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Fastest growing cities in Alabama

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 Alabama 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. Pike Road
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,367
— #1,129 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 86.1%
— #21 among cities in Alabama, #1,057 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 9,439
— #73 largest city in Alabama, #4,255 largest city nationwide

#19. Opelika
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,128
— #985 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.8%
— #110 among cities in Alabama, #5,669 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 30,995
— #18 largest city in Alabama, #1,450 largest city nationwide

#18. Helena
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,451
— #928 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 35.3%
— #65 among cities in Alabama, #3,241 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 20,914
— #31 largest city in Alabama, #2,164 largest city nationwide

#17. Prattville
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,659
— #901 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.6%
— #125 among cities in Alabama, #6,226 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 37,781
— #14 largest city in Alabama, #1,167 largest city nationwide

#16. Chelsea
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,780
— #884 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 62.8%
— #31 among cities in Alabama, #1,668 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 14,982
— #49 largest city in Alabama, #2,926 largest city nationwide

#15. Vestavia Hills
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,797
— #882 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.4%
— #127 among cities in Alabama, #6,293 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 39,102
— #12 largest city in Alabama, #1,124 largest city nationwide

#14. Gulf Shores
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,979
— #855 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 66.2%
— #28 among cities in Alabama, #1,554 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 15,014
— #48 largest city in Alabama, #2,917 largest city nationwide

#13. Calera
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,120
— #838 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 59.0%
— #34 among cities in Alabama, #1,810 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 16,494
— #40 largest city in Alabama, #2,699 largest city nationwide

#12. Daphne
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,645
— #784 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 31.9%
— #73 among cities in Alabama, #3,609 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 27,462
— #20 largest city in Alabama, #1,634 largest city nationwide

#11. Foley
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,765
— #771 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 49.9%
— #44 among cities in Alabama, #2,222 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 20,335
— #32 largest city in Alabama, #2,221 largest city nationwide

#10. Dothan
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,773
— #770 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.5%
— #177 among cities in Alabama, #8,639 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 71,072
— #8 largest city in Alabama, #547 largest city nationwide

#9. Phenix City
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,112
— #738 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 22.4%
— #100 among cities in Alabama, #5,084 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 38,816
— #13 largest city in Alabama, #1,127 largest city nationwide

#8. Trussville
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,514
— #700 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 40.4%
— #54 among cities in Alabama, #2,819 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 26,123
— #22 largest city in Alabama, #1,723 largest city nationwide

#7. Fairhope
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,550
— #693 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 50.6%
— #41 among cities in Alabama, #2,180 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 22,477
— #26 largest city in Alabama, #2,037 largest city nationwide

#6. Northport
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,585
— #605 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 38.1%
— #61 among cities in Alabama, #2,985 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 31,125
— #17 largest city in Alabama, #1,442 largest city nationwide

#5. Tuscaloosa
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,937
— #423 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.6%
— #144 among cities in Alabama, #7,394 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 99,600
— #5 largest city in Alabama, #339 largest city nationwide

#4. Hoover
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +14,063
— #341 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.9%
— #121 among cities in Alabama, #6,153 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 92,606
— #6 largest city in Alabama, #376 largest city nationwide

#3. Madison
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +16,640
— #270 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 41.3%
— #52 among cities in Alabama, #2,759 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 56,933
— #10 largest city in Alabama, #744 largest city nationwide

#2. Auburn
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +25,086
— #138 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 49.1%
— #45 among cities in Alabama, #2,255 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 76,143
— #7 largest city in Alabama, #501 largest city nationwide

#1. Huntsville
– 2010 to 2020 population change: +39,590
— #75 among all cities nationwide
– 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 22.6%
— #99 among cities in Alabama, #5,054 among all cities nationwide
– 2020 population: 215,006
— #1 largest city in Alabama, #108 largest city nationwide

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