Connecticut · 21 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in Connecticut, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +8.5%
- Growing
- 19
- Shrinking
- 2
The 20 fastest-growing
Groton grew fastest, from 9,361 in July 2020 to 10,160 in July 2024, +8.5%. It is the 21st largest of the 21 places ranked. 19 places grew and 2 shrank or held flat; the median change was +2.6%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in New Haven, +8,248 people. At the other end, West Haven changed by -0.3%. Growth is measured between the July 2020 and July 2024 estimates for places with 5,000 or more residents in 2024, so fast growth from a small base can outrank larger absolute gains.
- 01Groton+8.5%
- 02New Haven+6.4%
- 03Shelton+5.0%
- 04Derby+4.9%
- 05New London+4.8%
- 06New Britain+4.0%
- 07Middletown+3.5%
- 08Norwalk+3.0%
- 09Danbury+3.0%
- 10Stamford+2.7%
- 11Bridgeport+2.6%
- 12Bristol+2.4%
- 13Naugatuck+2.0%
- 14Waterbury+1.8%
- 15Ansonia+1.6%
- 16Hartford+1.4%
- 17Milford+1.2%
- 18Torrington+0.9%
- 19Meriden+0.4%
- 20Norwich-0.1%
Dots: the 20 places in the chart. Orange pin: Groton, ranked first.
All 21 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Groton | 10,160 | +8.5% | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region |
| 2 | New Haven | 137,562 | +6.4% | South Central Connecticut Planning Region |
| 3 | Shelton | 42,805 | +5.0% | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region |
| 4 | Derby | 12,915 | +4.9% | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region |
| 5 | New London | 28,081 | +4.8% | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region |
| 6 | New Britain | 75,871 | +4.0% | Capitol Planning Region |
| 7 | Middletown | 48,616 | +3.5% | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region |
| 8 | Norwalk | 93,661 | +3.0% | Western Connecticut Planning Region |
| 9 | Danbury | 88,692 | +3.0% | Western Connecticut Planning Region |
| 10 | Stamford | 139,134 | +2.7% | Western Connecticut Planning Region |
| 11 | Bridgeport | 151,599 | +2.6% | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region |
| 12 | Bristol | 62,195 | +2.4% | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region |
| 13 | Naugatuck | 32,116 | +2.0% | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region |
| 14 | Waterbury | 115,908 | +1.8% | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region |
| 15 | Ansonia | 19,195 | +1.6% | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region |
| 16 | Hartford | 122,129 | +1.4% | Capitol Planning Region |
| 17 | Milford | 51,004 | +1.2% | South Central Connecticut Planning Region |
| 18 | Torrington | 35,673 | +0.9% | Northwest Hills Planning Region |
| 19 | Meriden | 60,849 | +0.4% | South Central Connecticut Planning Region |
| 20 | Norwich | 39,993 | -0.1% | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region |
| 21 | West Haven | 55,379 | -0.3% | South Central Connecticut Planning Region |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in Connecticut?
Groton, up 8.5% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 10,160 residents.
Which Connecticut city added the most people?
New Haven, which gained 8,248 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many Connecticut cities are shrinking?
2 of 21 places of 5,000+ had the same or fewer residents in July 2024 than in July 2020.
Why use places of 5,000 or more?
Small towns can swing by double-digit percentages from a few new homes, and Census estimates for them carry more uncertainty. The 5,000 floor keeps the ranking to places where a percentage means something.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.