Special Report

Cities With the Highest Number of COVID-19 Cases

Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images

The U.S. continues to lead all other countries in confirmed cases of COVID-19 with about 1.7 million — more than four times the number of any other country. U.S. coronavirus cases have largely been concentrated in large cities and their surrounding regions, with the majority in just nine major metro 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 confirmed cases, adjusted for the population. 

While many of the metro areas with the most COVID-19 cases per capita are in hard-hit states like New York and New Jersey, a number of cities in the Midwest are also on this list, despite being in states that do not have an especially higher number of cases per capita. Notably, Sioux City, which lies in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, became the first metro area with more than 3,000 confirmed cases per 100,000 people. For reference, hard-hit New York City has 2,364 cases per 100,000. 

Though the U.S. has by far the most confirmed cases of any country, that figure is likely well below the actual number of infections. A report from the CDC found that 88,400 more Americans than expected died from March 1 through May 9, 2020, a total that exceeded the number of deaths attributed to the reported COVID-19 death toll during that period by thousands. This is how COVID-10 is being underreported in most states.

Click here to see the cities with the highest number of COVID-19 cases

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50. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 680 per 100,000 people (64,808 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 29 per 100,000 people (2,796 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 13
> Population density: 1,325 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 9,497,790

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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

49. Rockford, IL
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 710 per 100,000 people (2,411 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 20 per 100,000 people (68 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 21
> Population density: 428 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 337,658

48. Kankakee, IL
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 728 per 100,000 people (808 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 39 per 100,000 people (43 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 14
> Population density: 164 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 110,024

Source: smontgom65 / iStock

47. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 731 per 100,000 people (14,677 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 49 per 100,000 people (982 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 9
> Population density: 466 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 2,048,428

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46. Baton Rouge, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 739 per 100,000 people (6,297 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 54 per 100,000 people (462 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 8
> Population density: 195 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 831,310

Source: JamesBrey / iStock via Getty Images

45. Green Bay, WI
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 741 per 100,000 people (2,353 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 11 per 100,000 people (34 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 7
> Population density: 170 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 321,591

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44. Bowling Green, KY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 748 per 100,000 people (1,288 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 13 per 100,000 people (23 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 12
> Population density: 107 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 177,183

Source: traveler1116 / iStock via Getty Images

43. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 758 per 100,000 people (4,221 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 55 per 100,000 people (304 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 7
> Population density: 319 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 555,485

Source: peeterv / Getty Images

42. El Centro, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 760 per 100,000 people (1,369 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 13 per 100,000 people (24 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 39
> Population density: 43 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 181,827

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41. Flagstaff, AZ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 760 per 100,000 people (1,066 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 53 per 100,000 people (75 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 15
> Population density: 8 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 142,854

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

40. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 764 per 100,000 people (3,070 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 55 per 100,000 people (221 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 18
> Population density: 155 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 436,341

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39. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 768 per 100,000 people (5,152 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 22 per 100,000 people (150 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 18
> Population density: 186 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 655,409

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

38. Monroe, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 770 per 100,000 people (1,574 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 29 per 100,000 people (59 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 15
> Population density: 90 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 176,805

Source: Joecho-16 / iStock via Getty Images

37. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 777 per 100,000 people (2,087 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 58 per 100,000 people (155 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 12
> Population density: 483 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 265,429

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36. East Stroudsburg, PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 782 per 100,000 people (1,310 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 60 per 100,000 people (100 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 4
> Population density: 276 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 169,507

Source: Ataraxy22 / Wikimedia Commons

35. Dover, DE
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 786 per 100,000 people (1,374 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 35 per 100,000 people (61 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 12
> Population density: 298 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 178,550

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34. Racine, WI
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 808 per 100,000 people (1,579 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 14 per 100,000 people (28 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 26
> Population density: 588 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 196,584

Source: Bryan Bean / Wikimedia Commons

33. Greeley, CO
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 823 per 100,000 people (2,430 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 43 per 100,000 people (128 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 5
> Population density: 74 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 314,305

32. Goldsboro, NC
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 843 per 100,000 people (1,045 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 16 per 100,000 people (20 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 18
> Population density: 224 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 123,248

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31. Fargo, ND-MN
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 845 per 100,000 people (2,002 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 30 per 100,000 people (70 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 27
> Population density: 84 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 245,471

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

30. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 915 per 100,000 people (55,550 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 68 per 100,000 people (4,107 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 12
> Population density: 1,319 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 6,096,372

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29. Kingston, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 917 per 100,000 people (1,645 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 41 per 100,000 people (74 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 6
> Population density: 159 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 178,599

