The 3 Fastest Growing Cities in Pennsylvania may Surprise You

According to the US Census Bureau, Pennsylvania is the 5th most populous state in America, with a population of 12.9 million residents.

As a state with some of the best universities in the world, top hospitals, gorgeous scenic beauty, and all four seasons, it's no wonder that people like to call the Keystone State home.

Photo byBrenda Mann/Burst

Lifelong residents of Pennsylvania may think of cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia as being the most popular but data shows some surprising places are growing much faster than others.

Below is a list of the 10 cities people have been flocking to in record numbers recently.

1. Pequea Township, Lancaster County: Grew 14.47% from 2020 (5,474 residents) to 2023 (6,266 residents).
2. West Manheim Township, York County: Grew 13.88% from 2020 (9,072 residents) to 2023 (10,331 residents).
3. Kennett Square Borough, Chester County: Grew 9.86% from 2020 (5,936 residents) to 2023 (6,521 residents).
4. Spring City Borough, Chester County: Grew 9.62% from 2020 (3,494 residents) to 2023 (3,830 residents).
5. Sadsbury Township, Chester County: Grew 9.24% from 2020 (4,125 residents) to 2023 (4,506 residents).
6. Southampton Township, Cumberland County: Grew 9.21% from 2020 (7,504 residents) to 2023 (8,195 residents).
7. Worcester Township, Montgomery County: Grew 7.63% from 2020 (10,317 residents) to 2023 (11,104 residents).
8. Phoenixville Borough, Chester County: Grew 6.82% from 2020 (18,602 residents) to 2023 (19,871 residents).
9. Hampden Township, Cumberland County: Grew 6.59% from 2020 (32,761 residents) to 2023 (34,921 residents).
10. North Strabane Township, Washington County: Grew 6.49% from 2020 (15,700 residents) to 2023 (16,719 residents).
11. Mechanicsburg Borough, Cumberland County: Grew 6.44% from 2020 (9,311 residents) to 2023 (9,911 residents).
12. Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County: Grew 6.17% from 2020 (33,613 residents) to 2023 (35,688 residents).
13. Shrewsbury Township, York County: Grew 6.00% from 2020 (6,649 residents) to 2023 (7,048 residents).
14. Bridgeport Borough, Montgomery County: Grew 5.88% from 2020 (5,015 residents) to 2023 (5,310 residents).

Despite the rapid growth in these cities, most of Pennsylvania is actually shrinking. A December report by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania estimated that most of Pennsylvania’s counties would see their populations shrink over the next 30 years, and census estimates released back in March seem to be reflecting that trend. 41 of 67 counties in PA saw shrinking residents between 2022 and 2023.

What do you think? Did you know Pequea Township was the fastest-growing city in Pennsylvania? Are there any other towns on this list that surprised you? Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments.