Cochrane, #1 on this list · Photo: Thank you for visiting my page from Canada (CC BY 2.0)

Alberta · 2026

Fastest-growing towns in Alberta

The national top 100 holds 9 places from Alberta. Leading Alberta on this list is Cochrane, at +24.5%. The places after the leader belong to High Level (+24.2%) and Crossfield (+20.7%). Halfway down the list sits St. Paul, at +0.6%. At the other end is Athabasca County, with −11.6%. Across Canada, the same list puts Cochrane #14 of 1,117.

Population change between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, on 2021 boundaries, for places of 2,500 people or more in 2016 (a city’s neighbourhoods have no 2016 count, so they are not on this list) How grades work

Cochrane

Alberta · 39,397 people

+24.5% Growth, 2016–2021

Overall A⁻·#502 of 2,556

Strongest: health A, safety A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

High Level

Alberta · 4,390 people

+24.2% Growth, 2016–2021

Overall C·#1,848 of 2,556

Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

Crossfield

Alberta · 4,075 people

+20.7% Growth, 2016–2021

Overall D·#2,379 of 2,556

Strongest: health A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: schools D⁻

All 129, ranked in Alberta

Best first in Alberta; beside each place, its rank on the same list for all of Canada.

Every Alberta list

Find a town

129 places

#TownGrowth, 2016–2021Canada rankWhat drives it

1Cochrane39,397 people+24.5%#14 of 1,117Strongest: health A, safety A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

2High Level4,390 people+24.2%#16 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

3Crossfield4,075 people+20.7%#30 of 1,117Strongest: health A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: schools D⁻

4Airdrie92,544 people+20.3%#31 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁺, safety A⁻·lowest: schools C⁻

5Carstairs5,248 people+20.1%#35 of 1,117Strongest: health A, schools A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

6Beaumont26,305 people+19.7%#36 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, safety A·lowest: health B

7La Crète14,488 people+14.6%#74 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income B·lowest: schools D

8Canmore17,341 people+14.3%#81 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

9Leduc39,966 people+13.7%#91 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, health B⁺·lowest: safety C

10Raymond4,594 people+13.1%#102 of 1,117Strongest: schools A, safety A·lowest: jobs & income B⁻

11Blackfalds12,258 people+12.2%#119 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, safety B⁺·lowest: health C

12Fort Saskatchewan30,575 people+12.1%#123 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety C⁺

13Chestermere31,671 people+11.4%#145 of 1,117Strongest: health A, safety A⁻·lowest: schools C

14Fort Macleod3,945 people+11.1%#151 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A, health B·lowest: schools D⁻

15Spruce Grove44,575 people+10.4%#177 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, schools A⁻·lowest: safety C

16Leduc County16,400 people+9.4%#221 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, schools B⁺·lowest: safety D

17Pincher Creek No. 93,176 people+9.3%#225 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income B, hazard risk C⁺·lowest: schools C⁻

18Willow Creek No. 266,225 people+9.1%#233 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income B, walkability B⁻·lowest: safety C

19Warner County No. 54,533 people+8.8%#244 of 1,117Strongest: schools A⁺, safety A·lowest: walkability D

20Cardston County4,938 people+8.4%#264 of 1,117Strongest: schools A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability D⁻

21Sylvan Lake17,897 people+8.0%#285 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B·lowest: cost of living C

22Coalhurst3,244 people+7.5%#306 of 1,117Strongest: safety A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C⁺

23Bonnyville7,366 people+7.2%#330 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety D

24Vulcan County4,465 people+6.4%#366 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

25Lethbridge113,671 people+6.1%#381 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety D

26Penhold3,812 people+6.0%#392 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk B⁺, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: health C

27Banff11,402 people+5.8%#407 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁺, schools A⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

28Grande Prairie County No. 125,883 people+5.6%#421 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income B⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

29Morinville10,763 people+5.5%#434 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability B·lowest: schools D

30High River15,508 people+5.4%#442 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁺, safety B⁺·lowest: cost of living C

