There have been nearly 1.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States to date — by far the most of any country in the world. The virus’s spread across the country has not been even, however, as over half of all known U.S. cases have been reported in just eight major metropolitan areas.
Using COVID-19 data from state and local health departments along with population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed confirmed COVID-19 cases in nearly 400 U.S. metro areas to identify the 50 cities with the most cumulative cases, adjusted for the population. In the metro areas on this list, infection rates range from 511 cases to 2,451 cases for every 100,000 people. For context, as of May 12, there were about 431 cases of the virus for every 100,000 people nationwide.
The cities on this list tend to have at least one of several characteristics that make them particularly vulnerable. Most cities on this list, for example, are densely populated. Others, like Detroit and Indianapolis, are manufacturing hubs, connected to the world as a link in an international supply chain. In other cases, metro areas like Atlantic City and New York, are magnets for domestic and international tourism.
Regardless of the contributing factors to the high concentration of COVID-19 cases in the metro areas on this list, the total number of cases would likely have been much higher if not for the stay-at-home orders that were implemented at the state level. It is worth noting that the metro area with the most known cases of COVID-19 per capita lies primarily in Iowa, one of the few states not to implement a stay-at-home order. Here is a state-by-state look at rules for staying at home and social distancing.
The metropolitan areas on this list span the country. Many fall within the borders of particularly hard-hit states. These include Massachusetts, which is the primary state for four metro areas on this list, and Louisiana, which is home to six. Even some states with relatively low concentrations of COVID-19, like Arkansas and Texas, have at least one metro area that has become a hotspot for the coronavirus. Here is a complete list of states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases.
Click here to see the cities with the highest number of COVID cases
Source: Kevin Rutherford / Wikimedia Commons
50. Barnstable Town, MA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 511.5 per 100,000 people (1,093 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 34.2 per 100,000 people (73 total deaths)
> Population density: 542.7 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 213,413
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Source: frankix / Getty Images
49. Flagstaff, AZ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 513.5 per 100,000 people (720 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 41.4 per 100,000 people (58 total deaths)
> Population density: 7.5 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 142,854
Source: Richard David Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons
48. Hammond, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 520.3 per 100,000 people (679 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 22.2 per 100,000 people (29 total deaths)
> Population density: 164.9 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 133,777
Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
47. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 520.6 per 100,000 people (3,494 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 12.1 per 100,000 people (81 total deaths)
> Population density: 185.7 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 655,409
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46. Kankakee, IL
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 524.9 per 100,000 people (583 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 29.7 per 100,000 people (33 total deaths)
> Population density: 164.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 110,024
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
45. Bowling Green, KY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 530.0 per 100,000 people (912 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 8.7 per 100,000 people (15 total deaths)
> Population density: 106.6 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 177,183
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
44. Monroe, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 534.9 per 100,000 people (1,094 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 21.0 per 100,000 people (43 total deaths)
> Population density: 89.6 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 176,805
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Source: pawel.gaul / Getty Images
43. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 536.8 per 100,000 people (23,176 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 60.0 per 100,000 people (2,589 total deaths)
> Population density: 1,110.3 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 4.3 million
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
42. Baton Rouge, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 561.9 per 100,000 people (4,789 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 45.2 per 100,000 people (385 total deaths)
> Population density: 195.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 831,310
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
41. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 575.5 per 100,000 people (2,312 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 42.6 per 100,000 people (171 total deaths)
> Population density: 154.8 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 436,341
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
40. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 580.2 per 100,000 people (1,558 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 29.4 per 100,000 people (79 total deaths)
> Population density: 483.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 265,429
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39. Houma-Thibodaux, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 592.0 per 100,000 people (1,248 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 47.0 per 100,000 people (99 total deaths)
> Population density: 91.7 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 209,136
Source: SEASTOCK / Getty Images
38. Lebanon, PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 594.9 per 100,000 people (825 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 12.3 per 100,000 people (17 total deaths)
> Population density: 383.3 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 141,314
Source: gnagel / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
37. Dover, DE
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 606.3 per 100,000 people (1,060 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 24.6 per 100,000 people (43 total deaths)
> Population density: 298.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 178,550
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36. Goldsboro, NC
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 608.9 per 100,000 people (755 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 10.5 per 100,000 people (13 total deaths)
> Population density: 224.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 123,248
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
35. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 611.0 per 100,000 people (12,266 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 43.5 per 100,000 people (873 total deaths)
> Population density: 466.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 2.0 million
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Source: ImagesbyK / iStock via Getty Images
34. Green Bay, WI
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 634.2 per 100,000 people (2,015 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 6.6 per 100,000 people (21 total deaths)
> Population density: 169.9 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 321,591
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
33. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 636.8 per 100,000 people (34,812 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 25.6 per 100,000 people (1,401 total deaths)
> Population density: 840.6 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 6.3 million
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
32. Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 662.7 per 100,000 people (3,691 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 44.4 per 100,000 people (247 total deaths)
> Population density: 318.8 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 555,485
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
31. Amarillo, TX
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 663.6 per 100,000 people (1,748 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 8.4 per 100,000 people (22 total deaths)
> Population density: 51.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 268,356
30. Harrisonburg, VA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 713.7 per 100,000 people (948 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 17.3 per 100,000 people (23 total deaths)
> Population density: 153.3 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 135,277
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29. East Stroudsburg, PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 733.4 per 100,000 people (1,229 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 38.2 per 100,000 people (64 total deaths)
> Population density: 275.5 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 169,507
