Which of These Biggest US Cities Would You Live In?

24/7 Wall St. Insights

In a post-pandemic society, our big cities have struggled to regain ground lost during the throes of COVID-19.
The most populous area in the United States remains New York-Jersey City-Newark, NY-NJ, with a population of 19,426,449.

Some of America’s largest cities are also the nation’s fastest-growing cities, with Raleigh, North Carolina, Fort Worth, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia growing the fastest of any other cities in the United States. Between 2022 and 2023, Atlanta grew 2.4%. However, this isn’t true across the board, with some big cities seeing a decline in growth. For example, Philadelphia (-1.0%) and New York (-0.9%) each saw a decrease in population in the same timeframe. The nation as a whole grew by 0.5% in 2023, gaining more than 1.6 million people. And more states saw an increase in populations since the pandemic began in early 2020.

An “urban area” is defined as “densely developed residential, commercial, and other nonresidential areas” and houses up to 80% of the US population. Based on 2020 census data, the urban population increased by 6.4% between 2010 and 2020. The growth in population certainly impacts the number of people who live within a given square mile or population density. The census data shows the average population density increased from 2,343 to 2,553 in a 10-year span.

The most populous area in the United States remains New York-Jersey City-Newark, NY-NJ, with a population of 19,426,449. Los Angeles and Chicago follow, and these three together have remained the most populated in the country since the 1950 Census. The fastest-growing urban area in America is Austin, Texas, with a growth rate of 32.8%. Austin is an example of an area that has changed from rural to urban. Populations can be redefined based on outward expansion to encompass communities that previously existed outside of the city. Austin increased its rate of land area change by 18.5% during the time of the census.

To determine the largest cities in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, assembling a list of the 50 most populous. For each of these cities, we also collected land area and total area (land and water) from the Census Bureau’s Gazetteers Files vintage 2023 and calculated population density.

Though all the cities on this list are considered big, there is quite a range when it comes to population size. Wichita’s population sits just under 400,000, while New York City is home to over 8.3 million residents. There is much fluctuation in population density, as well. For example, Nashville has 1,437.5 people per square mile, while NYC has a whopping 27,744.2 individuals per square mile of land. Actual land area varies too, with Jacksonville, FL having 874.5 square miles of total land area, compared to Milwaukee’s 96.8 square miles.

Why Are We Writing About the Biggest US Cities?

Aerial view of the Bronx, New York City

In a post-pandemic society, our big cities have struggled to regain ground lost during the throes of COVID-19. Recent census data shows there are fewer cities with population decline and a general leveling off of demographics. These numbers are encouraging and speak to increases in economic productivity and improved living conditions. If you are fond of big city life and want to be amidst the hustle and bustle, earmark the cities on this list as future home options. However, if it is the quiet (and affordable) life you seek, use this list as a reference for cities to avoid.

Here is a list of the most populated cities in the United States:

50. Wichita, Kansas

Population, 2022: 396,205
Total area (including water) in square miles: 167.4 — #45 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 162.9 — #42 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,431.6 — #428 of 640 cities

49. Tampa, Florida

Population, 2022: 398,160
Total area (including water) in square miles: 177.2 — #73 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 113.6 — #281 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,505.8 — #281 of 640 cities

48. Bakersfield, California

Population, 2022: 410,654
Total area (including water) in square miles: 151.7 — #49 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 150.3 — #46 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,732.7 — #49 of 640 cities

47. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Population, 2022: 413,142
Total area (including water) in square miles: 201.9 — #36 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 197.8 — #33 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,089.1 — #489 of 640 cities

46. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Population, 2022: 425,104
Total area (including water) in square miles: 57.5 — #36 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 54.0 — #204 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 7,872.4 — #65 of 640 cities

45. Oakland, California

Population, 2022: 430,531
Total area (including water) in square miles: 78.0 — #132 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 56.0 — #193 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 7,693.1 — #68 of 640 cities

