Kansas City Metro’s Fastest-Growing Cities: Census Insights for 2024

Kansas City Metro's Fastest Growing Cities - Kansas City Business Journal

The Kansas City metropolitan area is experiencing a surge in population growth, particularly in its suburban cities. According to newly released U.S. Census Bureau estimates, two metro cities—Gardner and Raymore—rank among the 100 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. by percentage change in population.

Top Growing Cities in the Kansas City Metro

1. Gardner: The Fastest-Growing City

• Growth Rate: 4.89% (62nd fastest-growing in the nation)

• New Population: 25,378

• Residents Added: 1,182 (~3.24 per day)

• Gardner surpassed the 25,000 population milestone, fueled by new residential developments and suburban migration.
  
  

2. Raymore: A Close Runner-Up

• Growth Rate: 4.7% (66th fastest-growing in the U.S.)

• New Population: 25,306

• Residents Added: 1,135 (~3.11 per day)
  
  

3. Other Fast-Growing Cities

• Gladstone: 1.6% growth (Ranked 307th)

• Blue Springs: 1.56% growth (Ranked 326th)

• Olathe: 1.29% growth (Ranked 383rd)

  • Olathe added the most people numerically: 1,884 new residents, averaging 5.16 per day.
    
    

Kansas City’s Position

• Population: 510,704 (38th largest U.S. city)

• Growth Rate: 0.31%

  • Atlanta (510,823) overtook Kansas City as the 37th largest city in the U.S.
    
    

Cities Experiencing Population Decline

Not all metro cities saw growth. Eight cities lost population, with Raytown experiencing the highest percentage decline (-0.7%).

• Overland Park saw the largest numeric loss: 616 residents.

• Kansas City, Kansas, Prairie Village, Lenexa, and Independence also recorded slight declines.
  
  

Metro-Wide Growth Impact

• Total KC Metro Growth: 12,500+ residents in one year.

• This increase outpaced all other metro areas in Kansas and Missouri combined.
  
  

Takeaways & Future Trends

• Suburban Expansion: Gardner and Raymore’s rapid growth suggests a continued trend toward suburban living.

• Urban Slowdown: While Kansas City proper grew, it was outpaced by its suburban counterparts.

• Regional Dominance: The Kansas City metro remains a major hub for growth in the Midwest, despite varied city-level trends.