The phrase “never were US cities ever more populous than they now are” has become so relevant these days, especially with the decennial census in progress, that we begin wondering what numbers of residents in the most populated cities in the US could be living – even though there has been an overall decline in population growth this decade.
This article, compiled in the light of the fresh population estimates, will answer all your questions about the size of populations the most crowded US cities are home to.
America is on its way of becoming an urban world exclusively. Sprawling urban centers account for a hefty 80.7 percent of the total US population of 330 million [as of July 23, 2020], based on the official real-time statistics.
This percentage keeps rising, as more Americans, in pursuit of a bright future or better business opportunities, concentrate in large and medium cities in droves, notably industry-specific hubs like New York [finance], San Francisco [technology], Chicago [manufacturing] and Houston [energy], and as the population clock keeps ticking resulting in the net gain of one individual every 16 seconds.
As of July 1, 2019, a total of 10 US cities – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas and San Jose – are estimated to have populations above one million. None of them can be termed a ‘megacity’ which usually has more than 10 million inhabitants.
Not surprisingly, of these highly crowded cities, three cities each come from the states of largely populated California and Texas, while one each from the states of New York, Illinois, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
The city of New York, having gained the most number of new residents in 2013 and 2014, tops the list with over 8.5 million residents, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston with 3.9 million, 2.6 million and 2.3 million residents, respectively (read our article about 25 most densely populated cities in the world vs. Manhattan).
Also, the capital or federal city of Washington, D.C., is estimated to have 0.70 million residents.
Among cities showing the highest population density are New York City at 11,000/km², San Francisco at 7,242/km² and Boston at 5,434/km².
Besides Log Angeles, San Diego and San Jose, other populous Californian cities of San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach and Oakland are home to populations above 500,000.
Likewise, besides Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, other Texan cities of Fort Worth, Austin, and El Paso, have been crowded well over by 500,000 residents each. Fort Worth also has the distinction of having the highest growth rate in Texas of 2.34%.
Moreover, population growth or natural increase, which is otherwise the biggest contributor to population increase, registered an overall decline in the ongoing decade: it peaked at 0.73 percent between 2014 and 2015 and considerably slowed down between 2018 and 2019.
Other urban centers making to our list of 50 most crowded cities include Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa in Florida state; Columbus in Ohio; Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina; Indianapolis in Indiana; Seattle in Washington; Denver and Colorado Springs in Colorado; Boston in Massachusetts; Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government in Tennessee; Detroit in Michigan; Oklahoma and Tulsa cities in Oklahoma; Portland in Oregon; Las Vegas in Nevada; Memphis in Tennessee; Louisville/Jefferson metropolitan government in Kentucky; Baltimore in Maryland; Milwaukee in Wisconsin; Albuquerque in New Mexico; Tucson and Mesa in Arizona; Atlanta in Georgia; Kansas in Missouri; Omaha in Nebraska; Virginia Beach in Virginia; Minneapolis in Minnesota; and New Orleans in Louisiana.
For compiling our list of the 50 most populated cities in the US, we used statistics given on the official websites of the US Census Bureau and certain other trustworthy websites providing population-related facts and figures as well as real-time data. These findings are primarily based on annual vintage estimates of the resident populations for incorporated places, including cities and towns, of 50,000 or more, ranked by July 1, 2019. To make the information gathered comprehensive, we incorporated information about the total land area of each city on our list.
You may also find our list articles on 14 Biggest Cities in the World by Population, 11 Largest Cities in the World by Population Density and 20 Most Populated Cities in India interesting and informative.
So let’s not keep you waiting. Here goes our list of the 50 most populated cities in the US.
50. New Orleans, Louisiana: The population in New Orleans, spanning 169.42 sq miles, is estimated to have reached 390,144 as of July 1, 2019, according to the US Census Bureau.
49. Arlington, Texas: The Texan city of Arlington has approximately 398,854 people spread across the entire land area of 95.88 sq miles.
