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Posted on 11/28/2025 4:05:04 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
The mountain states of America hold within them some of the fastest growing towns in the country. Dreamy mountain towns like Leavenworth in Washington, Alpine in Wyoming, and Elizabeth in Colorado have always been among the top places for those who love the outdoors. Now, more and more folks are planning to go and never turn back.
The cost of living, moving closer family, and seeking a slower pace of life are top reasons people move to the more rural parts of the country. From idyllic mountain towns to high-desert hubs, we’ve narrowed down the ten outdoorsy towns with the fastest-growing populations.
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, Washington, is a world-renown Christmas village with a population that just broke 3,000 residents, and is booming with new growth. Located in Chelan County, this cozy mountain town is growing at a rate of 4.71 percent each year, and has seen a nearly 30 percent increase since the most recent census was taken in 2020.
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
The projected population of Coeur d’Alene by the end of 2025 could be just over 57,955 residents. The metro area saw 4.1 percent growth between July 2020 and July 2021, and the city of Coeur d’Alene itself saw a 4.1 percent increase between April 2020 and July 2023. Coeur d’Alene is a gold mine for adventurers, with incredible kayaking opportunities, too many hiking trails to count, and of course, plenty of water for water sports.
Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell, Montana, has a current population of 2,803 residents and is growing at a rate of 4.82 percent annually. The breathtaking mountain town, located in Flathead County, has grown by about 30 percent since 2020’s consensus. The median age in Kalispell is just 35 years old. The pace of life there is highly sought after, and attracts horse-lovers and nature enthusiasts alike with its ample opportunities for trail riding, as well as skiing and hiking. Must see: Of course, Glacier National Park, which contains 200 waterfalls, 700 lakes, and 700 miles of trails, is located 32 miles from town.
Alpine, Wyoming
The incredible town of Alpine in Wyoming, located on the southern end of Snake River Canyon, has a small, but mighty population of about 1,392 residents, and is growing at a rate of 2.35 percent each year. Its population has jumped 13.08 percent since the last consensus in 2020 and isn’t expected to slow down. The median age in Alpine is just 33-years-old, pointing to the still growing trend of remote work and quiet living. There is plenty to do outdoors, like boating, kayaking, white water rafting, hiking, skiing, and more.
Sundance, Utah
Have you heard of Sundance, Utah? Probably not. It’s not where the famous Sundance Film Festival is held, though it is close by. Sundance is a tiny, tiny town of just 56 people located in Utah County with a current growth rate of 7.27 percent. This hidden gem is a resort town in every sense of the term. The median age of its permanent residents is 60 years old, making it a great place to retire. Sundance is surrounded by Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, with a 360-degree view in every season, making it the perfect place to nestle in. People travel in to hike, mountain bike, and zipline, but the Sundance Mountain Resort is the biggest attraction in the town, with unreal skiing and snowboarding opportunities available.
Mesquite, Nevada
Mesquite, Nevada, located in Clark County, has a population of 24,346 residents, and is growing at a rate of 3.17 percent each year. Its population has increased by 18.14 percent since the most recent census, with its median age being 62 years old. Mesquite is attractive for those who love to explore national parks (Valley of Fire and Zion are close by), golf, and hike and bike. Must see: Explore Valley of Fire State Park near Mesquite, world renown for its 40,000 acres of stunning red rock formations and epic hiking trails.
Paradise, California
Paradise, California, located in Butte County, has a population of about 10,000 residents and is growing at a rate of 11.04 percent annually. The town has seen a 98.86 percent increase since 2020, with the median age of its residents landing at 60 years old. The deadly Camp Fire that blazed through Paradise in 2018 and 153,000 acres of land was the worst in the history of the state of California. Paradise is still rebuilding after most of its land was lost, yet the spirit of the small California town continues to attract new residents. Paradise is known for its mountain biking. Noble Orchards and the Butte Creek Watershed Overlook are within city limits. Lake Oroville is about 31 miles out of town, and Bidwell Park about 15 miles out.
