Where are the 14 fastest growing towns in Pennsylvania? See if your hometown made the list

While most municipalities in Pennsylvania have seen their populations drop over the last three years, a few hundred townships, boroughs and cities across the state have managed to grow each year, according to census population estimates.

A December report by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania estimated that most of Pennsylvania’s counties will see their populations shrink over the next 30 years, and census estimates released in March seem to be showing the start of that trend as 41 of 67 counties saw shrinking residents between 2022 and 2023.

The USA Today Network reviewed municipal-level census estimates released earlier this year to find towns that are bucking that overall trend and compiled a list of the 14 fastest growing towns in Pennsylvania.

Below is a breakdown of each municipality, its county, population estimates and overall growth.

The fastest growing towns in Pennsylvania

1. Pequea Township, Lancaster County: Grew by 14.47% from 2020 (5,474 residents) to 2023 (6,266 residents).

2. West Manheim Township, York County: Grew by 13.88% from 2020 (9,072 residents) to 2023 (10,331 residents).

3. Kennett Square Borough, Chester County: Grew by 9.86% from 2020 (5,936 residents) to 2023 (6,521 residents).

4. Spring City Borough, Chester County: Grew by 9.62% from 2020 (3,494 residents) to 2023 (3,830 residents).

5. Sadsbury Township, Chester County: Grew by 9.24% from 2020 (4,125 residents) to 2023 (4,506 residents).

6. Southampton Township, Cumberland County: Grew by 9.21% from 2020 (7,504 residents) to 2023 (8,195 residents).

7. Worcester Township, Montgomery County: Grew by 7.63% from 2020 (10,317 residents) to 2023 (11,104 residents).

8. Phoenixville Borough, Chester County: Grew by 6.82% from 2020 (18,602 residents) to 2023 (19,871 residents).

9. Hampden Township, Cumberland County: Grew by 6.59% from 2020 (32,761 residents) to 2023 (34,921 residents).

10. North Strabane Township, Washington County: Grew by 6.49% from 2020 (15,700 residents) to 2023 (16,719 residents).

11. Mechanicsburg Borough, Cumberland County: Grew by 6.44% from 2020 (9,311 residents) to 2023 (9,911 residents).

12. Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County: Grew by 6.17% from 2020 (33,613 residents) to 2023 (35,688 residents).

13. Shrewsbury Township, York County: Grew by 6.00% from 2020 (6,649 residents) to 2023 (7,048 residents).

14. Bridgeport Borough, Montgomery County: Grew by 5.88% from 2020 (5,015 residents) to 2023 (5,310 residents).

How were these towns chosen?

The census estimates used to create this list contained population estimates from 2020 through 2023 for the more than 2,500 municipalities in Pennsylvania.

In 2023, half of those communities were home to fewer than 1,893 people, and about 22% had fewer than 800 residents. Towns that fell in the bottom 25% for total population were excluded from the list because a relatively small change could create a large percentage difference and skew the ranking.

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The list also excluded towns where the largest increase in population wasn't in 2023.

For example, Lancaster Township, Butler County, would have ranked third in the state for overall growth, with its population increasing from 2,745 in 2020 to 3,414 in 2023 — a 24% increase.

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Although the township’s population has grown over the three years, Lancaster hit a bit of a boom and grew by 11% between 2020 and 2021. That growth has been slowing ever since, at just 5.9% between 2021 and 2022 and 5.7% between 2022 and 2023, according to census estimates.

Why are so many counties shrinking?

Births outpaced deaths in Pennsylvania last year in some parts of the commonwealth, and residents moving out of urban areas were two big factors behind the most recent county-level declines, according to the census estimates released earlier this year.

The report from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania warns that those factors, along with the continued graying of the Baby Boomer generation, will either create or further strain a range of social and economic challenge, including housing, health care, transportation and education.

Chris Ullery is the Philadelphia Hub Data Reporter for the USA Today Network. Reach him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter at @ulleryatinell.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: These 14 PA towns have seen their populations grow fast since 2020