PlainCities

Ranking · Virginia

Fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking places in Virginia

Louisa has the highest population change, 2020 to 2025 of Virginia's 139 ranked places (+13.2%); Clintwood has the lowest (−6.2%). 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 Virginia, first to fifth: Louisa (+13.2%), Dumfries (+12.9%), Cape Charles (+11.7%), Fairfax (+10.9%) and Suffolk (+10.9%).

Fastest-growing places in Virginia, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
1 Louisatown +13.2% 2,244Louisa County
2 Dumfriestown +12.9% 6,405Prince William County
3 Cape Charlestown +11.7% 1,314Northampton County
4 Fairfaxcity +10.9% 26,772Fairfax city
5 Suffolkcity +10.9% 104,699Suffolk city
6 Gordonsvilletown +10.6% 1,587Orange County
7 Bowling Greentown +10.2% 1,284Caroline County
8 Orangetown +10.1% 5,365Orange County
9 Culpepertown +9.9% 22,074Culpeper County
10 Stephens Citytown +9.0% 2,207Frederick County
11 Middletowntown +8.8% 1,471Frederick County
12 Fredericksburgcity +8.6% 30,393Fredericksburg city
13 Waynesborocity +7.9% 23,951Waynesboro city
14 Windsortown +7.4% 2,947Isle of Wight County
15 Radfordcity +7.3% 17,243Radford city
16 Broadwaytown +6.8% 4,463Rockingham County
17 Smithfieldtown +6.8% 9,112Isle of Wight County
18 Poquosoncity +6.7% 13,292Poquoson city
19 Timbervilletown +6.7% 3,166Rockingham County
20 Grottoestown +6.6% 3,099Rockingham County and 1 more
21 Colonial Beachtown +6.4% 4,151Westmoreland County
22 Daytontown +6.4% 1,791Rockingham County
23 Elktontown +6.3% 3,136Rockingham County
24 Lexingtoncity +6.3% 7,769Lexington city
25 Appomattoxtown +5.9% 2,025Appomattox County

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

Which are the fastest-shrinking places?

Fastest-shrinking places in Virginia, first to fifth: Clintwood (−6.2%), Norton (−5.9%), Emporia (−5.3%), Exmore (−5.2%) and Clifton Forge (−4.9%).

Fastest-shrinking places in Virginia, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
139 Clintwoodtown −6.2% 1,297Dickenson County
138 Nortoncity −5.9% 3,477Norton city
137 Emporiacity −5.3% 5,447Emporia city
136 Exmoretown −5.2% 1,396Northampton County
135 Clifton Forgetown −4.9% 3,372Alleghany County
134 Appalachiatown −4.9% 1,369Wise County
133 Bluefieldtown −4.9% 4,839Tazewell County
132 Tazewelltown −4.9% 4,291Tazewell County
131 Bristolcity −4.8% 16,418Bristol city
130 Charlottesvillecity −4.6% 44,388Charlottesville city
129 Cedar Blufftown −4.6% 1,003Tazewell County
128 Richlandstown −4.4% 5,051Tazewell County
127 Wisetown −4.1% 2,853Wise County
126 Coeburntown −4.0% 1,535Wise County
125 Christiansburgtown −3.9% 22,442Montgomery County
124 Manassas Parkcity −3.8% 16,560Manassas Park city
123 Mariontown −3.4% 5,555Smyth County
122 Chilhowietown −3.3% 1,599Smyth County
121 Big Stone Gaptown −3.3% 5,102Wise County
120 Saltvilletown −3.2% 1,760Smyth County and 1 more
119 Norfolkcity −3.0% 231,013Norfolk city
118 Pennington Gaptown −2.8% 1,568Lee County
117 Narrowstown −2.6% 2,036Giles County
116 Chathamtown −2.4% 1,191Pittsylvania County
115 Hurttown −2.4% 1,234Pittsylvania 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