Ranking · North Dakota

Fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking places in North Dakota

Horace has the highest population change, 2020 to 2025 of North Dakota's 62 ranked places (+118.4%); Stanley has the lowest (−8.1%). 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 North Dakota, first to fifth: Horace (+118.4%), Mapleton (+13.2%), Fargo (+8.2%), Larimore (+7.7%) and Surrey (+7.2%).

Fastest-growing places in North Dakota, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
1 Horacecity +118.4% 7,001Cass County
2 Mapletoncity +13.2% 1,496Cass County
3 Fargocity +8.2% 136,275Cass County
4 Larimorecity +7.7% 1,359Grand Forks County
5 Surreycity +7.2% 1,450Ward County
6 West Fargocity +6.6% 41,175Cass County
7 Reed Townshiptownship +6.4% 1,151Cass County
8 Bismarckcity +5.9% 77,963Burleigh County
9 Lincolncity +5.1% 4,493Burleigh County
10 Burlingtoncity +4.8% 1,350Ward County
11 Missouri Ridge Townshiptownship +3.9% 1,662Williams County
12 Williston Townshiptownship +3.6% 1,116Williams County
13 Mandancity +3.6% 25,061Morton County
14 Watford Citycity +2.6% 6,378McKenzie County
15 Hettingercity +2.4% 1,119Adams County
16 Grand Forkscity +2.0% 60,365Grand Forks County
17 Wahpetoncity +1.6% 8,141Richland County
18 Hazencity +1.5% 2,314Mercer County
19 Apple Creek Townshiptownship +1.3% 3,515Burleigh County
20 Willistoncity +1.3% 29,522Williams County
21 Hay Creek Townshiptownship +1.2% 4,380Burleigh County
22 Gibbs Townshiptownship +1.1% 2,856Burleigh County
23 Tiogacity +0.9% 2,221Williams County
24 Dickinsoncity +0.8% 25,870Stark County
25 Beulahcity +0.6% 3,077Mercer County

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

Which are the fastest-shrinking places?

Fastest-shrinking places in North Dakota, first to fifth: Stanley (−8.1%), Bowman (−7.7%), Harvey (−6.7%), Cando (−6.2%) and Carrington (−6.2%).

Fastest-shrinking places in North Dakota, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
62 Stanleycity −8.1% 2,181Mountrail County
61 Bowmancity −7.7% 1,357Bowman County
60 Harveycity −6.7% 1,532Wells County
59 Candocity −6.2% 1,051Towner County
58 Carringtoncity −6.2% 1,950Foster County
57 Langdoncity −5.0% 1,809Cavalier County
56 Rollacity −5.0% 1,156Rolette County
55 Velvacity −4.9% 1,046McHenry County
54 Harrison Townshiptownship −4.5% 1,734Ward County
53 Nedrose Townshiptownship −4.5% 2,204Ward County
52 Tatman Townshiptownship −4.2% 2,673Ward County
51 Park Rivercity −4.1% 1,363Walsh County
50 Rugbycity −3.9% 2,412Pierce County
49 Crosbycity −3.8% 1,027Divide County
48 Sundre Townshiptownship −3.8% 1,024Ward County
47 Graftoncity −3.6% 4,023Walsh County
46 Washburncity −3.4% 1,254McLean County
45 Cavaliercity −2.9% 1,218Pembina County
44 Ellendalecity −2.8% 1,129Dickey County
43 Waterford Townshiptownship −2.6% 2,404Ward County
42 Lintoncity −2.5% 1,041Emmons County
41 Mayvillecity −2.4% 1,807Traill County
40 Valley Citycity −2.3% 6,430Barnes County
39 Minotcity −2.2% 47,308Ward County
38 Creel Townshiptownship −2.0% 1,388Ramsey 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.

Towns and townships are ranked beside cities, villages and census-designated places, and a census-designated place can lie inside a township, so one area can appear twice, once as each.

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