2023 Study: 3 US Towns Have Dropped to 0 Citizens Since 2010, Which Ghost Town Is Next?
Are there places where people once lived, but today lack any citizens? In fact, three places in America have become ghost towns since 2010, and another 39 saw their population dip to below 10 people, according to the latest population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.
These aren’t just outliers, but the mark of a trend. In America, as of 2010, 61% of towns with fewer than 10,000 residents have had a population decline. (Meanwhile, 82% of cities with at least 100,000 residents had increased their population during that same time period.) We are taking a closer look at America’s smallest cities, towns and communities to see what may have contributed to their decline, as well as highlight the fastest-emptying towns for every state.
Key Takeaways
- Well over half (61%) of America’s “small towns” (<10,000 in population) have seen a drop in population since 2010
- 82% of larger cities with >100,000 people saw their population increase over the same time period
- Three towns with registered residents in 2010 declined to a population of 0: Mustang, TX, South Park View, SD, and Hoot Owl, OK
- 39 American towns have fewer than 10 residents, according to the most recent population estimates
- Corning, MO had the greatest percentage drop in population (-93%, 15 people in 2010, just 1 person in 2022)
Volodymyr Kupriyanov
Volodymyr Kupriyanov (AKA "VK") is a data journalist based in Copenhagen, Denmark. He specializes in data-driven storytelling, leveraging data to create compelling, insightful stories. His stories for HireAHelper have been featured in hundreds of publications, including Business Insider, The New York Times, and Bloomberg. When not visualizing and analyzing numbers, he enjoys rock climbing, playing frisbee with his dog, and discovering new places to eat.
Three New Ghost Towns, More in the Making: America’s Smallest Towns
Three towns have officially reached a population of 0 as per the most recent Census estimates. They are Hoot Owl, Oklahoma, South Park View,
Kentucky, and Mustang, Texas. While Hoot Owl, OK and Mustang, TX were incorporated with a very specific purpose (to prevent trespassing and to sell alcohol, respectively), South Park View, KY actually began as a “proper” town in 1961.
After reaching a population of 196 in 2000, the town’s growth was hampered by the expansion of the Louisville International Airport, leading to serious noise pollution in the area. This development led most residents to relocate, leading the town to become virtually empty. Apart from these three towns that have ceased to exist, a further 39 are close to disappearing off the map. Of these small towns, 32 have declined in population since 2010, with just five seeing an uptick in the number of residents.
Check out this interactive map to see the locations of America’s smallest towns.
Most of these almost-ghost towns are scattered around states in the middle of the country, forming a belt pattern from North Dakota to Oklahoma. North Dakota and South Dakota alone account for 15 of America’s towns which house fewer than 10 people. Six more such places exist in Missouri, while Oklahoma currently has five.
Disappearing Fast: Towns With the Biggest Percent Declines in Population Since 2010
As many as 92 towns in the United States have lost at least 50% of their population since 2010. Leaving aside the towns where the population has officially gone to 0, the town with the steepest drop in population by percentage is Corning, MO (-93%), which by the books only has one official resident remaining, compared to 15 residents in 2010.
Echoing the map of America’s smallest remaining towns, the states of Oklahoma (3) Missouri (2), and North Dakota (2) account for the majority of towns with the biggest population declines.
Little is known about most of these towns and why exactly their population declined in such dramatic fashion, but it’s likely a mixture of demographic, economic, and housing-related factors.
Why are people leaving these places? Put simply, “fewer births, more deaths, and more people leaving than moving in” are key factors in population decline in rural areas, according to a 2022 study from the University of New Hampshire. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin point to the lack of housing in small towns, while an economist at Iowa State University highlights that bigger cities continue to have more and better-paying jobs, making small towns lose out in comparison. To see all the towns and cities that lost at least 50% of their population since 2010, have a look at our interactive map. You can also see which town or city saw the highest percentage decline in population in your state by toggling "In Each State” on the interactive map.
Sources and Methodology
Population data was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates series and Decennial Census collection. Town coordinates were taken from the TIGER/Line Shapefiles available from the U.S. Census Bureau website.
Towns with the greatest percentage decline in the population between 2010 and 2022 (the most recent data available) were deemed “fastest disappearing” overall. For each state, a town with the greatest percentage decline in population among towns in the same state was selected as the “fastest disappearing” in that state.
Images of 10 towns were taken from Google Streetview from the nearest years to 2010 and 2022, respectively. Images are used for illustrative purposes only and do not represent a given town or city in its entirety.
Illustrations by Maria Trigueros
Latest Research
2025 Charlotte Moving Report
If it feels like everyone’s moving to Charlotte these days, you’re not imagining it! The Queen City is one of the fastest-growing places in North Carolina and the entire Southeast. According to our 2025 North Carolina Migration Report, 147 people move to Charlotte every day, part of a larger trend that has made North Carolina a top-five destination for movers nationwide. It’s drawing talent from across the state and beyond, reshaping how North Carolina grows and cementing its role as one of the country’s most dynamic cities.
We created this report to show what’s fueling that growth, who’s coming here, and what it means for people who already call Charlotte home.
The Future of Homeownership 2026
In 2026, the American Dream is facing a reality check. The median U.S. home price has climbed to $390,300 and is projected to reach $527,525 by 2031 - a 35.1% increase in just five years. But incomes aren't keeping up, despite growing minimum wages. Across the country, the gap between what people earn and what it takes to buy a home is widening fast, pushing homeownership further out of reach for millions of Americans.
This is a nationwide affordability crisis with sharp regional divides. In some states, buying a home still aligns with what the average household earns. In others, even an income of $100,000 falls short.
Using median home prices, household incomes, and five-year projections, this report reveals where Americans can still afford to buy today, where affordability is deteriorating fastest, and which markets may become realistic, or completely out of reach, by 2031.
2023 Study: 3 Million Moves Driven by Extreme Weather Events Last Year
In this study, HireAHelper takes a close look at moves forced by natural disasters in the United States.
Using the most recent data from the Census Bureau’s large-scale Household Pulse Survey and Current Population Survey, we focused on the number of disaster-forced moves over time, their typical destinations, as well as the types of disasters forcing most Americans out of their homes.
Study: How Much Does Moving Cost in 2023?
Driven by record inflation and rising fuel and vehicle costs, U.S. moving costs reached an all-time high in 2022. The average cost that year was $410—peaking at $454 in August—representing a 7% increase from 2021.
Prices have not yet given way; data from the first five months of 2023 shows an average moving cost of $399, which is 4% higher than the same period last year. It remains uncertain whether these costs will stay elevated or decline, which states will experience the sharpest price hikes, and if any areas will become cheaper.
2023 Study: Corporate Relocation at Highest Rate Since 2017
Whether to cut costs, gain a more beneficial tax rate, or be closer to a target market, about 9% of corporations in the United States moved their headquarters within the past fiscal year — the highest percentage since 2016-17, according to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.
States like New York and cities like Seattle are seeing corporate headquarters move away, while smaller cities outside large urban centers are becoming new homes to big companies in tech and pharmaceuticals. Our study breaks down where companies are moving to, which states and cities they’re leaving behind, and whether workers are on board with following their employer to their new HQ location.
2023 Study: Where, How and Why Are Americans Moving This Year?
Every year, millions of Americans move, and over half (52%) of those moves take place during what we in the moving business call “moving season” — otherwise known as the summer months of May through August.
So what does the moving season hold for us this year? To get a sense of how many Americans intend to move, when they’re going to move, and what drives their moving decisions, HireAHelper conducted a nationally representative survey of 2,000 adults in the U.S. earlier this month.