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
28. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 736.5 per 100,000 people (8,907 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 90.5 per 100,000 people (1,094 total deaths)
> Population density: 798.5 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 1.2 million
Source: Bryan Bean / Wikimedia Commons
27. Greeley, CO
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 742.1 per 100,000 people (2,190 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 39.6 per 100,000 people (117 total deaths)
> Population density: 74.0 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 314,305
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Source: waterfordyork / iStock via Getty Images
26. Yakima, WA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 768.5 per 100,000 people (1,916 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 26.1 per 100,000 people (65 total deaths)
> Population density: 58.0 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 251,446
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
25. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 803.7 per 100,000 people (48,782 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 50.5 per 100,000 people (3,067 total deaths)
> Population density: 1,318.8 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 6.1 million
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24. Kingston, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 817.1 per 100,000 people (1,465 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 19.5 per 100,000 people (35 total deaths)
> Population density: 159.5 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 178,599
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Source: Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons
23. St. Cloud, MN
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 819.9 per 100,000 people (1,612 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 4.1 per 100,000 people (8 total deaths)
> Population density: 112.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 199,801
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
22. Reading, PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 828.8 per 100,000 people (3,453 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 41.3 per 100,000 people (172 total deaths)
> Population density: 486.4 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 420,152
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
21. Springfield, MA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 831.4 per 100,000 people (5,830 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 80.3 per 100,000 people (563 total deaths)
> Population density: 380.3 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 631,761
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
20. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 844.0 per 100,000 people (7,044 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 49.0 per 100,000 people (409 total deaths)
> Population density: 574.3 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 842,913
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
19. Worcester, MA-CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 877.7 per 100,000 people (8,240 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 49.6 per 100,000 people (466 total deaths)
> Population density: 463.9 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 947,866
Source: benedek / E+ via Getty Images
18. Farmington, NM
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 901.5 per 100,000 people (1,149 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 58.1 per 100,000 people (74 total deaths)
> Population density: 23.1 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 125,043
Source: shakzu / Getty Images
17. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 930.2 per 100,000 people (1,427 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 28.0 per 100,000 people (43 total deaths)
> Population density: 317.1 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 150,972
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16. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 938.7 per 100,000 people (1,597 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 19.4 per 100,000 people (33 total deaths)
> Population density: 113.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 169,659
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
15. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 962.0 per 100,000 people (15,541 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 43.5 per 100,000 people (703 total deaths)
> Population density: 1,018.0 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 1.6 million
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Source: Eric Fischer / Wikimedia Commons
14. Salisbury, MD-DE
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,018.8 per 100,000 people (4,065 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 28.3 per 100,000 people (113 total deaths)
> Population density: 190.1 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 409,979
Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images
13. Gainesville, GA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,051.2 per 100,000 people (2,060 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 17.9 per 100,000 people (35 total deaths)
> Population density: 498.9 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 202,148
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
12. New Haven-Milford, CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,097.4 per 100,000 people (9,430 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 84.1 per 100,000 people (723 total deaths)
> Population density: 1,421.5 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 857,620
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Source: Planet Unicorn / iStock via Getty Images
11. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,241.6 per 100,000 people (59,741 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 78.8 per 100,000 people (3,792 total deaths)
> Population density: 1,379.7 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 4.9 million
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
10. Sioux Falls, SD
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,249.2 per 100,000 people (3,191 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 13.7 per 100,000 people (35 total deaths)
> Population density: 99.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 266,100
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Source: Paul Sableman / Wikimedia Commons
9. Pine Bluff, AR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,329.8 per 100,000 people (1,228 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 28.2 per 100,000 people (26 total deaths)
> Population density: 45.5 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 90,306
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
8. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,372.7 per 100,000 people (17,346 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 95.0 per 100,000 people (1,200 total deaths)
> Population density: 394.7 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 1.3 million
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
7. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,428.3 per 100,000 people (13,488 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 110.8 per 100,000 people (1,046 total deaths)
> Population density: 1,511.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 943,823
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Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images
6. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,471.4 per 100,000 people (5,426 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 94.6 per 100,000 people (349 total deaths)
> Population density: 1,642.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 369,811
Source: sshepard / Getty Images
5. Albany, GA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,582.3 per 100,000 people (2,372 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 128.1 per 100,000 people (192 total deaths)
> Population density: 94.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 151,158
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4. Grand Island, NE
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,839.8 per 100,000 people (1,390 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 46.3 per 100,000 people (35 total deaths)
> Population density: 47.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 85,104
Source: fdastudillo / iStock via Getty Images
3. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 1,941.0 per 100,000 people (13,046 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 64.3 per 100,000 people (432 total deaths)
> Population density: 418.2 people per sq. mile
> Total population: .
Source: GCShutter / Getty Images
2. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 2,207.0 per 100,000 people (426,361 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 151.0 per 100,000 people (29,165 total deaths)
> Population density: 2,889.0 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 20.0 million
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Source: BergmannD / iStock via Getty Images
1. Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 2020: 2,451.3 per 100,000 people (3,521 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 12, 2020: 12.5 per 100,000 people (18 total deaths)
> Population density: 69.3 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 169,354
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