44. Miami, Florida

Population, 2022: 449,484
Total area (including water) in square miles: 56.1 — #211 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 36.0 — #333 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 12,487.2 — #22 of 640 cities

43. Long Beach, California

Population, 2022: 451,319
Total area (including water) in square miles: 77.8 — #133 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 50.7 — #217 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 8,906.7 — #53 of 640 cities

42. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Population, 2022: 455,618
Total area (including water) in square miles: 497.5 — #8 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 244.7 — #26 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,861.8 — #522 of 640 cities

41. Raleigh, North Carolina

Population, 2022: 477,084
Total area (including water) in square miles: 150.5 — #50 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 149.4 — #47 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,192.3 — #314 of 640 cities

40. Omaha, Nebraska

Population, 2022: 485,146
Total area (including water) in square miles: 146.6 — #54 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 143.0 — #50 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,393.1 — #295 of 640 cities

39. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Population, 2022: 486,228
Total area (including water) in square miles: 202.2 — #35 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 201.9 — #32 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,408.7 — #433 of 640 cities

38. Atlanta, Georgia

Population, 2022: 499,121
Total area (including water) in square miles: 136.3 — #65 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 135.3 — #58 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,690.3 — #261 of 640 cities

37. Kansas City, Missouri

Population, 2022: 509,247
Total area (including water) in square miles: 318.8 — #21 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 314.7 — #17 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,618.3 — #560 of 640 cities

36. Mesa, Arizona

Population, 2022: 512,523
Total area (including water) in square miles: 142.0 — #61 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 141.4 — #54 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,625.1 — #266 of 640 cities

35. Sacramento, California

Population, 2022: 528,026
Total area (including water) in square miles: 100.7 — #100 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 98.6 — #94 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,352.8 — #129 of 640 cities

34. Fresno, California

Population, 2022: 545,564
Total area (including water) in square miles: 117.0 — #81 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 115.8 — #71 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,710.5 — #165 of 640 cities

33. Tucson, Arizona

Population, 2022: 546,598
Total area (including water) in square miles: 242.5 — #29 of 202 cities
Land area in square miles: 242,2 — #27 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,256.9 — #464 of 640 cities

32. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Population, 2022: 561,006
Total area (including water) in square miles: 188.9 — #39 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 187.3 — #35 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,995.8 — #339 of 640 cities

31. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Population, 2022: 563,306
Total area (including water) in square miles: 96.8 — #107 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 96.2 — #96 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 5,857.3 — #107 of 640 cities

30. Baltimore, Maryland

Population, 2022: 569,931
Total area (including water) in square miles: 92.0 — #110 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 80.9 — #116 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 7,040.9 — #76 of 640 cities

29. Detroit, Michigan

Population, 2022: 620,410
Total area (including water) in square miles: 142.9 — #58 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 138.7 — #56 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,471.9 — #178 of 640 cities

28. Memphis, Tennessee

Population, 2022: 621,050
Total area (including water) in square miles: 303.8 — #24 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 296.2 — #21 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,096.7 — #487 of 640 cities

27. Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky

Population, 2022: 624,450
Total area (including water) in square miles: 274.7 — #26 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 263.1 — #23 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,373.8 — #445 of 640 cities

26. Portland, Oregon

Population, 2022: 635,296
Total area (including water) in square miles: 145.0 — #56 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 133.5 — #62 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,759.2 — #160 of 640 cities

25. Boston, Massachusetts

Population, 2022: 649,768
Total area (including water) in square miles: 89.6 — #114 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 48.3 — #234 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 13,441.6 — #14 of 640 cities

24. Las Vegas, Nevada

Population, 2022: 656,302
Total area (including water) in square miles: 141.9 — #62 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 141.9 — #53 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,626.4 — #174 of 640 cities

23. Washington, District of Columbia

Population, 2022: 671,803
Total area (including water) in square miles: 68.3 — #158 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 61.1 — #176 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 10,990.5 — #33 of 640 cities

