Hamilton growing faster than any city in county

Hamilton is growing again, and faster than any other Butler County city.
New 2025 U.S. Census estimates show Hamilton with the highest percentage population increase in the county, according to annual estimates of resident population change for incorporated places of 20,000 or more from July 2024 to July 2025.
A total of 506 residents moved to Hamilton in that 1-year span, a rise of roughly 0.8% that boosted Hamilton’s population to 64,644. The last time the city had that many people was sometime between 1970, when the population was recorded as 67,865, and 1980, when it was 63,189, according to Census data.
Aaron Hufford, the city’s executive director of development, told Journal-News “people are not coming to Hamilton by accident.”
“They are choosing a city with momentum, character and a future,” Hufford said. “The investment happening across Hamilton is transforming the city, and in many ways, we are only beginning to realize our potential.”
The city said that the latest numbers come as Hamilton continues to see activity across the city, including downtown redevelopment, new housing opportunities, neighborhood improvements, and business investment.
“This growth is a direct reflection of the work happening across the community and the increasing number of people choosing to call the city home,” Hamilton said in a release.
“Unlike communities growing primarily through outward expansion, Hamilton’s growth continues to be driven by reinvestment within its existing neighborhoods and urban core, which points to long-term stability and continued demand for city living.”
As Hamilton continues to grow, it remains “one of the region’s key economic and cultural hubs,” officials said.
Ohio’s three biggest cities — Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati — saw varying growth rates, according to Census data. Columbus grew by 0.8% and Cleveland by 0.1% Cincinnati’s population dropped 0.2%.
Similar patterns, where the growth of central cities was outpaced by surrounding midsized cities, were evident throughout the nation.
“Big-city growth slowed significantly between 2024 and 2025, with some major hubs even seeing small declines,” Matt Erickson, a statistician in the Census Bureau’s Population Division, said in a statement.
“In contrast, midsized cities found a ‘Goldilocks zone’ where domestic and international migration, paired with new housing, helped prevent the sluggish growth seen in small towns and larger metropolitan centers.”
Other southwest Ohio communities on the list of 1,926 incorporated places were Xenia in Greene County (1.6%), Lebanon in Warren County (1.1%) and Troy in Miami County (0.8%).
Beavercreek, Miamisburg and Piqua increased by 0.7%, while Riverside, Trotwood and Huber Heights increased by 0.6%.
Southwest Ohio communities also seeing population gains included Centerville (0.5%), Dayton (0.3%) and Middletown (0.1%).
Losing population between July 2024 and July 2025 were Mason (-0.2%), Oxford (-0.2%), Fairfield (-0.3%) and Springfield (-0.6%).

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PHOTO CREDIT: A view of downtown Hamilton on April 16, 2024. Hamilton’s population is climbing again, adding 506 residents from 2024 to 2025, a 0.8% increase that makes it the fastest‐growing city in Butler County. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF