St. George and Cedar City Stand Out as Utah Growth Slows Across the State

Southwest Utah population growth continues to stand out, even as overall growth slows across the state and much of the country.

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that while Utah remains one of the fastest-growing states, some areas are expanding faster than others.

Among them, St. George and Cedar City are still gaining national attention.

St. George Ranks Among Fastest-Growing U.S. Metro Areas

The St. George area continues to grow at a strong pace.

In fact, it ranked as the eighth-fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States based on the latest estimates.

Although no Utah counties made the national Top 10, St. George’s metro growth shows that southwest Utah remains a key hotspot.

Cedar City Also Sees Strong Population Growth

Growth is not limited to St. George.

About 50 miles north, Cedar City is also expanding quickly.

Its micropolitan area added 1,582 new residents between 2024 and 2025, which equals about 2.4% growth.

As a result, Cedar City ranked:

• 7th in total population growth
• 6th in percentage growth among similar-sized U.S. areas

This confirms that southwest Utah population growth is spreading beyond just one city.

Utah Growth Slows but Remains Among the Nation’s Fastest

Even with strong local growth, Utah is seeing a slowdown overall.

Between mid-2024 and mid-2025, the state still ranked as the fifth-fastest-growing in the country. However, growth numbers declined compared to the previous year.

This trend is not unique to Utah.

Across the U.S., fewer counties experienced the same level of growth as before. In fact, only about 20% of growing counties maintained similar growth levels year over year.

Migration Trends Are Shifting Population Growth

One key reason for the slowdown is changing migration patterns.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, international migration dropped significantly, falling from 2.7 million to 1.3 million.

Because of this, many larger metro areas saw slower growth or even population losses.

At the same time, many Americans are moving away from large counties to smaller ones.

For example, Salt Lake County gained new international residents but lost more people who moved elsewhere.

Southwest Utah Remains a Key Growth Area

Despite these changes, southwest Utah population growth remains strong.

Alongside St. George and Cedar City, areas like Washington County continue to attract new residents.

State data also shows that the Wasatch Front and surrounding counties remain major population centers.

However, smaller and fast-growing areas in the south are becoming increasingly important to Utah’s overall growth.

What This Means for the Future

Population trends suggest a shift in how Utah is growing.

Larger counties are slowing down. Meanwhile, smaller cities and regional hubs are gaining momentum.

With continued migration and development, places like St. George and Cedar City are likely to play a bigger role in the state’s future growth.

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