Minnesota · 155 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in Minnesota, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
Dayton is the fastest-growing city of 5,000+ in Minnesota, +44.5% from 2020 to 2024. Newport (+37.4%) is second.
- Fastest
- +44.5%
- Growing
- 98
- Shrinking
- 57
The 20 fastest-growing
Dayton grew fastest, from 7,434 in July 2020 to 10,744 in July 2024, +44.5%. It is the 99th largest of the 155 places ranked. 98 places grew and 57 shrank or held flat; the median change was +1.1%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Lakeville, +7,941 people. At the other end, Falcon Heights changed by -6.9%. 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.
- 01Dayton+44.5%
- 02Newport+37.4%
- 03Corcoran+33.7%
- 04Carver+25.3%
- 05Lake Elmo+24.8%
- 06Rosemount+18.6%
- 07St. Michael+18.6%
- 08Otsego+18.3%
- 09Delano+15.3%
- 10Cambridge+13.3%
- 11North Branch+12.9%
- 12Victoria+11.9%
- 13Lakeville+11.3%
- 14Shakopee+9.8%
- 15Cottage Grove+9.7%
- 16Minnetrista+9.2%
- 17Big Lake+9.2%
- 18Isanti+8.9%
- 19Rogers+8.8%
- 20Zimmerman+8.4%
Dots: the 20 places in the chart. Orange pin: Dayton, ranked first.
All 155 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dayton | 10,744 | +44.5% | Hennepin County +1 |
| 2 | Newport | 5,415 | +37.4% | Washington County |
| 3 | Corcoran | 8,378 | +33.7% | Hennepin County |
| 4 | Carver | 6,810 | +25.3% | Carver County |
| 5 | Lake Elmo | 14,161 | +24.8% | Washington County |
| 6 | Rosemount | 30,581 | +18.6% | Dakota County |
| 7 | St. Michael | 21,681 | +18.6% | Wright County |
| 8 | Otsego | 23,875 | +18.3% | Wright County |
| 9 | Delano | 7,513 | +15.3% | Wright County |
| 10 | Cambridge | 10,974 | +13.3% | Isanti County |
| 11 | North Branch | 12,258 | +12.9% | Chisago County |
| 12 | Victoria | 11,937 | +11.9% | Carver County |
| 13 | Lakeville | 77,971 | +11.3% | Dakota County |
| 14 | Shakopee | 48,401 | +9.8% | Scott County |
| 15 | Cottage Grove | 42,760 | +9.7% | Washington County |
| 16 | Minnetrista | 9,091 | +9.2% | Hennepin County |
| 17 | Big Lake | 12,855 | +9.2% | Sherburne County |
| 18 | Isanti | 7,493 | +8.9% | Isanti County |
| 19 | Rogers | 14,493 | +8.8% | Hennepin County |
| 20 | Zimmerman | 6,772 | +8.4% | Sherburne County |
| 21 | St. Anthony | 9,993 | +8.3% | Hennepin County +1 |
| 22 | Albertville | 8,555 | +8.2% | Wright County |
| 23 | Chaska | 30,167 | +8.2% | Carver County |
| 24 | Elko New Market | 5,193 | +7.7% | Scott County |
| 25 | Oakdale | 30,441 | +7.7% | Washington County |
| 26 | Byron | 6,809 | +7.6% | Olmsted County |
| 27 | Lonsdale | 5,066 | +7.5% | Rice County |
| 28 | Becker | 5,252 | +7.2% | Sherburne County |
| 29 | Monticello | 15,482 | +6.8% | Wright County |
| 30 | Woodbury | 80,596 | +6.8% | Washington County |
| 31 | Blaine | 75,172 | +6.7% | Anoka County |
| 32 | West St. Paul | 21,920 | +6.6% | Dakota County |
| 33 | Elk River | 27,606 | +6.4% | Sherburne County |
| 34 | Princeton | 5,329 | +6.3% | Mille Lacs County +1 |
| 35 | Waconia | 13,831 | +6.1% | Carver County |
| 36 | Hugo | 16,765 | +6.1% | Washington County |
| 37 | Lino Lakes | 22,774 | +6.0% | Anoka County |
| 38 | Baxter | 9,186 | +5.8% | Crow Wing County |
| 39 | Medina | 7,209 | +5.2% | Hennepin County |
| 40 | Kasson | 7,207 | +4.6% | Dodge County |
