Here’s the 10 cities in IL that grew the most in 2021, and the 10 that shrunk fastest

The state of Illinois lost as much as 1.1% of its population from spring 2020 to summer 2021, though parts of the state have experienced differing fluctuations over the past year.

Thousands moved to cities outside Chicago from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021, according to recently released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau for incorporated cities, towns and villages across the country.

Warrenville led Illinois in most new residents added during that period, welcoming around 1,106 individuals. Yorkville followed with an estimated 995 new residents.

Chicago, the biggest city in the state by population and the third largest in the country, led incorporated areas that lost residents, with an estimate loss of 45,175, perhaps due to flight to more suburban and rural areas amid the second year of the coronavirus pandemic.

The town of Cicero and Arlington Heights rounded out the top three places with shrink in 2021, at 1,703 and 1,377, respectively.

As for the metro-east, Belleville recorded an estimated loss of 465 residents from 2020 to 2021, according to census data. East St. Louis lost an estimated 228 residents over the course of the year, Fairview Heights shrunk by around 207 individuals, and Swansea an estimated 143. In O’Fallon, the population blow was softened somewhat, with the loss of an estimated 42 residents year over year.

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, 17 U.S. states saw population declines from 2020 to 2021, and Illinois was among the states with the greatest losses, alongside New York, Hawaii and California. Pew notes these declines were due to residents moving elsewhere.

The Census Bureau reported in May the state was undercounted during the 2010-2020 decennial census, ultimately finding the state gained more than 250,000 residents over the decade, rather than recording a net loss.

According to the Census Bureau, the state is 76.8% white (60.8% white, non-Hispanic or Latino), 14.6% Black or African American, women hold the slight majority at 50.9%, and 35.5% of residents aged 25 or older have a bachelor’s degree.

The median household income from 2016 to 2020 was $68,428 in 2020 dollars, and 11% of Illinois residents live in poverty.

Top 10 fastest growing Illinois cities/towns/villages

According to the latest census data, here’s the top 10 incorporated areas in Illinois that saw the most growth from 2020 to 2021, based on estimates:

Warrenville +1,106

Yorkville, +995

Montgomery, +907

Champaign, +696

Oswego, +605

Plainfield, +598

Romeo, +591

Manhattan, +505

Pingree Grove +342

Winfield, +310

Top 10 fastest shrinking Illinois cities/towns/villages

According to the latest census data, here’s the top 10 incorporated areas in Illinois that saw the most population shrink from 2020 to 2021, based on estimates:

Chicago, -45,175

Cicero, -1,703

Arlington Heights, -1,377

Schaumburg, -1,361

Evanston, -1,279

Palatine, -1,267

Skokie, -1,260

Berwyn, -1,141

Peoria, -1,126

Oak Park, -1,094

This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.