New Hampshire · 13 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in New Hampshire, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +7.6%
- Growing
- 11
- Shrinking
- 2
The 13 fastest-growing
Lebanon grew fastest, from 14,308 in July 2020 to 15,389 in July 2024, +7.6%. It is the 9th largest of the 13 places ranked. 11 places grew and 2 shrank or held flat; the median change was +1.4%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Dover, +1,126 people. At the other end, Berlin changed by -1.7%. 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.
- 01Lebanon+7.6%
- 02Portsmouth+4.3%
- 03Dover+3.4%
- 04Rochester+3.3%
- 05Laconia+2.5%
- 06Somersworth+2.5%
- 07Concord+1.4%
- 08Claremont+1.2%
- 09Franklin+0.9%
- 10Manchester+0.8%
- 11Nashua+0.7%
- 12Keene-0.0%
- 13Berlin-1.7%
Dots: the 13 places in the chart. Orange pin: Lebanon, ranked first.
All 13 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lebanon | 15,389 | +7.6% | Grafton County |
| 2 | Portsmouth | 22,938 | +4.3% | Rockingham County |
| 3 | Dover | 33,909 | +3.4% | Strafford County |
| 4 | Rochester | 33,598 | +3.3% | Strafford County |
| 5 | Laconia | 17,310 | +2.5% | Belknap County |
| 6 | Somersworth | 12,218 | +2.5% | Strafford County |
| 7 | Concord | 44,674 | +1.4% | Merrimack County |
| 8 | Claremont | 13,105 | +1.2% | Sullivan County |
| 9 | Franklin | 8,823 | +0.9% | Merrimack County |
| 10 | Manchester | 116,386 | +0.8% | Hillsborough County |
| 11 | Nashua | 91,851 | +0.7% | Hillsborough County |
| 12 | Keene | 23,036 | -0.0% | Cheshire County |
| 13 | Berlin | 9,248 | -1.7% | Coos County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in New Hampshire?
Lebanon, up 7.6% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 15,389 residents.
Which New Hampshire city added the most people?
Dover, which gained 1,126 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many New Hampshire cities are shrinking?
2 of 13 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.