Elizabeth, Colorado
Elizabeth, Colorado, is tiny town in Elbert County with a population of 3,036 people and a growth rate of 9.48 percent annually. Its population has grown 76.61 percent since 2020, when it was a town of just 1,719 residents. The median age in Elizabeth is only 32 years old. It’s a place reported to draw in millennials. For the outdoorsy person, this beautiful mountain town is ideal for hiking and horseback riding, with a close proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Show Low, Arizona
Show Low in the mountain state of Arizona has a population of 12,516 residents and is growing at a rate of 1.21 percent annually. Its population has bumped up 6.38 percent since the last consensus in 2020. Show Low is located in Navajo County and has a median age of 44 years old. It is located on the Mogollon Rim, which has an elevation of 6,345 feet. The top outdoor things to do in this town are: hiking the iconic Show Low Bluff Trail, boating and fishing around Fool Hollow Lake, and exploring the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
Barton, New Mexico
Barton, New Mexico, is a Census Designated Place in Bernalillo County, meaning it’s not a legally defined municipality with its own local government, but is populated enough to be its own community. Barton is located in eastern Bernalillo County and on the southwest corner of Santa Fe County. The town has a population of 1,923 residents and is growing at a rate of 7.19 percent each year. It’s grown 32.53 percent since 2020. The median age is 48. Close to Barton are the following attractions: White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks, the New Mexico Museum of Space History, and Sugarite Canyon State Park.
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I lived in Pinetop, AZ 50 years ago. It's down the road from Show Low, but 2,500 ft higher. There were no traffic lights within 100 miles back then, but the roads have been widened, shopping centers built. I'm surprised it's as small as they say.
PING!
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Why do you dislike Coeur d’Alene? Just out of curiosity, I’ve never been anywhere near.
All of those places have been “discovered” long ago, prices are through the roof and all the problems that come with California types flooding in. There are still places out there where you can get away from it all but they’re not on these top ten lists.
STOP TELLING THEM ABOUT IT!!!!
Sheez man, whaddya want to happen?! Everyplace ends up like BozeAngeles?!
:^)
Elizabeth, Colorado is certainly not a mountain town.
Because we live just north of there and it’s WAY too crowded and getting worse all the time. Stay away!
Just kidding. All FRiends are welcome here!
West Coast bias. How about Knoxville TN, Greenville SC, Tri-Cities TN/VA, New Hampshire?
And it's nowhere near Rocky Mountain National Park.
I’ve lived in mountain towns in excess of 7k elevation. Air starts getting thin, and it gets colder than %*#*. Snow, ice and all that misery.
Look for the sweet spots in the south between 3800 and 5k. A whole lot less misery!☺
Yep. We are at 2,200 feet here in North Idaho. This is the “Inland Northwest” where weather is still moderated by the Pacific Ocean. The winter temps are fairly moderate here. But, once you get over the mountains to the east of us and into western Montana, it gets a LOT colder.
I lived at 7,500 feet in Pinetop, AZ for the fall-winter-spring of 1975-76. It was darn cold up there. Just south of us was Hawley Lake, AZ which regularly got featured on the Today Show for having the coldest temps in the lower 48!
Our little town had a limited snow plowing budget. When the budget ran out in February, the road plowing simply stopped! I got real good at putting chains on and taking them off.
Forgot to mention that my dad thought about buying a place on the golf course in Pinetop, but his doc told him moving to 7,500 feet in his late 50s wasn’t a good idea for his heart.
I live about 5 miles from “Barton” and never heard of it being a thing. As a matter of fact, I worked for Founder’s Ranch, the home range of the Single Action Shooting Society and their championship shooting range. It was bordered on the west by Barton Road (hellish in mud weather).
Not sure why it’s growing fast, most of it has no ground water, and many people haul water.
There are mountains in the East, too.
Well ... sort of ...
Btw, been in the west all my life and anything short of 4500 we considered a hill. Even the peaks around the LA area are in excess of 10k.
Funny you mention that. I was looking up the difference between “hill” and “mountain” just last week. It has a lot to do with the rise from the surrounding countryside. The peaks in LA are especially dramatic because of that huge rise from the surrounding plains.
I look out at 5,500 foot mountains but they are starting at a 2,200 foot elevation Rathdrum Prairie, so nowhere near as dramatic. There are quite a few rugged and remote ranges in Southern BC, North Idaho, NW Montana — the Selkirks and Cabinets. The Cabinets are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains at the western base of the Rockies.
That’s right.
After years along the eastern seaboard, mountains don’t thrill me none. Heck I get winded on Blue Ridge hiking trails, alongside the Shenandoah...
I’ve done the dirt road living in excess of 7k. Always an adventure. I’ve now grown to like asphalt and paved.☺
White Mountains, Eastern AZ. Beautiful area btw...
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