7,476 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 31.0%
--- #14 among cities in Vermont, #3,713 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 811
--- #52 largest city in Vermont, #16,080 largest city nationwide
#16. North Hartland
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +209
--- #7,200 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 186.6%
--- #2 among cities in Vermont, #365 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 321
--- #88 largest city in Vermont, #21,599 largest city nationwide
#15. Brattleboro
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 216
--- #7,129 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.0%
--- #48 among cities in Vermont, #12,913 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,352
--- #9 largest city in Vermont, #5,113 largest city nationwide
#14. Bradford
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 228
--- #6,960 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 33.6%
--- #12 among cities in Vermont, #3,434 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 907
--- #46 largest city in Vermont, #15,415 largest city nationwide
#13. White River Junction
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 260
--- #6,558 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.4%
--- #39 among cities in Vermont, #8,241 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,532
--- #22 largest city in Vermont, #9,628 largest city nationwide
#12. Northfield
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 298
--- #6,161 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 8.6%
--- #41 among cities in Vermont, #9,540 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,757
--- #17 largest city in Vermont, #7,773 largest city nationwide
#11. Randolph
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +355
--- #5,700 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 20.5%
--- #24 among cities in Vermont, #5,486 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,083
--- #28 largest city in Vermont, #10,656 largest city nationwide
#10. Richmond
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 363
--- #5,638 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 74.1%
--- #6 among cities in Vermont, #1,316 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 853
--- #49 largest city in Vermont, #15,786 largest city nationwide
#9. Springfield
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +484
--- #4,918 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.1%
--- #34 among cities in Vermont, #7,617 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,189
--- #15 largest city in Vermont, #7,316 largest city nationwide
#8. Middlebury
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +778
--- #3,830 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.9%
--- #37 among cities in Vermont, #8,044 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,304
--- #10 largest city in Vermont, #5,142 largest city nationwide
#7. Winooski
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +864
--- #3,585 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.1%
--- #36 among cities in Vermont, #7,965 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,997
--- #8 largest city in Vermont, #4,823 largest city nationwide
#6. Essex Junction
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,435
--- #2,662 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.7%
--- #30 among cities in Vermont, #6,753 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,590
--- #4 largest city in Vermont, #3,876 largest city nationwide
#5. Wilder
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,526
--- #2,574 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 98.8%
--- #3 among cities in Vermont, #869 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,071
--- #18 largest city in Vermont, #8,692 largest city nationwide
#4. Milton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,879
--- #2,250 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 97.6%
--- #4 among cities in Vermont, #881 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,804
--- #16 largest city in Vermont, #7,729 largest city nationwide
#3. Burlington
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,808
--- #1,658 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.7%
--- #44 among cities in Vermont, #10,564 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 44,743
--- #1 largest city in Vermont, #967 largest city nationwide
#2. South Burlington
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,936
--- #1,612 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 16.9%
--- #27 among cities in Vermont, #6,423 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 20,292
--- #2 largest city in Vermont, #2,229 largest city nationwide
#1. Shelburne
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 5,498
--- #924 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 808.5%
--- #1 among cities in Vermont, #44 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,178
--- #12 largest city in Vermont, #5,732 largest city nationwide
