Cities are taking a different approach to a solution for their homeless population by creating micro-communities in which they can live. A recent article featured “The Melody” community in Atlanta, Georgia, which is comprised of shipping containers converted into studio apartments, astroturf, community tables, and an addition of a dog park. This small community exists where there was once a large parking lot. American cities have long struggled with a viable solution to their homeless numbers, most lacking in stability and longevity. A larger population density in smaller land areas is usually the norm for most urban areas and leads to greater availability of services, shelters, and citizens to donate funds, thus, a rise in homeless individuals.
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.
Why Are We Writing About the Biggest US Cities?
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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.
Here is a list of the most populated cities in the United States.
50. Wichita, Kansas
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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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