31Coaldale9,644 people+5.3%#447 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, schools A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

32Taber10,175 people+5.1%#453 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, hazard risk B·lowest: safety C

33Wainwright6,996 people+5.1%#456 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

34Taber8,009 people+4.9%#473 of 1,117Strongest: safety A⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: walkability C⁻

35Okotoks33,482 people+4.8%#481 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁺, schools A·lowest: cost of living C⁺

36Stony Plain19,662 people+4.7%#490 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, schools A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

37Cold Lake17,798 people+4.6%#494 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk A·lowest: safety D

38St. Paul County No. 196,462 people+4.5%#499 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

39Strathmore16,416 people+4.2%#518 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: schools C⁻

40Rocky View County50,260 people+4.1%#528 of 1,117Strongest: health A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

41St. Albert74,621 people+4.0%#537 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living B⁻

42Opportunity No. 173,592 people+4.0%#540 of 1,117Strongest: cost of living A, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: schools D⁻

43Cardston3,863 people+3.9%#546 of 1,117Strongest: walkability B⁺, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

44Brooks17,537 people+3.3%#589 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety C

45Jasper4,627 people+3.2%#592 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁺, schools A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

46Slave Lake7,334 people+2.8%#626 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability A·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

47Lacombe14,733 people+2.6%#648 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: cost of living C

48Foothills County25,789 people+2.6%#654 of 1,117Strongest: health A, schools A·lowest: walkability C

49Lesser Slave River No. 1242,980 people+2.1%#687 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, cost of living B⁻·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

50Red Deer County22,076 people+2.1%#688 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, schools B⁺·lowest: cost of living D

51Turner Valley2,784 people+2.0%#690 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁺, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

52Rocky Mountain House8,144 people+2.0%#695 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B·lowest: safety D

53Ponoka County10,670 people+2.0%#696 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability D

54Crowsnest Pass6,011 people+1.9%#705 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁻, schools B⁺·lowest: safety C

55Gibbons3,352 people+1.9%#707 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety D

56Stettler County No. 65,966 people+1.8%#712 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, schools A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

57Innisfail8,736 people+1.8%#717 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

58Grande Prairie71,160 people+1.5%#735 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

59Ponoka8,212 people+1.4%#741 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D

60Strathcona County107,345 people+1.2%#757 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety B⁻

61Bonnyville No. 8713,265 people+1.2%#759 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety D

62Fort McMurray81,611 people+1.0%#771 of 1,117Strongest: cost of living A, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

63Black Diamond2,910 people+0.9%#775 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁺, safety A⁻·lowest: schools D

64Drayton Valley8,047 people+0.8%#790 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety D

65St. Paul6,218 people+0.6%#798 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

66Lloydminster (Part)21,267 people+0.5%#810 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D

67Red Deer115,409 people+0.4%#813 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety D

68Claresholm4,242 people+0.4%#816 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety C

69Wetaskiwin County No. 1012,117 people+0.3%#819 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, schools C⁺·lowest: walkability D

70Olds9,653 people+0.3%#824 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: schools C⁻

71Camrose20,800 people+0.2%#833 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

72Medicine Hat68,714 people+0.0%#844 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C

73Kneehill County5,129 people−0.2%#858 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: safety C⁻

74Vegreville6,153 people−0.3%#870 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability A·lowest: safety D

75Redcliff5,916 people−0.3%#871 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: schools C⁻

76Clear Hills3,110 people−0.4%#877 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living C⁻·lowest: health D⁻

77Westlock County7,556 people−0.5%#885 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, jobs & income C⁺·lowest: health D

78Edson8,692 people−0.5%#886 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: schools D

79Wetaskiwin13,703 people−0.5%#887 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety D

80Devon6,965 people−0.5%#888 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, schools A·lowest: cost of living C

81Pincher Creek3,890 people−0.5%#891 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C

82Wheatland County10,150 people−0.6%#893 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

83Lacombe County11,072 people−0.6%#895 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: safety C⁻

84Lac Ste. Anne County12,639 people−0.6%#900 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: health D⁻

