Napa, CA – Crescent City, a small coastal town in Northern California, has emerged as the fastest-growing city in the state, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data. Between 2023 and 2024, the city saw a population increase of 10.72 percent, making it the most rapidly expanding municipality in California during that period.
The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 estimates, published earlier this month, show that Crescent City’s population rose from approximately 5,608 in 2023 to 6,209 in 2024 — a dramatic turnaround for a town that had experienced a steep decline of nearly 16 percent in the three years prior. In 2020, the city’s population stood at 6,675.
The resurgence comes amid broader national trends of population recovery in small and mid-sized cities, particularly in the West and Northeast. “Cities of all sizes, in all regions, showed faster growth and larger gains than in 2023,” said Crystal Delbé, a statistician in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. The only exception, she noted, were small cities in the South, which maintained the same growth rate as the year prior.
Crescent City’s growth far outpaced other California municipalities. The city of Paradise, still recovering from the 2018 Camp Fire, ranked second with a growth rate of 6.57 percent, followed by Emeryville at 5.93 percent, and Lathrop at 5.52 percent. Larger cities also showed modest gains — Mountain View grew by 4.02 percent and Lincoln by 3.30 percent.
California’s population growth reflects a broader trend of recovery across the U.S., where cities of all sizes posted gains. Nationally, New York City led in total population growth, adding over 87,000 residents, followed by Houston, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Fort Worth. Los Angeles, which had not appeared on the list of top-gaining cities since 2016, added more than 31,000 residents, securing its place among the nation’s top three fastest-growing major cities.
The report also highlighted several demographic milestones. Both Jacksonville, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas, crossed the one million population mark. Meanwhile, seven cities surpassed 100,000 residents, including Tracy, California, and Federal Way, Washington.
Despite these large-city milestones, the Census Bureau emphasized that America remains largely a nation of small towns. Of the 19,479 incorporated places in the United States, nearly three-quarters have fewer than 5,000 residents.
While Crescent City’s numeric gain may seem modest compared to the tens of thousands added in major metro areas, its rate of growth speaks volumes about changing migration patterns, affordability concerns, and the appeal of smaller communities. Whether the city can maintain this momentum remains to be seen, but for now, it stands as a symbol of rural and small-town revitalization in post-pandemic America.