Do you live here? Washington county named among top 10 fastest-growing in U.S.
May 11, 2026, 1:17 PM | Updated: 1:27 pm
A "Welcome to Washington" sign. (Photo: J. Stephen Conn via Flickr Creative Commons)
(Photo: J. Stephen Conn via Flickr Creative Commons)
The U.S. Census Bureau released a new report on population growth across the U.S., and Washington made the list three times.
Mason County, whose largest city is Shelton, was named the 10th fastest-growing micro area in the U.S. by numeric growth. The western Washington county grew from a population of 69,759 in July 2024 to 71,165 by July 2025 — an increase of 1,406 people.
“Well, certainly we’ve felt the growth here in Mason County,” Kevin Shutty, the Executive Director of the Mason County Economic Development Council, told KOMO News.
A better quality of life, lower cost of living, and investments in infrastructure have all contributed to the rise in population, Shutty told the media outlet.
The fastest-growing micro area by numeric growth was Seaford, Delaware, followed by Jefferson, Georgia. The fastest-growing micro areas by percent growth were Jefferson, Georgia, and Clewiston, Florida.
King County, Seattle metro also crack top 10
King County also made the U.S. Census Bureau’s list, taking the fifth spot for fastest-growing county by numeric growth. The county grew from 2,317,959 in July 2024 to 2,344,939 in July 2025 — an additional 26,980 people.
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro ranked No. 8 for the fastest-growing metro area by numeric growth. The metro area’s population rose from 4,118,815 in July 2024 to 4,161,883 in July 2025 — an increase of 43,068 people.
While the Seattle area appears to be growing, a recent survey by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) found that nearly 1 in 4 Washington employers are considering moving their businesses out of state.
AWB found that 24% of employers are looking into relocating, up 17% from the previous quarter and nearly triple the rate in the association’s 2025 winter survey.
“I believe it’s a 911 emergency for our state’s economy,” AWB President Kris Johnson told KIRO Newsradio.
The AWB survey also examined personal migration trends and found that 55% of respondents said they are considering moving to another state, a 44% increase from the previous quarter.
“In Spokane County, a short drive from the Idaho border, 67% of respondents said they were considering moving their personal residence to another state,” the report stated.
RELATED STORIES
Tax burden listed as top reason for businesses leaving Washington
Tax burden was the No. 1 reason for businesses moving out of Washington, and many worry the state’s new millionaires’ tax could push out even more.
Starbucks, one of Seattle’s most recognizable businesses, announced it may move 2,000 workers to its new Nashville office over the next five years.
Meanwhile, the fastest-growing metro area by numeric growth was the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro in Texas, followed by the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro in Texas.
The fastest-growing metro areas by percent growth were Ocala, Florida, and the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach metro in South Carolina.
Contributing: Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio
Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.
