Whether it is better to live in a big lively city or a quiet rural area is a contentious topic. City dwellers point to the availability of great restaurants, entertainment, and job opportunities as among the advantages of living in a large metro area. Others may mention cramped living quarters, high cost of living, and a bustling atmosphere as disadvantages of living in a large city.
Cities don’t have to be enormous to provide jobs and amenities to residents. While New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are major U.S. hubs, there are large cities in nearly every state. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau to determine the largest city in every state.
These large cities are far from identical, mostly because of their varying size, economic conditions, and population density. Some cities like Jacksonville, Florida and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma sprawl outward, while cities like Boston, Massachusetts increase more in density as their population grows.
In total, over 80% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas.
Click here to see the largest city in every state.
Click here to see the methodology.
Source: Thinkstock
1. Birmingham, Alabama
> Population: 212,211
> State population: 4,830,620 (23rd highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Birmingham: 4.4% (6th lowest)
> Land area: 146 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,453 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
2. Anchorage, Alaska
> Population: 299,107
> State population: 733,375 (4th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Anchorage: 40.8% (2nd highest)
> Land area: 1,705 sq. miles
> Population density: 175 / sq. mile
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
3. Phoenix, Arizona
> Population: 1,514,208
> State population: 6,641,928 (15th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Phoenix: 22.8% (6th highest)
> Land area: 517 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,931 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
4. Little Rock, Arkansas
> Population: 196,943
> State population: 2,958,208 (19th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Little Rock: 6.7% (12th lowest)
> Land area: 119 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,652 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Thinkstock
5. Los Angeles, California
> Population: 3,900,794
> State population: 38,421,464 (the highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Los Angeles: 10.2% (24th highest)
> Land area: 469 sq. miles
> Population density: 8,323 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
6. Denver, Colorado
> Population: 649,654
> State population: 5,278,906 (22nd highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Denver: 12.3% (18th highest)
> Land area: 153 sq. miles
> Population density: 4,246 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
7. Bridgeport, Connecticut
> Population: 147,340
> State population: 3,593,222 (22nd lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Bridgeport: 4.1% (4th lowest)
> Land area: 16 sq. miles
> Population density: 9,226 / sq. mile
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
8. Wilmington, Delaware
> Population: 71,549
> State population: 926,454 (6th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Wilmington: 7.7% (18th lowest)
> Land area: 11 sq. miles
> Population density: 6,564 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
9. Jacksonville, Florida
> Population: 846,951
> State population: 19,645,772 (4th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Jacksonville: 4.3% (5th lowest)
> Land area: 747 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,134 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Thinkstock
10. Atlanta, Georgia
> Population: 448,901
> State population: 10,006,693 (8th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Atlanta: 4.5% (7th lowest)
> Land area: 133 sq. miles
> Population density: 3,371 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
11. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
> Population: 347,973
> State population: 1,406,299 (11th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Urban Honolulu: 24.7% (4th highest)
> Land area: 61 sq. miles
> Population density: 5,750 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
12. Boise City, Idaho
> Population: 214,196
> State population: 1,616,547 (12th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Boise City: 13.3% (16th highest)
> Land area: 79 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,699 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
13. Chicago, Illinois
> Population: 2,717,534
> State population: 12,873,761 (5th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Chicago: 21.1% (8th highest)
> Land area: 228 sq. miles
> Population density: 11,938 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
14. Indianapolis, Indiana
> Population: 841,449
> State population: 6,568,645 (16th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Indianapolis: 12.8% (17th highest)
> Land area: 361 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,328 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: by Dylan L. Tanner / Wikimedia Commons
15. Des Moines, Iowa
> Population: 208,020
> State population: 3,093,526 (21st lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Des Moines: 6.7% (13th lowest)
> Land area: 81 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,572 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
16. Wichita, Kansas
> Population: 387,147
> State population: 2,892,987 (17th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Wichita: 13.4% (15th highest)
> Land area: 159 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,430 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
17. Louisville/Jefferson, Kentucky
> Population: 608,732
> State population: 4,397,353 (25th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Louisville/Jefferson: 13.8% (14th highest)
> Land area: 325 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,872 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
18. New Orleans, Louisiana
> Population: 376,738
> State population: 4,625,253 (25th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in New Orleans: 8.1% (21st lowest)
> Land area: 169 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,224 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
19. Portland, Maine
> Population: 66,490
> State population: 1,329,100 (10th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Portland: 5.0% (8th lowest)
> Land area: 21 sq. miles
> Population density: 3,120 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Thinkstock
20. Baltimore, Maryland
> Population: 622,454
> State population: 5,930,538 (19th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Baltimore: 10.5% (22nd highest)
> Land area: 81 sq. miles
> Population density: 7,690 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
21. Boston, Massachusetts
> Population: 650,281
> State population: 6,705,586 (14th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Boston: 9.7% (25th lowest)
> Land area: 48 sq. miles
> Population density: 13,469 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
22. Detroit, Michigan
> Population: 690,074
> State population: 9,900,571 (9th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Detroit: 7.0% (15th lowest)
> Land area: 139 sq. miles
> Population density: 4,974 / sq. mile
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
23. Minneapolis, Minnesota
> Population: 399,950
> State population: 5,419,171 (21st highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Minneapolis: 7.4% (17th lowest)
> Land area: 54 sq. miles
> Population density: 7,411 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
24. Jackson, Mississippi
> Population: 173,212
> State population: 2,988,081 (20th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Jackson: 5.8% (10th lowest)
> Land area: 111 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,560 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Thinkstock
25. Kansas City, Missouri