| 41 | St. Francis | 8,523 | +4.3% | Anoka County |
| 42 | Ramsey | 28,999 | +4.3% | Anoka County |
| 43 | Oak Grove | 9,327 | +4.2% | Anoka County |
| 44 | East Bethel | 12,288 | +4.2% | Anoka County |
| 45 | Mankato | 46,459 | +4.1% | Blue Earth County +1 |
| 46 | Willmar | 21,892 | +4.0% | Kandiyohi County |
| 47 | Fridley | 30,679 | +3.7% | Anoka County |
| 48 | St. Cloud | 72,145 | +3.6% | Stearns County +2 |
| 49 | Stewartville | 6,919 | +3.5% | Olmsted County |
| 50 | Alexandria | 14,914 | +3.5% | Douglas County |
| 51 | Maple Grove | 72,739 | +3.5% | Hennepin County |
| 52 | Farmington | 24,464 | +3.4% | Dakota County |
| 53 | St. Peter | 12,456 | +3.1% | Nicollet County |
| 54 | Sartell | 19,979 | +3.1% | Stearns County +1 |
| 55 | Buffalo | 16,736 | +2.8% | Wright County |
| 56 | Moorhead | 45,726 | +2.7% | Clay County |
| 57 | Lindstrom | 5,026 | +2.6% | Chisago County |
| 58 | Jordan | 6,831 | +2.4% | Scott County |
| 59 | North St. Paul | 12,644 | +2.4% | Ramsey County |
| 60 | Chisago City | 5,953 | +2.4% | Chisago County |
| 61 | Ham Lake | 16,905 | +2.4% | Anoka County |
| 62 | Hopkins | 19,462 | +2.4% | Hennepin County |
| 63 | Northfield | 21,316 | +2.4% | Rice County +1 |
| 64 | Andover | 33,426 | +2.3% | Anoka County |
| 65 | Faribault | 24,983 | +2.2% | Rice County |
| 66 | Bemidji | 15,733 | +2.1% | Beltrami County |
| 67 | Waite Park | 8,504 | +1.9% | Stearns County |
| 68 | Columbia Heights | 22,358 | +1.9% | Anoka County |
| 69 | Austin | 26,690 | +1.8% | Mower County |
| 70 | Wyoming | 8,173 | +1.7% | Chisago County |
| 71 | Rochester | 123,624 | +1.7% | Olmsted County |
| 72 | Credit River | 5,589 | +1.7% | Scott County |
| 73 | Morris | 5,192 | +1.6% | Stevens County |
| 74 | Hastings | 22,502 | +1.6% | Dakota County +1 |
| 75 | Duluth | 87,986 | +1.5% | St. Louis County |
| 76 | Grand Rapids | 11,244 | +1.4% | Itasca County |
| 77 | Prior Lake | 28,018 | +1.4% | Scott County |
| 78 | Vadnais Heights | 13,108 | +1.1% | Ramsey County |
| 79 | Inver Grove Heights | 36,226 | +1.1% | Dakota County |
| 80 | Marshall | 13,996 | +1.1% | Lyon County |
| 81 | Lake City | 5,306 | +1.0% | Wabasha County +1 |
| 82 | Belle Plaine | 7,444 | +1.0% | Scott County |
| 83 | Fergus Falls | 14,258 | +1.0% | Otter Tail County |
| 84 | New Prague | 8,235 | +1.0% | Scott County +1 |
| 85 | Savage | 32,896 | +1.0% | Scott County |
| 86 | Little Falls | 9,206 | +1.0% | Morrison County |
| 87 | Red Wing | 16,788 | +1.0% | Goodhue County |
| 88 | Anoka | 18,068 | +0.9% | Anoka County |
| 89 | Owatonna | 26,626 | +0.8% | Steele County |
| 90 | Winona | 26,173 | +0.7% | Winona County |
| 91 | Hutchinson | 14,708 | +0.7% | McLeod County |
| 92 | Mahtomedi | 8,199 | +0.7% | Washington County |
| 93 | Burnsville | 64,864 | +0.5% | Dakota County |
| 94 | Hermantown | 10,265 | +0.4% | St. Louis County |
| 95 | Edina | 53,564 | +0.4% | Hennepin County |
| 96 | Coon Rapids | 63,807 | +0.3% | Anoka County |
| 97 | Brainerd | 14,400 | +0.2% | Crow Wing County |
| 98 | Shoreview | 26,939 | +0.1% | Ramsey County |
| 99 | Forest Lake | 20,700 | -0.0% | Washington County |
| 100 | Detroit Lakes | 10,033 | -0.1% | Becker County |
| 101 | Stillwater | 19,386 | -0.1% | Washington County |
| 102 | St. Louis Park | 49,899 | -0.3% | Hennepin County |
