Is being in an area of Wisconsin that’s growing quickly a good thing or a bad thing?
Depends on who you ask.
Some want bigger, more exciting cities like Milwaukee and Madison, while others want peace and quiet like in Richland Center and Bristol, thank you very much.
But today, we’re going to put opinions aside and look at the cold, hard facts — since 2010, which cities in Wisconsin have grown the fastest.
After getting knee-deep in the Census’s American Community Survey using Saturday Night Science, we emerged with this set of cities in the Badger State that have people climbing over each other to get in.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In Wisconsin For 2024
What’s the fastest growing city in Wisconsin for 2024? Based on the most recent ACS data, Bristol ranks as the fastest-growing city in Wisconsin. If you happen to be a resident of Bristol, you’re probably not surprised to find it on our list.
If you’re surprised — and you’re wondering why these places are a big deal — keep reading. We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 places in Wisconsin grow like weeds.
For more Wisconsin state reading:
- Best Places To Live In The United States
- Fastest Growing States In The United States
- Best Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Cheapest Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Most Dangerous Cities In Wisconsin
The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In Wisconsin For 2024
1. Bristol
/10
Population: 5,169
Population 2010: 2,563
Percent Growth 101.7%
Absolute Growth: 2,606
More on Bristol: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
2. Hobart
/10
Population: 10,130
Population 2010: 5,993
Percent Growth 69.0%
Absolute Growth: 4,137
More on Hobart: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
3. Verona
/10
Population: 14,040
Population 2010: 10,033
Percent Growth 39.9%
Absolute Growth: 4,007
More on Verona: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
4. Cottage Grove
/10
Population: 7,567
Population 2010: 5,824
Percent Growth 29.9%
Absolute Growth: 1,743
More on Cottage Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
5. Sun Prairie
/10
Population: 35,847
Population 2010: 27,808
Percent Growth 28.9%
Absolute Growth: 8,039
More on Sun Prairie: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
6. Waunakee
/10
Population: 14,794
Population 2010: 11,557
Percent Growth 28.0%
Absolute Growth: 3,237
More on Waunakee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
7. Holmen
/10
Population: 10,806
Population 2010: 8,455
Percent Growth 27.8%
Absolute Growth: 2,351
More on Holmen: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
8. Middleton
/10
Population: 21,864
Population 2010: 17,164
Percent Growth 27.4%
Absolute Growth: 4,700
More on Middleton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
9. Altoona
/10
Population: 8,506
Population 2010: 6,685
Percent Growth 27.2%
Absolute Growth: 1,821
More on Altoona: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
10. Oregon
/10
Population: 11,240
Population 2010: 8,942
Percent Growth 25.7%
Absolute Growth: 2,298
More on Oregon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Measured The Fastest Growing Cities In the Badger State for 2024
To figure out which cities are growing the most, we used Saturday Night Science to look at the growth rates for cities since the beginning of the decade, according to the American Community Survey put out by the census every year. Specifically:
- Current Population
- Population in 2010
- Growth rate from 2010 to Current (The latest available data which came out in Dec 2022)
We ranked all 143 Wisconsin cities with a population over 5,000 people from highest growth rate to lowest.
The city with the highest growth rate during this time was crowned the fastest-growing city in the Badger State.
And for those of you who are a little rusty with their statistics, you can calculate the growth rate by the following formula:
[Current Population – Population 2010] / [Population 2010]
The data has been updated for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the fastest growing cities in Wisconsin.
Here’s a graph of the cities in Wisconsin with the most significant percent increase in population:
Summary: These Places Grew Up So Fast In Wisconsin, You Know?
So there you have it, the fastest growing cities in Wisconsin are led by Bristol which has been growing at a blistering pace this decade relative to other cities and towns around the state.
The fastest-growing cities in Wisconsin are Bristol, Hobart, Verona, Cottage Grove, Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Holmen, Middleton, Altoona, and Oregon.
It’ll be interesting to see if these places can keep growing at the same rate over the next couple of years. We’ll be here to let you know!
These places have been growing (or shrinking) the slowest (fastest):
- Prairie Du Chien
- Merrill
- Two Rivers
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Wisconsin
- Safest Places In Wisconsin
- Worst Places To Live In Wisconsin
Fastest Growing Places In Wisconsin For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | Population 2010 | Growth | Absolute Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol | 5,169 | 2,563 | 101.7% | 2,606 |
| 2 | Hobart | 10,130 | 5,993 | 69.0% | 4,137 |
| 3 | Verona | 14,040 | 10,033 | 39.9% | 4,007 |
| 4 | Cottage Grove | 7,567 | 5,824 | 29.9% | 1,743 |
| 5 | Sun Prairie | 35,847 | 27,808 | 28.9% | 8,039 |
| 6 | Waunakee | 14,794 | 11,557 | 28.0% | 3,237 |
| 7 | Holmen | 10,806 | 8,455 | 27.8% | 2,351 |
| 8 | Middleton | 21,864 | 17,164 | 27.4% | 4,700 |
| 9 | Altoona | 8,506 | 6,685 | 27.2% | 1,821 |
| 10 | Oregon | 11,240 | 8,942 | 25.7% | 2,298 |