48. Tampa, Florida: Tampa, securing a land area of 113.41 sq miles, is estimated to have a population of around 399,700.
47. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Nicknamed the Golden Hurricane, Tulsa, spanning 196.75 sq miles, has roughly 401,190 residents.
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46. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Minneapolis, having a land area of 53.97 sq miles, is estimated to have a population of 429,606.
45. Oakland, California: Also known as the Bright Side of the Bay, Oakland has an approximate population of 433,031 having taken up residence across 55.79 sq miles land area.
44. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Fresh population estimates put the number of residents in Virginia Beach, covering a land area of 249.02 sq miles, around 449,974.
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43. Long Beach, California: The population of Long Beach, spanning 50.29 sq miles, is estimated to have reached 462,628 as of July 1, 2019.
42. Miami, Florida: The Magic City is called home by an estimated population of 467,963 distributed across a total land area of 35.87 sq miles.
41. Raleigh, North Carolina: The City of Oaks is home to estimated 474,069 people spread across 142.90 sq miles.
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40. Omaha, Nebraska: Approximately 478,192 people live in Omaha, also referred to as the Gateway to the West, spanning 127.09 sq miles.
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39. Colorado Springs, Colorado: The number of residents in Colorado Springs, having a land area of 194.54 sq miles, stands around 478,221.
38. Kansas City, Missouri: Kansas, comprising a land area of 314.95 sq miles, is populated by estimated 495,327 residents.
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37. Atlanta, Georgia: Also called the Big Peach, the city of Atlanta, spanning 133.15 sq miles, is home to an approximate population of 506,811.
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36. Sacramento, California: America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital is estimated to have 513,624 residents inhabiting a land area of 97.92 sq.
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35. Mesa, Arizona: Mesa, spanning 136.45 sq miles, is covered all over by scattered residents estimated to be around 518,012, as detailed in the latest vintage population data release.
34. Fresno, California: Fresno is called home by an estimated population of 531,576 scattered across a land area of 111.96 sq miles.
33. Tucson, Arizona: Comprising 226.71 sq miles, Tucson – proud to be called the Old Pueblo – is abode to around 548,073 people.
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32. Albuquerque, New Mexico: Another largest city in the US by population, Albuquerque has approximately 560,513 residents spread across 187.73 sq miles.
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31. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: With an estimated 590,157 population living across 96.12 sq miles, Milwaukee is one of the 50 most populated cities in the US.
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30. Baltimore, Maryland: The number of residents in the Charm City, according to US Census Bureau data, stands at approximately 593,490 dispersed throughout a land area of 80.94 sq miles.
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29. Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky: This metropolitan area, comprising 325.25 sq miles, is home to roughly 617,638 people.
28. Memphis, Tennessee: Memphis, the birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll, is estimated to have a population of 651,073 over a total land area of 315.06 sq miles.
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27. Las Vegas, Nevada: Popularly called Sin City for its gambling and nightlife, Las Vegas is called home by approximately 651,319 people inhabiting a total land area of 135.82 sq miles.
26. Portland, Oregon: The City of Roses, comprising a large land area of 133.43 sq miles, has roughly 654,741 residents, according to the latest vintage population estimates.
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25. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Oklahoma is home to an estimated population of 655,057 scattered over a land area of 606.41 sq miles.
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24. Detroit, Michigan: The vintage population estimates put the number of residents in Detroit, having a land area of 138.75 sq miles, around 670,031.
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23. Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government, Tennessee: This metropolitan area, comprising 475.13 sq miles, has an estimated 670,820 residents as of July 1, 2019.
22. El Paso, Texas: Also called the Sun City, El Paso has roughly 681,728 people, having taken up residence, across a total land area of 255.24 sq miles.
21. Boston, Massachusetts: Going by the nickname of Cradle of Liberty, Boston has approximately 692,600 residents distributed across a total land area of 48.28 sq miles.
