Maryland · 46 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in Maryland, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +15.6%
- Growing
- 32
- Shrinking
- 14
The 20 fastest-growing
Brunswick grew fastest, from 7,799 in July 2020 to 9,015 in July 2024, +15.6%. It is the 26th largest of the 46 places ranked. 32 places grew and 14 shrank or held flat; the median change was +1.3%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Frederick, +11,142 people. At the other end, Bel Air changed by -2.8%. 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.
- 01Brunswick+15.6%
- 02Frederick+14.2%
- 03Taneytown+14.1%
- 04Aberdeen+13.4%
- 05La Plata+11.9%
- 06Leonardtown+11.0%
- 07Fruitland+8.0%
- 08Walkersville+5.9%
- 09Berlin+5.6%
- 10Denton+4.2%
- 11Chestertown+3.3%
- 12Mount Airy+2.8%
- 13Westminster+2.6%
- 14Havre de Grace+2.6%
- 15Chesapeake Beach+2.2%
- 16Middletown+2.1%
- 17Poolesville+2.1%
- 18Salisbury+2.0%
- 19Thurmont+1.7%
- 20Gaithersburg+1.7%
Dots: the 20 places in the chart. Orange pin: Brunswick, ranked first.
All 46 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brunswick | 9,015 | +15.6% | Frederick County |
| 2 | Frederick | 89,537 | +14.2% | Frederick County |
| 3 | Taneytown | 8,293 | +14.1% | Carroll County |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 18,451 | +13.4% | Harford County |
| 5 | La Plata | 11,374 | +11.9% | Charles County |
| 6 | Leonardtown | 5,041 | +11.0% | St. Mary's County |
| 7 | Fruitland | 5,973 | +8.0% | Wicomico County |
| 8 | Walkersville | 6,535 | +5.9% | Frederick County |
| 9 | Berlin | 5,349 | +5.6% | Worcester County |
| 10 | Denton | 5,049 | +4.2% | Caroline County |
| 11 | Chestertown | 5,702 | +3.3% | Kent County |
| 12 | Mount Airy | 9,914 | +2.8% | Carroll County +1 |
| 13 | Westminster | 20,662 | +2.6% | Carroll County |
| 14 | Havre de Grace | 15,222 | +2.6% | Harford County |
| 15 | Chesapeake Beach | 6,504 | +2.2% | Calvert County |
| 16 | Middletown | 5,055 | +2.1% | Frederick County |
| 17 | Poolesville | 5,856 | +2.1% | Montgomery County |
| 18 | Salisbury | 33,616 | +2.0% | Wicomico County |
| 19 | Thurmont | 6,308 | +1.7% | Frederick County |
| 20 | Gaithersburg | 70,686 | +1.7% | Montgomery County |
| 21 | Rockville | 68,417 | +1.6% | Montgomery County |
| 22 | Easton | 17,381 | +1.5% | Talbot County |
| 23 | Takoma Park | 17,856 | +1.4% | Montgomery County |
| 24 | Cambridge | 13,262 | +1.3% | Dorchester County |
| 25 | Elkton | 15,977 | +1.0% | Cecil County |
| 26 | Hagerstown | 43,909 | +0.9% | Washington County |
| 27 | Laurel | 30,238 | +0.9% | Prince George's County |
| 28 | Hampstead | 6,288 | +0.7% | Carroll County |
| 29 | Manchester | 5,440 | +0.7% | Carroll County |
| 30 | Ocean City | 6,884 | +0.5% | Worcester County |
| 31 | Bowie | 58,421 | +0.3% | Prince George's County |
| 32 | Glenarden | 6,394 | +0.1% | Prince George's County |
| 33 | Bladensburg | 9,635 | -0.1% | Prince George's County |
| 34 | Greenbelt | 24,843 | -0.1% | Prince George's County |
| 35 | New Carrollton | 13,645 | -0.1% | Prince George's County |
| 36 | College Park | 34,667 | -0.1% | Prince George's County |
| 37 | District Heights | 5,916 | -0.3% | Prince George's County |
| 38 | Cheverly | 6,125 | -0.4% | Prince George's County |
| 39 | Annapolis | 40,689 | -0.4% | Anne Arundel County |
| 40 | Hyattsville | 21,052 | -0.4% | Prince George's County |
| 41 | Frostburg | 6,972 | -0.5% | Allegany County |
| 42 | Riverdale Park | 7,296 | -0.5% | Prince George's County |
| 43 | Mount Rainier | 8,269 | -0.5% | Prince George's County |
| 44 | Cumberland | 18,643 | -2.0% | Allegany County |
| 45 | Baltimore | 568,271 | -2.6% | Baltimore city |
| 46 | Bel Air | 10,395 | -2.8% | Harford County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in Maryland?
Brunswick, up 15.6% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 9,015 residents.
Which Maryland city added the most people?
Frederick, which gained 11,142 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many Maryland cities are shrinking?
14 of 46 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.