Fastest Growing States in the US (2020-2026)
Published April 18, 2026 · Census ACS 2023
Americans are moving south and west. Since the 2020 decennial census, Sun Belt states have gained millions of residents while much of the Northeast and Rust Belt have flatlined or shrunk. The divergence reshapes political power, housing markets, and the economic center of gravity.
Top 12 Fastest Growing States
| # | State | Growth | Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | +8.8% | +162,513 |
| 2 | Florida | +8.5% | +1,834,028 |
| 3 | Texas | +7.4% | +2,145,326 |
| 4 | Utah | +7.1% | +231,997 |
| 5 | South Carolina | +7.0% | +360,406 |
| 6 | Delaware | +6.3% | +61,969 |
| 7 | Arizona | +6.0% | +430,882 |
| 8 | North Carolina | +5.8% | +606,636 |
| 9 | Nevada | +5.2% | +162,853 |
| 10 | Montana | +4.9% | +53,008 |
| 11 | Tennessee | +4.6% | +316,910 |
| 12 | Georgia | +4.4% | +468,970 |
States Losing Population
While the Sun Belt booms, a handful of states have seen net declines:
| # | State | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | -1.7% |
| 2 | West Virginia | -1.3% |
| 3 | Louisiana | -1.3% |
| 4 | Illinois | -0.8% |
| 5 | Hawaii | -0.6% |
| 6 | Mississippi | -0.6% |
| 7 | California | -0.3% |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 0.6% |
Why the Sun Belt Keeps Winning
Housing cost. A median home in Austin or Nashville still costs a fraction of the equivalent home in San Francisco or Boston. For households that no longer need to live near an office, moving south or west can mean an immediate, substantial wealth transfer in the form of a cheaper mortgage or rent.
Tax policy. Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Nevada have no state income tax. For high earners, this materially shifts take-home pay. Even states that do tax income, like Arizona and the Carolinas, have lower overall tax burdens than California, New York, or Illinois.
Climate and lifestyle. Warm-weather preference has been a persistent driver of US migration for decades. Post-pandemic remote work simply amplified a trend that was already in motion.
The Political Consequences
Population growth determines House seats and Electoral College votes. The 2020 redistribution moved seats from New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia toward Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Montana, and Oregon. Current growth patterns suggest the 2030 reapportionment will accelerate that shift.
Related Reading
For the current population of every state, see most populous states in America. To see where home prices are cheapest, read cheapest states to live in. The full ranking of all 50 states by population is also available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Idaho has grown by approximately 8.8% since 2020, the fastest growth rate among US states.
New York has seen the largest population decline since 2020, with net migration losses to lower-cost states.
The three dominant drivers are housing affordability, tax policy (many Sun Belt states have no state income tax), and remote-work flexibility that decoupled where people live from where they work.
Population growth in this analysis is calculated by comparing Census ACS 5-Year estimates to 2020 decennial census data. It includes both natural change (births minus deaths) and net migration (in-movers minus out-movers).
Growth rates calculated by comparing the most recent available ACS 5-Year estimate against the 2020 decennial census baseline. Sun Belt growth leadership is consistent across multiple data sources.