| 103 | Sauk Rapids | 13,832 | -0.5% | Benton County |
| 104 | Minneapolis | 428,579 | -0.5% | Hennepin County |
| 105 | South St. Paul | 20,590 | -0.6% | Dakota County |
| 106 | Thief River Falls | 8,779 | -0.7% | Pennington County |
| 107 | Cloquet | 12,475 | -0.7% | Carlton County |
| 108 | North Oaks | 5,232 | -0.7% | Ramsey County |
| 109 | Orono | 8,228 | -0.9% | Hennepin County |
| 110 | Chanhassen | 25,746 | -0.9% | Carver County |
| 111 | Worthington | 13,754 | -1.0% | Nobles County |
| 112 | North Mankato | 14,142 | -1.1% | Nicollet County |
| 113 | New Ulm | 13,970 | -1.1% | Brown County |
| 114 | St. Joseph | 6,992 | -1.1% | Stearns County |
| 115 | Richfield | 36,491 | -1.2% | Hennepin County |
| 116 | St. Paul | 307,465 | -1.2% | Ramsey County |
| 117 | Glencoe | 5,659 | -1.3% | McLeod County |
| 118 | Redwood Falls | 5,038 | -1.3% | Redwood County |
| 119 | Spring Lake Park | 7,083 | -1.4% | Anoka County +1 |
| 120 | Hibbing | 15,940 | -1.5% | St. Louis County |
| 121 | La Crescent | 5,257 | -1.6% | Houston County +1 |
| 122 | Roseville | 35,637 | -1.6% | Ramsey County |
| 123 | Waseca | 9,067 | -1.6% | Waseca County |
| 124 | Bloomington | 88,344 | -1.7% | Hennepin County |
| 125 | Virginia | 8,267 | -1.7% | St. Louis County |
| 126 | Litchfield | 6,515 | -1.7% | Meeker County |
| 127 | Apple Valley | 55,272 | -1.8% | Dakota County |
| 128 | Mendota Heights | 11,542 | -1.8% | Dakota County |
| 129 | Albert Lea | 18,159 | -1.9% | Freeborn County |
| 130 | Little Canada | 10,590 | -1.9% | Ramsey County |
| 131 | Eden Prairie | 62,905 | -2.0% | Hennepin County |
| 132 | Eagan | 67,240 | -2.2% | Dakota County |
| 133 | Montevideo | 5,300 | -2.2% | Chippewa County |
| 134 | East Grand Forks | 8,915 | -2.5% | Polk County |
| 135 | Fairmont | 10,176 | -2.6% | Martin County |
| 136 | Minnetonka | 52,651 | -2.7% | Hennepin County |
| 137 | Crookston | 7,269 | -2.9% | Polk County |
| 138 | Shorewood | 7,557 | -2.9% | Hennepin County +1 |
| 139 | St. Paul Park | 5,381 | -3.0% | Washington County |
| 140 | Plymouth | 78,551 | -3.0% | Hennepin County |
| 141 | Mounds View | 12,841 | -3.3% | Ramsey County |
| 142 | Champlin | 23,045 | -3.4% | Hennepin County |
| 143 | Mound | 9,031 | -3.6% | Hennepin County |
| 144 | Brooklyn Park | 82,893 | -3.9% | Hennepin County |
| 145 | Robbinsdale | 13,993 | -4.0% | Hennepin County |
| 146 | Arden Hills | 9,490 | -4.2% | Ramsey County |
| 147 | Maplewood | 40,142 | -4.5% | Ramsey County |
| 148 | New Brighton | 22,374 | -4.7% | Ramsey County |
| 149 | International Falls | 5,498 | -4.9% | Koochiching County |
| 150 | Crystal | 22,082 | -5.0% | Hennepin County |
| 151 | White Bear Lake | 23,479 | -5.3% | Ramsey County +1 |
| 152 | New Hope | 20,745 | -5.3% | Hennepin County |
| 153 | Golden Valley | 21,263 | -5.4% | Hennepin County |
| 154 | Brooklyn Center | 31,755 | -5.7% | Hennepin County |
| 155 | Falcon Heights | 5,002 | -6.9% | Ramsey County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in Minnesota?
Dayton, up 44.5% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 10,744 residents.
Which Minnesota city added the most people?
Lakeville, which gained 7,941 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many Minnesota cities are shrinking?
57 of 155 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.