(These 5 Metro Phoenix Suburbs Are Shrinking, Data Shows — May 11, 2026)
While fast-growing suburbs like Buckeye and Goodyear are expanding rapidly, five Phoenix-area communities lost population between 2020 and 2024, led by Fountain Hills with 177 fewer residents, followed by Paradise Valley, Guadalupe, Litchfield Park, and Carefree. Analysts note these communities are largely built out with little room to expand, limiting their ability to grow the way outer-ring suburbs can. Several non-suburban Arizona cities also saw significant population declines in the same period, including Florence, which lost 2,404 residents, and Sierra Vista, which dropped by 690.
Read more: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2026/05/11/shrinking-arizona-suburbs/90001707007/
