Carencro, Youngsville and Maurice could once again rank among Louisian’s fastest-growing municipalities when new Census data is released this summer, according to population estimates.
All three were among the state’s fastest-growing cities in the 2020 Census, led by Maurice, which more than doubled its population from 2010 to 2020. Recent estimates suggest Carencro may now be seeing the largest gains, while Youngsville is approaching a population of 20,000. Maurice continues to grow, though at a slower pace.
The local gains come as Louisian posts a modest population increase after decades of decline, even as the state continues to lag behind much of the South. Census estimates show population losses in major metros such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans, while growth has shifted toward the Acadiana region.
h added about 3,300 residents in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of population growth. The increase was driven primarily by births and international immigration.
Lafayette Parish
According to Census estimates, Carencro had with about 38.9% increase in population since 2020 as of July 1, jumping from 9,278 to 12,883. The city's population has increased 71% since 2010.
۴dzܲԲ,once recognized as the fastest-growing city in the state, has slowed its population growth to about 19.5% as of July 1 to just under 20,000, estimates show. From 2010 to 2020, the city's population nearly doubled, reaching just under 16,000 residents.
Both are outpacing the city of Lafayette, which increased by 0.7%, from 121,391 to 122,280, estimates show. Since 2010, the city's population rose 1.37%.
Nearby cities have seen bigger gains, with Scott growing by 15.7%, reaching 9,468 residents. Broussard increased by 13.7%, growing its population to 15,312.
Lafayette Parish has seen a modest growth rate at 5.2%. The parish is estimated to have a quarter-million residents in 2024. The increase is a slight wind-down of the 9% growth the parish saw from 2010 to 2020.
Acadiana parishes
In Maurice, the city grew 12.5% from 2020 to 2023, according to Census data to 2,382. From 2010 to 2020, the small town saw its population skyrocket 119.7%, growing from 964 people to 2,118.
Abbeville, Vermilion’s largest municipality, saw a 2.7% decrease in population, dropping from 11,199 residents to 10,902. Vermilion Parish saw its population increase by 1.1%, reaching 57,641 residents.
St. Martinville saw a population decrease of 3.5% while Breaux Bridge’s population increased by 1.1%.
Iberia Parish’s population shrank by 3.9%, dropping its population to 67,540. New Iberia also shrank by 5.9%
St. Landry Parish’s population decreased by 2%, with Opelousas dropping 4.2%.
Acadia Parish continues the trend of declining population in Acadiana, slumping 1.7%, with cities like Rayne and Crowley dropping 3.7% and 4.1%, respectively. In Jefferson Davis, population shrank 2.5%, with Jennings declining by 5.5%. Evangeline Parish’s population decreased by 1.8%, with Ville Platte waning by 2.7%.