Which state was the fastest growing by percentage between 2010 and 2020 according to the 2020 Census?

Which state was the fastest growing by percentage between 2010 and 2020 according to the 2020 Census?

• A. Utah
• B. Texas
• C. Florida
• D. Colorado

Answer: (A)

When comparing how states grew over a decade, the key metric is percent change, not just how many people moved in total. Percent growth answers: how large is the increase relative to the starting population? You calculate it as (pop in 2020 − pop in 2010) / pop in 2010 × 100. Using the Census data, Utah rose from about 2.76 million to about 3.27 million, which is roughly an 18% increase. Texas grew from about 25.1 million to about 29.2 million (around 16%), Florida from about 18.8 million to 21.5 million (about 14.5%), and Colorado from about 5.03 million to 5.77 million (around 14.5–15%). So Utah has the largest percentage increase among these options, making it the fastest growing by percentage over the period. The strong relative growth reflects a combination of high birth rates and net in-migration to the state during that decade.

When comparing how states grew over a decade, the key metric is percent change, not just how many people moved in total. Percent growth answers: how large is the increase relative to the starting population? You calculate it as (pop in 2020 − pop in 2010) / pop in 2010 × 100.

Using the Census data, Utah rose from about 2.76 million to about 3.27 million, which is roughly an 18% increase. Texas grew from about 25.1 million to about 29.2 million (around 16%), Florida from about 18.8 million to 21.5 million (about 14.5%), and Colorado from about 5.03 million to 5.77 million (around 14.5–15%). So Utah has the largest percentage increase among these options, making it the fastest growing by percentage over the period. The strong relative growth reflects a combination of high birth rates and net in-migration to the state during that decade.