Top States for Population Growth

Despite a national slowdown, population growth remained concentrated in a small group of states in 2025, where strong net domestic migration inflows, economic opportunity, and in some cases elevated birth rates drove the annual increases. Overall, 14 states had an annual population growth rate above 0.75%, while 12 states had less than 0.1%, according to a Chandan Economics analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey.

Annual State-Level Population Gains

South Carolina’s 1.5% annual increase in 2025 led the country in population growth, expanding roughly three times faster than the national average of 0.5% (Chart 1).

South Carolina’s growth has been driven primarily by robust net domestic migration. Its proximity to higher-cost Northeastern states combined with its comparative affordability makes it a popular destination for relocating households, particularly retirees. More than 16% of those who moved to South Carolina were of retirement age, which was the 10^th highest mark in the country.

Neighboring North Carolina also ranked near the top of the population growth leaderboard in 2025, with a 1.3% growth rate that was the third highest nationally. While retiree in-migration remains a supporting factor, North Carolina’s population gains have been reinforced by its diversified economic base, particularly across the Raleigh and Charlotte metropolitan areas.

Idaho, which had a population growth rate of 1.4% in 2025, ranked second. Population growth was highly concentrated in the Boise metropolitan area, where strong job markets in professional services, tech-adjacent industries, and logistics have attracted more movers. The quality of life in Idaho’s capital city has also made it a notable destination for remote workers who have greater flexibility when choosing where to live.

Rounding out the top five states for population growth were Texas and Utah. Dynamic metro-level economies combined with relative affordability have made both states attractive landing spots, particularly for households relocating from higher-cost West Coast states, most notably California. High birth rates are also a meaningful contributor to population growth in both states, with Utah and Texas ranking first and fourth, respectively.

The Bottom Line

While overall population growth in the U.S. slowed in 2025, Census data showed that the biggest gains remained concentrated in a small group of states, which are strengthened by sound fundamentals, like positive in-migration and high economic opportunity. South Carolina, Idaho, North Carolina, and other population growth hotspots, all have underlying drivers of growth that make them compelling multifamily real estate investment markets in 2026.

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