> Population: 467,990
> State population: 6,045,448 (18th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Kansas City: 7.7% (19th lowest)
> Land area: 315 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,486 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
26. Billings, Montana
> Population: 108,134
> State population: 1,014,699 (7th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Billings: 10.7% (21st highest)
> Land area: 43 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,491 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Collinulness / Wikimedia Commons
27. Omaha, Nebraska
> Population: 440,034
> State population: 1,869,365 (14th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Omaha: 23.5% (5th highest)
> Land area: 127 sq. miles
> Population density: 3,462 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
28. Las Vegas, Nevada
> Population: 605,097
> State population: 2,798,636 (16th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Las Vegas: 21.6% (7th highest)
> Land area: 136 sq. miles
> Population density: 4,455 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
29. Manchester, New Hampshire
> Population: 110,139
> State population: 1,324,201 (9th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Manchester: 8.3% (22nd lowest)
> Land area: 33 sq. miles
> Population density: 3,327 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Thinkstock
30. Newark, New Jersey
> Population: 279,793
> State population: 8,904,413 (11th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Newark: 3.1% (3rd lowest)
> Land area: 24 sq. miles
> Population density: 11,566 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
31. Albuquerque, New Mexico
> Population: 556,092
> State population: 2,084,117 (15th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Albuquerque: 26.7% (3rd highest)
> Land area: 188 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,962 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
32. New York, New York
> Population: 8,426,743
> State population: 19,673,174 (3rd highest)
> Share of state pop. living in New York: 42.8% (the highest)
> Land area: 303 sq. miles
> Population density: 27,844 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
33. Charlotte, North Carolina
> Population: 792,137
> State population: 9,845,333 (10th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Charlotte: 8.0% (20th lowest)
> Land area: 298 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,661 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
34. Fargo, North Dakota
> Population: 113,464
> State population: 721,640 (3rd lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Fargo: 15.7% (12th highest)
> Land area: 49 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,324 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Thinkstock
35. Columbus, Ohio
> Population: 824,663
> State population: 11,575,977 (7th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Columbus: 7.1% (16th lowest)
> Land area: 217 sq. miles
> Population density: 3,797 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
36. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
> Population: 610,672
> State population: 3,849,733 (23rd lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Oklahoma City: 15.9% (11th highest)
> Land area: 606 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,007 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
37. Portland, Oregon
> Population: 612,206
> State population: 3,939,233 (24th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Portland: 15.5% (13th highest)
> Land area: 133 sq. miles
> Population density: 4,588 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
38. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
> Population: 1,555,072
> State population: 12,779,559 (6th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Philadelphia: 12.2% (19th highest)
> Land area: 134 sq. miles
> Population density: 11,596 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
39. Providence, Rhode Island
> Population: 178,680
> State population: 1,053,661 (8th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Providence: 17.0% (10th highest)
> Land area: 18 sq. miles
> Population density: 9,711 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Thinkstock
40. Columbia, South Carolina
> Population: 131,958
> State population: 4,777,576 (24th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Columbia: 2.8% (2nd lowest)
> Land area: 132 sq. miles
> Population density: 998 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
41. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
> Population: 164,341
> State population: 843,190 (5th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Sioux Falls: 19.5% (9th highest)
> Land area: 73 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,252 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
42. Memphis, Tennessee
> Population: 657,167
> State population: 6,499,615 (17th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Memphis: 10.1% (25th highest)
> Land area: 315 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,086 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
43. Houston, Texas
> Population: 2,217,706
> State population: 26,538,614 (2nd highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Houston: 8.4% (23rd lowest)
> Land area: 600 sq. miles
> Population density: 3,699 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
44. Salt Lake City, Utah
> Population: 190,679
> State population: 2,903,379 (18th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Salt Lake City: 6.6% (11th lowest)
> Land area: 111 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,716 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Doug Kerr / Wikimedia Commons
45. Burlington, Vermont
> Population: 42,570
> State population: 626,604 (2nd lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Burlington: 6.8% (14th lowest)
> Land area: 10 sq. miles
> Population density: 4,129 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
46. Virginia Beach, Virginia
> Population: 448,290
> State population: 8,256,630 (12th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Virginia Beach: 5.4% (9th lowest)
> Land area: 249 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,800 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad]
Source: Thinkstock
47. Seattle, Washington
> Population: 653,017
> State population: 6,985,464 (13th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Seattle: 9.3% (24th lowest)
> Land area: 84 sq. miles
> Population density: 7,780 / sq. mile
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Thinkstock
48. Charleston, West Virginia
> Population: 50,566
> State population: 1,851,420 (13th lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Charleston: 2.7% (the lowest)
> Land area: 32 sq. miles
> Population density: 1,604 / sq. mile
Source: Thinkstock
49. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
> Population: 599,498
> State population: 5,742,117 (20th highest)
> Share of state pop. living in Milwaukee: 10.4% (23rd highest)
> Land area: 96 sq. miles
> Population density: 6,237 / sq. mile
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Thinkstock
50. Cheyenne, Wyoming
> Population: 62,195
> State population: 579,679 (the lowest)
> Share of state pop. living in Cheyenne: 10.7% (20th highest)
> Land area: 25 sq. miles
> Population density: 2,537 / sq. mile
Methodology
To determine the largest city in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 5-year population estimates for cities from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Consumer Survey. Population estimates for states are also 5-year estimates through 2015 and from the ACS. The total land area of each city also came from the U.S. Census Bureau and are as of 2010, the latest year for which data is available.
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)
Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the
advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Take the retirement quiz right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
