Idaho’s Fastest Growing Cities Join Top 50 Nationwide

Idaho experienced a statewide population increase of 1.4% in 2025, bringing the total population close to 2.03 million. According to U.S. Census Bureau data compiled by the Idaho Department of Labor, this growth rate ranks Idaho second in the nation, trailing South Carolina by one-tenth of a percentage point.

The growth was heavily concentrated in urban areas, with more than 75% of the state’s 28,861 new residents settling in the three largest counties: Ada, Canyon, and Kootenai. The latter includes the cities of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls.

Urban Growth and Metropolitan Trends

The Boise Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses Ada, Canyon, Boise, Gem, and Owyhee counties, was a primary driver of the state’s expansion. This area grew by 2.2%, making it the 13th fastest growing market in the United States and the second fastest in the West, behind only St. George, Utah.

In addition to Boise, the metropolitan statistical areas of Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Falls have both entered the top 50 of the fastest growing cities nationwide.

Canyon County saw a growth rate of 2.9%, which is more than double the statewide average. The county added 7,679 people, bringing its total population to 275,125. Ada County remains the largest in the state with nearly 550,000 residents, adding 10,916 people for a 2% increase.

Combined, Ada and Canyon counties account for more than 40% of Idaho’s total population. Data from the Department of Labor indicates that two out of every three new residents settled in the southwest region of the state.

County and City Distribution

The population boom was widespread across the state, with 36 of Idaho’s 44 counties recording growth in 2025. However, the distribution of new residents remained skewed toward larger centers, as the state’s nine largest counties absorbed 90% of all new residents during the year.

Long-term trends since 2020 show that 109,000 people moved into Ada, Canyon, and Kootenai counties, representing 60% of the state’s overall growth during that period.

At the city level, growth patterns vary among municipalities with over 1,000 residents. Based on data from 2020 to 2025, the city of Star led with an annualized growth rate of 8.48%, followed by Ponderay at 8.09% and Paul at 7.07%.

• Boise City: 238,923 residents
• Meridian: 149,862 residents
• Nampa: 125,310 residents

Of the 83 cities in Idaho with a population exceeding 1,000, 81 experienced growth, while two cities saw a decline in population.

Regional Impact in the Treasure Valley

The Treasure Valley continues to be a significant magnet for new residents, adding more than 50 people per day throughout 2025. This growth is buoyed largely by the continued expansion of Ada and Canyon counties.

Other cities showing notable annualized growth between 2020 and 2025 include Sugar City at 6.48%, Rathdrum at 6.2%, and Middleton at 4.41%. Larger hubs like Meridian and Nampa also maintained growth rates of 3.5% and 3.28% respectively during this window.