20. Washington, District of Columbia: The population of the Federal City, spanning 61.05 sq miles, is estimated to have reached 705,749 [as of July 1, 2019], according to the US Census Bureau, making it one of most crowded cities in the US.
19. Denver, Colorado: According to the recent vintage data release, the Mile High City, in possession of a land area of 153 sq miles, is populated by estimated 727,211 people.
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18. Seattle, Washington: Approximately 753,675 people have carved out residence in Seattle, popularly known as the Emerald City, comprising 83.94 sq miles of land area.
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17. Indianapolis, Indiana: Nicknamed Crossroads of America, this Indiana city is called home by roughly 876,384 people spread over 361.43 sq miles.
16. San Francisco, California: The number of residents in San Francisco, populating the city’s land area of 46.87 sq miles, stands at 881,549.
15. Charlotte, North Carolina: Spanning 297.68 sq miles, Charlotte finds 15th spot in the most crowded US cities with residents numbered around 885,708.
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14.Columbus, Ohio: Columbus turns out to be another populous city in the US, with an approximate population of 898,553 scattered all over the 217.17 sq miles area of land.
13. Fort Worth, Texas: Another Texan city, Forth Worth is estimated to have 909,585 residents living across a total land area of 339.82 sq miles.
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12. Jacksonville, Florida: Approximately 911,507 people populate Jacksonville, having a large land area of 747 sq miles, to make it the 12th most crowded US city.
11. Austin, Texas: Austin, comprising a land area of 297.90 sq miles, is home to an estimated population of 978,908 [as of July 1, 2019].
10. San Jose, California: San Jose features as the tenth most populous city, with residents numbered around 1,021,795 in the latest vintage population estimates issued July 1, 2019. With a land area of 176.53 sq miles, the Capital of Silicon Valley averages a population density of 5,746.6 persons per sq mile.
9. Dallas, Texas: With an estimated 1,343,573 people, having carved out residence across a land area of 340.52 sq miles maintaining a population density of 3954.8 persons per sq mile, the Big D makes the ninth most populated city in the US.
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8. San Diego, California: America’s Finest City, having a total land area of 325.19 sq miles, provides abode to roughly 1,423,851 people at a density of 4369.30 persons per sq mile.
7. San Antonio, Texas: The latest vintage population data details the number of citizens in San Antonio to be around 1,547,253 having taken up residence across a land area of 460.93 sq miles, showing a density of 3189.5 people per sq mile.
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6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Popularly known as the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia is the sixth-largest city in the US by population, with 1,584,064 residents spread across a total land area of 134.10 sq miles with a density of 11, 796.8 persons per sq mile.
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5. Phoenix, Arizona: Approximately 1,680,992 people live in Phoenix, also referred to as the Valley of the Sun, spanning 516.70 sq miles roughly calculating a density of 3,247.20 persons per sq mile, making it the fifth most crowded city in the US.
4. Houston, Texas: Officially nicknamed Space City for housing the NASA space center, Houston is called home by 2,320,268 people, according to the US Census Bureau’s recent vintage data release. With a large land area of 599.59 sq miles, the population density in this Texan city stands at 3624.3 people per sq mile.
3. Chicago, Illinois: The Windy City makes the third most populated city in the US, with estimated 2,693,976 residents dispersed throughout the 227.63 sq miles area of land at a density of 11,848.5 people per sq mile.
2. Los Angeles, California: Nicknamed the City of Angels or simply known by its initials, L.A., the Californian city stands to be the second most populated in the US, with an estimated population of 3,979,576 [as of July 1, 2019] distributed over a total land area of 468.67 sq miles, averaging a density of 8,486 persons per sq mile.
1. New York City, New York: Also known as the Big Apple, the city of New York, home to a whopping 8,336,817 people spread across a total land area of 302.64 square miles with a population density put around 27,754.20 people per square mile according to the latest estimates of the US Census Bureau, is by far the most populated city in the US.