Has Oshkosh grown in population? What Wisconsin city has gained or lost the most people?

Claire Reid, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·3 min read

Is the population of Oshkosh growing or shrinking?

Online financial information and advice site SmartAsset recently released its study on the U.S. cities with the largest population growth in 2023. SmartAsset ranked 610 major cities across the country based on their one-year percentage change in population in recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The study also examined five-year changes and changes in the working-age population.

"Population shifts in a community can bring about a variety of interwoven economic and social impacts," SmartAsset says. "The magnitude of the population change can affect demand for businesses and services, which in turn may impact costs — or even the availability of such amenities."

Oshkosh joined Appleton and a few other cities in Wisconsin as a growing city.

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Here's how Wisconsin cities measured up:

The Wisconsin State Capitol near the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.
The Wisconsin State Capitol near the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.

What are Wisconsin's fastest-growing cities?

These Wisconsin cities had the greatest percentage of population growth between 2022 and 2023, according to SmartAsset's study, with their national ranking in parentheses:

  • Madison (2.71% growth), No. 54

    • 2023 population: 280,307

    • 2022 population: 272,907

    • Five-year population growth: 8.63%

  • Eau Claire (2.02% growth), No. 81

    • 2023 population: 70,469

    • 2022 population: 69,073

    • Five-year population growth: 3.24%

  • Appleton (1.12% growth), No. 155

    • 2023 population: 75,861

    • 2022 population: 75,018

    • Five-year population growth: 2.04%

  • Oshkosh (0.38% growth), No. 272

    • 2023 population: 66,184

    • 2022 population: 65,934

    • Five-year population growth: −0.83%

  • Racine (0.2% growth), No. 306

    • 2023 population: 76,608

    • 2022 population: 76,455

    • Five-year population growth: −1.07%

A view of downtown Oshkosh on Nov. 15, 2024.
A view of downtown Oshkosh on Nov. 15, 2024.

Populations are shrinking in these Wisconsin cities

These Wisconsin cities experienced the greatest percentage of population loss between 2022 and 2023, according to SmartAsset:

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  • Milwaukee (0.34% loss), No. 427

    • 2023 population: 561,369

    • 2022 population: 563,306

    • Five-year population loss: 5.17%

  • Green Bay (0.34% loss), No. 426

    • 2023 population: 105,734

    • 2022 population: 106,096

    • Five-year population growth: 0.81%

  • Kenosha (0.28% loss), No. 415

    • 2023 population: 98,210

    • 2022 population: 98,490

    • Five-year population loss: 1.94%

  • Waukesha (0.02% loss), No. 351

    • 2023 population: 70,452

    • 2022 population: 70,465

    • Five-year population loss: 2.89%

What are the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.?

These U.S. cities had the greatest percentage of population growth between 2022 and 2023, according to SmartAsset:

  • No. 1: Silver Spring, Md. (12.86% growth)

    • 2023 population: 84,996

    • 2022 population: 75,313

    • Five-year population growth: 3.89%

  • No. 2: New Braunfels, Texas (12.49% growth)

    • 2023 population: 110,961

    • 2022 population: 98,643

    • Five-year population growth: 29.68%

  • No. 3: Glen Burnie, Md. (11.82% growth)

    • 2023 population: 79,598

    • 2022 population: 71,182

    • Five-year population growth: 20.63%

  • No. 4: Georgetown, Texas (11.34% growth)

    • 2023 population: 96,317

    • 2022 population: 86,505

    • Five-year population growth: 29.85%

  • No. 5: Atascocita, Texas (11.03% growth)

    • 2023 population: 119,502

    • 2022 population: 107,626

    • Five-year population growth: 38.56%

Click here to view SmartAsset's complete rankings and methodology.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Study: Oshkosh, other Wisconsin cities show growth, loss in population