The Fastest Growing States '1. Utah'

May See Housing Boom

The population of the U.S. is growing, rising by 2.2 million people in 2016, according to the latest Census data. But the population growth is not even across the country. For instance, the South and West saw their populations rise by 1.1 percent in 2016, while the Northeast and Midwest saw just a 0.1 percent uptick.

 

A number of common factors affect migration patterns throughout the country. Americans move for economic and educational opportunities as well as quality of life factors such as environment and cost of living. Many of the fastest growing states are home to affordable, midsize cities with quality school systems and low unemployment.

Eight states saw populations grow by more than 1.6 percent in 2016. Many of the fastest-growing states tend to be affordable, midsize cities with quality school systems, and have low unemployment.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed one-year populations for all 50 states from 2015 to 2016 Census data. (The population estimates listed are from July 1 of each year.)
The fastest growing states are:

1. Utah

• 1-year population growth rate: 2.03%
• Current population: 3.05 million
• 2015 population: 2.99 million
• 10-year population growth rate: 20.82%

The population of Utah grew by 2.0% in 2016, nearly three times the 0.7% national population growth rate and the fastest pace of any state. Unlike most fast-growing states, the majority of Utah’s population increase was due to natural growth. Utah has the largest average family size in the country, and there were 1,854 births per 100,000 people in Utah in 2016 — far more than the national rate of 1,286 births per 100,000 Americans.

Utah also has the lowest death rate in the country. While Utah’s high birth-to-death ratio accounted for most of the state’s population growth, Utah’s population also grew more from inbound migration than many other states. The state’s population increased by 0.8% due to net migration in 2016, more than double the 0.3% national figure and the ninth highest rate of any state.

2. Nevada

• 1-year population growth rate: 1.95%
• Current population: 2.94 million
• 2015 population: 2.88 million
• 10-year population growth rate: 16.55%

3. Idaho

• 1-year population growth rate: 1.83%
• Current population: 1.68 million
• 2015 population: 1.65 million
• 10-year population growth rate: 14.60%

Meanwhile, the states that are seeing their populations shrink by the fastest amounts are: West Virginia and Illinois. West Virginia’s one-year population growth rate ped by 0.54 percent; its 10-year population growth rate is projected to be 0.17 percent. Illinois saw its one-year population growth rate decline by 0.29 percent, but its 10-year population growth rate is 1.25 percent, according to the study.


View more detailed findings on the study.