85Beaver County6,245 people−0.6%#903 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, cost of living C⁺·lowest: walkability D

86Hinton10,124 people−0.7%#911 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety D

87Clearwater County11,856 people−0.7%#916 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B·lowest: safety D

88Mountain View County14,802 people−0.7%#921 of 1,117Strongest: health A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

89Newell County7,846 people−0.8%#927 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, safety A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁺

90Flagstaff County3,724 people−0.9%#937 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

91Drumheller8,439 people−0.9%#938 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

92Lethbridge County10,988 people−1.1%#945 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, hazard risk B·lowest: cost of living C⁻

93Northern Lights County4,115 people−1.1%#946 of 1,117Strongest: cost of living A⁻, schools B⁻·lowest: health D⁻

94Parkland County34,286 people−1.6%#967 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, schools A·lowest: safety D

95Cypress County7,855 people−1.8%#974 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: schools C⁻

96Camrose County8,951 people−1.8%#975 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability D

97Sundre2,683 people−2.1%#983 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁻, schools B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

98Sturgeon County21,144 people−2.1%#987 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, schools B⁺·lowest: safety C

99Whitecourt10,708 people−2.8%#1,011 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

100Forty Mile County No. 83,927 people−3.1%#1,021 of 1,117Strongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

101Peace River7,220 people−3.3%#1,027 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D

102Vermilion4,192 people−3.3%#1,030 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D

103Lamont County3,918 people−3.3%#1,033 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

104Westlock5,363 people−3.5%#1,039 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D

105Didsbury5,185 people−3.8%#1,045 of 1,117Strongest: health A⁺, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: schools D

106Rimbey2,502 people−3.8%#1,046 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

107Woodlands County4,778 people−3.9%#1,048 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

108Wainwright No. 614,576 people−4.2%#1,059 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, schools B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

109Grimshaw2,799 people−4.3%#1,061 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: schools D⁻

110Stettler6,035 people−4.3%#1,062 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

111Yellowhead County10,966 people−5.2%#1,074 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: health D⁻

112Three Hills3,502 people−5.3%#1,075 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁺, schools A·lowest: safety C⁻

113Vermilion River County8,282 people−5.4%#1,076 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: health C⁻

114Minburn County No. 273,142 people−5.5%#1,078 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, schools A⁻·lowest: walkability D

115Barrhead4,768 people−5.7%#1,081 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health C⁻

116Smoky Lake County4,043 people−5.7%#1,082 of 1,117Strongest: schools A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D

117Fairview2,918 people−6.0%#1,084 of 1,117Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

118Grande Cache8,984 people−6.2%#1,088 of 1,117Strongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

119Two Hills County No. 213,626 people−6.3%#1,090 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: schools D⁻

120Hanna2,665 people−6.4%#1,091 of 1,117Strongest: schools A⁺, walkability A⁺·lowest: safety C⁺

121Thorhild County3,147 people−6.5%#1,092 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

122Barrhead County No. 116,186 people−6.5%#1,093 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk B⁺, schools B·lowest: health D

123Athabasca2,887 people−6.9%#1,097 of 1,117Strongest: schools A, hazard risk A·lowest: safety D

124High Prairie2,607 people−7.2%#1,099 of 1,117Strongest: walkability A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: schools D⁻

125Sexsmith2,561 people−7.4%#1,101 of 1,117Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

126Brazeau County7,685 people−7.6%#1,103 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability D

127Lac la Biche County8,580 people−7.9%#1,105 of 1,117Strongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

128Big Lakes County5,106 people−11.4%#1,112 of 1,117Strongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability C·lowest: schools D⁻

129Athabasca County7,280 people−11.6%#1,113 of 1,117Strongest: schools A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D

Province by province

Fastest-growing elsewhere

Canada Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan

Photos: Cochrane, Thank you for visiting my page from Canada (CC BY 2.0) · High Level, Carl Young (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Crossfield, Quintin Soloviev (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Canadian towns against each other only, run #73 of 10 November 2026. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).