The Most Surprising Asian American Growth Hotspots
By James Moreau | 30 Apr, 2025

Unexpected Asian growth has occurred in less predictable areas of the US, driven by factors like affordability and job markets.

From the Great Plains to the Deep South, unexpected pockets of Asian growth suggest some shifts in where Asian Americans are choosing to settle.

In sheer percentage terms Montana and the Dakotas are the states that have experienced the most significant Asian populations growth over the past decade.  In absolute numbers, however, their Asian populations remain small.  The 79% increase in Montana's Asian population brings the total to just under 22,000, only 1.9% of the state's population.  

Both South and North Dakota saw their Asian populations increase by 67% though numbers remain small in absolute terms, bringing their totals to 20,244 and 18,834, respectively.

Over the past year, Mississippi had the largest increase in its Asian American population, +14.6%, bringing the Magnolia state’s total to about 47,000. This growth is largely due to increases in the Vietnamese and Chinese populations, which added a combined 5,700 residents.  Mississippi also doubled its Pacific Islander population.  This growth surge appears linked to Amazon’s $2.3 billion investment in the state since 2010, creating 7,500 full- and part-time jobs created in Mississippi as of January 2023.  Another $10 billion and 1,000 jobs are planned for a new data center for Amazon Web Service.

Memphis had the greatest 1-year percentage increase amongst deep South cities with populations over 300,000, at 48%.  But the total of nearly 18,000 Asians make up just under 3% of the city's population.  This growth is primarily due to large increases in the Indian and Filipino populations which more than offset declines in the Korean and Vietnamese populations.  Asian American households have a median income of $92,000, 82% higher than all households.  The attraction of Memphis may be its affordability, with a median home value around $190,000.

When including smaller cities, Loveland, Colorado, saw a 213% explosion in its Asian American population over the past year.  But that brings the Asian percentage of the city's population to only 3.9%, only about 60% of the national average.

In absolute terms the biggest proportionate increase during the past year took place in Skokie, Illinois, with a 36.4% surge that brought the city Asian percentage to 32.8%. This growth was primarily driven by an influx of Indians and Filipinos. 

Over the past decade Pawtucket, Rhode Island saw its Asian population more than quintuple to 4.0% of the city's population.

Miami, Florida’s Asian American population has trebled over 10-years.  The 235% surge is the greatest percentage increase for cities with populations over 300,000. The growth is largely drawn by an influx of Asian Indians, particularly those involved in the hotel industry. In nearby Hialeah, Florida, household incomes of Asians are 3.5 times higher than those of white residents, the nation’s largest income disparity. 

Just up the Atlantic Coast the Port St. Lucie metro area moved up 32 spots in its Asian population share ranking over the past decade, the largest increase of any metro over 500,000 people.  But that brings the Asian share to only 2.4%, only about 38% of the national average.

The Asian American population growth map suggests a clear migration toward areas where Asians have been scarce.  The bulk of the migration appears to be driven by tech industry shifts and skyrocketing housing prices in traditionally Asian population centers in California and the DC-New York corridor.

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