22. El Paso, Texas

Population, 2022: 677,469
Total area (including water) in square miles: 259.4 — #27 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 258.8 — #24 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,617.9 — #402 of 640 cities

21. Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee

Population, 2022: 683,639
Total area (including water) in square miles: 497.2 — #9 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 475.6 — #7 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,437.5 — #581 of 640 cities

20. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Population, 2022: 694,768
Total area (including water) in square miles: 620.8 — #4 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 606.5 — #4 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,145.6 — #615 of 640 cities

19. Denver, Colorado

Population, 2022: 713,252
Total area (including water) in square miles: 154.7 — #48 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 153.1 — #45 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,659.5 — #167 of 640 cities

18. Seattle, Washington

Population, 2022: 749,267
Total area (including water) in square miles: 142.1 — #60 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 84.0 — #109 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 8,919.9 — #52 of 640 cities

17. San Francisco, California

Population, 2022: 808,437
Total area (including water) in square miles: 231.9 — #31 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 46.7 — #242 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 17,311.5 — #9 of 640 cities

16. Indianapolis, Indiana

Population, 2022: 876,564
Total area (including water) in square miles: 367.9 — #16 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 361.0 — #11 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,428.1 — #430 of 640 cities

15. Charlotte, North Carolina

Population, 2022: 897,720
Total area (including water) in square miles: 312.7 — #22 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 310.8 — #18 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,888.8 — #361 of 640 cities

14. Columbus, Ohio

Population, 2022: 908,372
Total area (including water) in square miles: 226.6 — #32 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 220.7 — #30 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,115.4 — #215 of 640 cities

13. Fort Worth, Texas

Population, 2022: 961,160
Total area (including water) in square miles: 358.6 — #17 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 350.3 — #12 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,744.1 — #388 of 640 cities

12. San Jose, California

Population, 2022: 971,265
Total area (including water) in square miles: 181.1 — #41 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 177.9 — #38 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 5,458.5 — #126 of 640 cities

11. Jacksonville, Florida

Population, 2022: 971,315
Total area (including water) in square miles: 874.5 — #2 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 747.3 — #2 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,299.8 — #601 of 640 cities

10. Austin, Texas

Population, 2022: 975,335
Total area (including water) in square miles: 332.9 — #20 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 326.4 — #15 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,988.5 — #342 of 640 cities

9. Dallas, Texas

Population, 2022: 1,299,553
Total area (including water) in square miles: 383.6 — #14 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 339.7 — #13 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,825.9 — #248 of 640 cities

8. San Diego, California

Population, 2022: 1,381,182
Total area (including water) in square miles: 372.4 — #15 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 326.1 — #16 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,235.6 — #199 of 640 cities

7. San Antonio, Texas

Population, 2022: 1,472,904
Total area (including water) in square miles: 504.7 — #6 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 498.9 — #6 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,952.2 — #352 of 640 cities

6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Population, 2022: 1,567,258
Total area (including water) in square miles: 142.7 — #59 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 134.4 — #59 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 11,665.0 — #26 of 640 cities

5. Phoenix, Arizona

Population, 2022: 1,644,403
Total area (including water) in square miles: 519.3 — #5 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 518.3 — #5 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,172.5 — #320 of 640 cities

4. Houston, Texas

Population, 2022: 2,304,414
Total area (including water) in square miles: 671.8 — #3 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 640.6 — #3 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,597.3 — #269 of 640 cities

3. Chicago, Illinois

Population, 2022: 2,665,064
Total area (including water) in square miles: 234.5 — #30 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 227.7 — #28 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 11,701.9 — #25 of 640 cities

2. Los Angeles, California

Population, 2022: 3,822,224
Total area (including water) in square miles: 501.6 — #7 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 470.5 — #8 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 8,123.5 — #61 of 640 cities

1. New York, New York

Population, 2022: 8,335,897
Total area (including water) in square miles: 472.4 — #11 of 640 cities
Land area in square miles: 300.5 — #20 of 640 cities
Population density per sq mile of land area: 27,744.2 — #2 of 640 cities

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