Source: BackyardProduction / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

28. Harrisonburg, VA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 925 per 100,000 people (1,229 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 20 per 100,000 people (27 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 16
> Population density: 153 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 135,277

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

27. Reading, PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 949 per 100,000 people (3,952 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 72 per 100,000 people (301 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 7
> Population density: 486 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 420,152

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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

26. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 963 per 100,000 people (8,034 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 68 per 100,000 people (569 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 8
> Population density: 574 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 842,913

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

25. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 979 per 100,000 people (11,838 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 116 per 100,000 people (1,403 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 15
> Population density: 798 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 1,206,300

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24. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 997 per 100,000 people (61,334 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 40 per 100,000 people (2,455 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 22
> Population density: 937 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 6,251,240

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

23. Springfield, MA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 999 per 100,000 people (7,005 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 97 per 100,000 people (683 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 11
> Population density: 380 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 631,761

22. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,049 per 100,000 people (1,785 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 28 per 100,000 people (48 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 8
> Population density: 113 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 169,659

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Source: Jeff Wood / Wikimedia Commons

21. St. Cloud, MN
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,095 per 100,000 people (2,153 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 7 per 100,000 people (14 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 18
> Population density: 112 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 199,801

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

20. Amarillo, TX
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,106 per 100,000 people (2,914 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 13 per 100,000 people (33 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 19
> Population density: 51 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 268,356

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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

19. Worcester, MA-CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,174 per 100,000 people (11,018 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 78 per 100,000 people (730 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 18
> Population density: 464 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 947,866

Source: BehindTheLens / iStock via Getty Images

18. Yakima, WA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,206 per 100,000 people (3,008 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 36 per 100,000 people (91 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 31
> Population density: 58 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 251,446

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

17. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,215 per 100,000 people (19,636 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 24 per 100,000 people (390 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 20
> Population density: 1,018 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 1,621,337

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16. Gainesville, GA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,236 per 100,000 people (2,422 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 21 per 100,000 people (42 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 12
> Population density: 499 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 202,148

Source: benedek / E+ via Getty Images

15. Farmington, NM
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,288 per 100,000 people (1,642 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 89 per 100,000 people (113 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 24
> Population density: 23 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 125,043

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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

14. New Haven-Milford, CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,294 per 100,000 people (11,124 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 109 per 100,000 people (934 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 12
> Population density: 1,422 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 857,620

Source: Joesboy / iStock via Getty Images

13. Salisbury, MD-DE
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,332 per 100,000 people (5,316 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 42 per 100,000 people (166 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 17
> Population density: 190 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 409,979

Source: shakzu / Getty Images

12. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,368 per 100,000 people (2,098 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 42 per 100,000 people (65 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 31
> Population density: 317 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 150,972

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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

11. Sioux Falls, SD
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,396 per 100,000 people (3,565 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 18 per 100,000 people (46 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 8
> Population density: 99 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 266,100

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

10. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,437 per 100,000 people (69,131 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 96 per 100,000 people (4,601 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 12
> Population density: 1,380 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 4,875,390

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9. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,474 per 100,000 people (18,631 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 102 per 100,000 people (1,286 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 6
> Population density: 395 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 1,270,399

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

8. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,622 per 100,000 people (15,314 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 132 per 100,000 people (1,242 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 12
> Population density: 1,511 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 943,823

Source: Paul Sableman / Wikimedia Commons

7. Pine Bluff, AR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,628 per 100,000 people (1,503 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 34 per 100,000 people (31 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 15
> Population density: 45 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 90,306

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6. Albany, GA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,716 per 100,000 people (2,573 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 142 per 100,000 people (213 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 10
> Population density: 94 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 151,158

Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

5. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 1,788 per 100,000 people (6,592 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 124 per 100,000 people (458 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 22
> Population density: 1,642 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 369,811

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4. Grand Island, NE
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 2,045 per 100,000 people (1,545 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 58 per 100,000 people (44 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 9
> Population density: 47 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 27, 2020: 2,104 per 100,000 people (14,139 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 76 per 100,000 people (510 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 11
> Population density: 418 people per sq. mile
> Total population: N/A

Source: GCShutter / Getty Images

2. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 2,364 per 100,000 people (456,770 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 162 per 100,000 people (31,282 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 10
> Population density: 2,889 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 19,979,477

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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

1. Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 27, 2020: 3,064 per 100,000 people (4,401 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 27, 2020: 33 per 100,000 people (48 total deaths)
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27, 2020: 47
> Population density: 69 people per sq. mile
> Total population: 169,354

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