The 6 Fastest Growing Towns in Ohio Everyone Is Talking About

Ohio is the 7^th most populous state in the country. The 2020 U.S. Census revealed that the state has a population of 11,199,374, an increase of 400,000 residents since 2010. However, the 2022 estimated population shows that residents are fleeing the state, and the population is now 11,756,058 people in the Buckeye State. Not all places are losing residents in Ohio, though. Discover the fastest-growing towns in Ohio and find out where they are, how many people moved to those areas, and possibly what makes them attractive to their new residents. 

All the data for this article comes directly from the U.S. Census Bureau’s population change totals for incorporated places between 2020 and 2022. This includes towns and cities.

6. Sunbury

Sunbury is a small city in Delaware County, Ohio. This city is located in the central part of the state, and it is situated about 20 miles north of downtown Columbus and a few miles north of the Hoover Reservoir.

Sunbury had 6,614 people during the 2020 Census. The population in this area grew by 1,292 people over the next two years. This rise in population may not seem that significant relative to major cities. Yet, the population change in this town was an incredible 19.5%. That is the highest rate of change of any of the cities or towns on this list of the fastest-growing towns in Ohio. 

5. Pickerington

Pickerington is a city in both Franklin and Fairfield counties, areas in central Ohio. This city is about 12 miles east of Columbus. Farmland stretches far to the east and south of this city. The population in Pickerington was 23,102 in 2020. The population in this small city rose by 1,422 people, leaving an estimated 24,524 people in the city in 2022. That is a 6.15% increase in the total population in the region.

4. North Ridgeville

North Ridgeville is a medium-sized city in northern Ohio. Unlike the other towns and cities that we’ve explored so far, North Ridgeville is closer to Cleveland than Columbus. North Ridgeville is in Lorain County, about 17 miles southwest of Cleveland. This is the only city on the list that is not near Columbus.

The 2020 Census found that 35,274 people lived in this part of Ohio. The population continued to rise in this area from 2020 to 2022. Now, the U.S. Census Bureau believes that 36,824 people call this city home. The population in the city increased by 1,550 people, a total increase of 4.39% over the previous total. Since Cleveland’s population is dropping, people could be relocating from that major city to this smaller one to escape the high costs associated with living in Cleveland.

3. Marysville

Marysville is yet another city in the Columbus metro area, about 25 miles northwest of Columbus. The city is a part of Union County, and it has a total area of about 16.5 square miles. The city is known for having major transportation roads running through it, including U.S. Route 33, a highway that helps people travel from this city to I-75 and I-270.  

The population in Marysville was 25,586 during the 2020 Census. The city’s population grew by a total of 1,571 people. Now, the estimated population in the city is 27,157 people, earning Marysville a spot on the list of the fastest-growing towns in Ohio. The population saw a 6.14% increase during this time, a significant rise in population but not the largest on this list.

2. Columbus

Columbus is a centrally located city in Ohio, and most of the other towns and cities on this list are nearby. The city serves as the state’s capital. Columbus is home to Ohio State University, performing arts centers, historical centers, and much more.  

Columbus is the most populous city in Ohio, and it is also one of the fastest-growing cities in Ohio. The 2020 Census found 905,839 people living in the city. The population in this area rose to 907,971, an increase of 0.23%. That means a total of 2,132 people moved to this area over two years.  

1. Delaware

Delaware is another city close to Columbus, just about 30 miles north of the state capital. The city is home to the oldest movie theater in Ohio and the Historic Northwest Neighborhood, a site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Delaware is a medium-sized city that had a population of 41,308 people in 2020. However, the city’s population rose by 2,587 people between 2020 and 2022. The new population estimate for this region is 43,895 residents. The population increased by 6.26%, one of the largest increases on this list.

Now that we have looked at the fastest-growing towns in Ohio, we must consider the reasons they’re growing. The towns and cities on this list are a mix of highly populated cities, moderately populated cities, and suburban towns. Many of them are near Columbus, Ohio. So, people could be moving to the city and its surrounding suburbs for jobs or economic benefits.

Cities like Cleveland have seen a population decrease as people flee some cities. Yet, Columbus bucks this trend, and it is increasing in population. So, other factors must be at play in this area. Many cities in the U.S. are dealing with a cost-of-living crisis, so that could be driving people from some cities but not all of them. The population in Ohio is slowly decreasing. So, people could be relocating inside of the state or leaving it entirely. The next census will provide more information about the factors driving the population shifts in Ohio.

Summary of the Fastest-Growing Towns in Ohio

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