PlainCities

Ranking · Kentucky

Fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking places in Kentucky

Elkton has the highest population change, 2020 to 2025 of Kentucky's 204 ranked places (+16.1%); Cumberland has the lowest (−9.4%). Ranked: places with 1,000 or more residents in the 2020 Census that are incorporated (the Census Bureau estimates only those each year).

Which are the fastest-growing places?

Fastest-growing places in Kentucky, first to fifth: Elkton (+16.1%), Richmond (+15.6%), Elizabethtown (+12.9%), Auburn (+10.3%) and Crescent Springs (+10.2%).

Fastest-growing places in Kentucky, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
1 Elktoncity +16.1% 2,387Todd County
2 Richmondcity +15.6% 40,663Madison County
3 Elizabethtowncity +12.9% 35,448Hardin County
4 Auburncity +10.3% 1,742Logan County
5 Crescent Springscity +10.2% 4,708Kenton County
6 Scottsvillecity +9.3% 4,673Allen County
7 Georgetowncity +8.9% 40,883Scott County
8 Nicholasvillecity +8.8% 33,857Jessamine County
9 Bowling Greencity +8.6% 78,505Warren County
10 Cadizcity +7.9% 2,771Trigg County
11 Fort Wrightcity +7.6% 6,240Kenton County
12 Bereacity +7.3% 16,662Madison County
13 Waltoncity +7.0% 5,868Boone County and 1 more
14 Unioncity +6.9% 7,937Boone County
15 Murraycity +6.9% 18,964Calloway County
16 Simpsonvillecity +6.8% 3,183Shelby County
17 Vine Grovecity +6.8% 7,018Hardin County
18 Villa Hillscity +6.7% 7,797Kenton County
19 Shelbyvillecity +6.6% 18,453Shelby County
20 Lebanoncity +6.6% 6,699Marion County
21 Taylorsvillecity +6.5% 1,333Spencer County
22 Florencecity +6.4% 34,018Boone County
23 Cold Springcity +6.3% 6,640Campbell County
24 Alexandriacity +6.2% 10,994Campbell County
25 Somersetcity +6.1% 12,695Pulaski County

Source: Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · Census population estimates

Which are the fastest-shrinking places?

Fastest-shrinking places in Kentucky, first to fifth: Cumberland (−9.4%), Whitesburg (−9.3%), Dawson Springs (−9.2%), Harlan (−9.1%) and Jenkins (−9.0%).

Fastest-shrinking places in Kentucky, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
204 Cumberlandcity −9.4% 1,761Harlan County
203 Whitesburgcity −9.3% 1,609Letcher County
202 Dawson Springscity −9.2% 2,231Hopkins County
201 Harlancity −9.1% 1,822Harlan County
200 Jenkinscity −9.0% 1,733Letcher County
199 Hazardcity −9.0% 4,794Perry County
198 Jacksoncity −8.3% 2,054Breathitt County
197 Prestonsburgcity −7.5% 3,618Floyd County
196 Manchestercity −7.4% 1,411Clay County
195 Elkhorn Citycity −7.1% 963Pike County
194 Pinevillecity −7.0% 1,552Bell County
193 Middlesboroughcity −6.5% 8,776Bell County
192 Pikevillecity −6.3% 7,270Pike County
191 Coal Run Villagecity −6.1% 1,565Pike County
190 Sturgiscity −5.6% 1,637Union County
189 Salyersvillecity −5.6% 1,502Magoffin County
188 Louisacity −5.4% 2,520Lawrence County
187 Moreheadcity −5.1% 6,776Rowan County
186 Barbourvillecity −5.0% 3,064Knox County
185 Paintsvillecity −4.8% 4,111Johnson County
184 Highland Heightscity −4.6% 6,341Campbell County
183 Fultoncity −4.6% 2,252Fulton County
182 Morganfieldcity −4.5% 3,102Union County
181 Hickmancity −4.3% 2,258Fulton County
180 Worthingtoncity −3.8% 1,447Greenup County

Source: Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · Census population estimates

How is this ranking made?

Each place's population change, 2020 to 2025 is read from the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base and its July 1, 2025 estimate. A place enters the ranking if it had 1,000 or more residents in the 2020 Census and is incorporated. Ties in the published figure share a rank. This is a measurement of one figure, not a judgment of a place.

Source: PlainCities ranking method applied to the Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections