BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — According to a recent news release, the U.S. Census Bureau released population estimates for Idaho cities and towns for 2021-2022, confirming the state population is still growing.

The release says analysts suspect high housing costs contribute to Boise's population loss, forcing households with children to seek affordable housing in nearby communities.

Six Idaho cities contributing the most growth are in southwestern Idaho. Three are in northern Idaho, and one is in south-central Idaho. Of the top 20 largest cities, only three have populations of more than 100,000, Boise, Meridian and Nampa.

The City of Paul was Idaho's fastest-growing city, with over 250 new residents. Paul's total population is just over 1,700. Star followed with an increase of over 1,600 new residents to almost 15,000.

The cities that grew the fastest from July 2021 to July 2022 generally have smaller populations, while half are in northern Idaho. The number of people living in Idaho cities grew by 25,648 new residents.

Cities with the highest number of new residents are generally Idaho's Top 20 largest cities, except for Garden City and Sandpoint, the two cities ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, with both adding about 600 residents.

Nearly 177 cities reported population growth, with the remaining 22 showing a decline for the 2021-2022 timeframe.

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