The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a “city” as any inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village. The line between a town and a city can often be blurry, however. Just how large can a town get before it becomes a city?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 39% of the American population — which totals 328.2 million — reside in cities of at least 50,000 people. But out of the roughly 19,500 incorporated cities, towns, and villages in the United States as of 2018, only slightly more than 300 of them had populations above 100,000 people; only 89 had more than 250,000 people; and only 10 were home to a million or more residents. (Some international cities are far bigger than anything in the U.S., of course. Here are nine cities with more than 20 million people.)
To determine the largest cities in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 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 TIGERweb data files. (Area figures are current as of Jan. 1, 2021, except those for Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky, which date from 2010). We calculated density using land area and population figures. (Check out the largest city in every state.)
Click here to see the 50 largest cities in the U.S.
According to recent research from the University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems, the national average population density in the U.S. stands at 94 people per square mile. The typical metropolitan area has 283 people per square mile, while mega-cities in the U.S. can have thousands or even tens of thousands. The 50 cities on this list range from 1,080 people per square mile (Oklahoma City) to 27,747 (New York City).
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New York, New York
> Population: 8,336,817
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 472.4 — #11 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 300.5 — #21 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 27,747 — #2 of 625 cities
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Source: choness / Getty Images
Los Angeles, California
> Population: 3,979,537
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 501.6 — #7 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 469.5 — #8 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 8,476 — #58 of 625 cities
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Source: Ron_Thomas / Getty Images
Chicago, Illinois
> Population: 2,693,959
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 234.5 — #29 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 227.7 — #27 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 11,830 — #25 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Houston, Texas
> Population: 2,316,797
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 671.7 — #3 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 640.4 — #3 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,618 — #275 of 625 cities
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Source: JacobH / Getty Images
Phoenix, Arizona
> Population: 1,680,988
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 519.3 — #5 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 518.3 — #5 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,243 — #319 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
> Population: 1,584,064
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 142.7 — #57 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 134.4 — #56 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 11,790 — #26 of 625 cities
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
San Antonio, Texas
> Population: 1,547,250
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 504.2 — #6 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 498.4 — #6 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,104 — #337 of 625 cities
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San Diego, California
> Population: 1,423,852
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 372.4 — #15 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 325.9 — #15 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,369 — #197 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Dallas, Texas
> Population: 1,343,565
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 383.5 — #13 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 339.6 — #14 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,956 — #238 of 625 cities
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Source: NicolasMcComber / Getty Images
San Jose, California
> Population: 1,021,786
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 181.4 — #40 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 178.3 — #37 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 5,730 — #113 of 625 cities
Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images
Austin, Texas
> Population: 979,263
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 326.5 — #21 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 319.9 — #17 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,061 — #344 of 625 cities
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Source: Arpad Benedek / Getty Images
Fort Worth, Texas
> Population: 913,656
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 356.9 — #17 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 348.6 — #12 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,621 — #409 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Jacksonville, Florida
> Population: 911,528
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 874.5 — #2 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 747.3 — #2 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,220 — #595 of 625 cities
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Columbus, Ohio
> Population: 902,073
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 226.0 — #31 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 220.1 — #28 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,098 — #225 of 625 cities
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Charlotte, North Carolina
> Population: 885,707
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 311.1 — #23 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 309.2 — #19 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,865 — #374 of 625 cities
Source: Nicolas McComber / Getty Images
San Francisco, California
> Population: 881,549
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 231.9 — #30 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 46.9 — #224 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 18,791 — #6 of 625 cities
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
Indianapolis, Indiana
> Population: 870,340
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 367.9 — #16 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 361.6 — #11 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,407 — #442 of 625 cities
Source: july7th / Getty Images
Seattle, Washington
> Population: 753,655
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 142.1 — #58 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 83.9 — #103 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 8,985 — #52 of 625 cities
Source: photoquest7 / Getty Images
Denver, Colorado
> Population: 727,211
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 154.7 — #47 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 153.1 — #44 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,751 — #165 of 625 cities
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
Washington, District of Columbia
> Population: 705,749
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 68.4 — #148 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 61.1 — #157 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 11,546 — #31 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Boston, Massachusetts
> Population: 694,295
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 89.6 — #109 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 48.3 — #216 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 14,363 — #15 of 625 cities
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
El Paso, Texas
> Population: 681,729
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 259.2 — #27 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 258.4 — #24 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,638 — #407 of 625 cities
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Source: Steven_Kriemadis / Getty Images
Detroit, Michigan
> Population: 670,052
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 142.9 — #56 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 138.7 — #53 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,830 — #159 of 625 cities
Source: JacobH / iStock via Getty Images
Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee
> Population: 668,580
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 497.5 — #9 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 475.8 — #7 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,405 — #576 of 625 cities
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
> Population: 655,158
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 620.8 — #4 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 606.5 — #4 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,080 — #606 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Portland, Oregon
> Population: 653,467
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 145.0 — #53 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 133.5 — #57 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,896 — #155 of 625 cities
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
Las Vegas, Nevada
> Population: 651,297
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 141.9 — #59 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 141.8 — #50 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,592 — #178 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Memphis, Tennessee
> Population: 651,088
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 302.6 — #25 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 294.9 — #22 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,208 — #468 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky
> Population: 617,630
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 342.2 — #20 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 325.3 — #16 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,899 — #514 of 625 cities
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Baltimore, Maryland
> Population: 593,490
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 92.0 — #104 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 80.9 — #108 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 7,332 — #74 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
> Population: 590,157
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 96.8 — #99 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 96.2 — #92 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 6,136 — #102 of 625 cities
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Albuquerque, New Mexico
> Population: 560,504
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 189.0 — #38 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 187.3 — #34 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,993 — #356 of 625 cities
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Tucson, Arizona
> Population: 548,082
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 241.3 — #28 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 241.0 — #26 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,274 — #462 of 625 cities
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Fresno, California
> Population: 531,581
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 116.8 — #76 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 115.6 — #67 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,598 — #175 of 625 cities
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Source: Richard Phillips / iStock via Getty Images
Mesa, Arizona
> Population: 517,981
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 139.4 — #60 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 138.8 — #52 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,732 — #262 of 625 cities
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Sacramento, California
> Population: 513,620
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 100.7 — #96 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 98.6 — #89 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 5,209 — #134 of 625 cities
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Atlanta, Georgia
> Population: 506,804
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 136.3 — #62 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 135.3 — #55 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,745 — #259 of 625 cities
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Source: TriggerPhoto / Getty Images
Kansas City, Missouri
> Population: 495,278
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 318.8 — #22 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 314.7 — #18 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,574 — #554 of 625 cities
Source: SWKrullImaging / Getty Images
Colorado Springs, Colorado
> Population: 478,215
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 196.2 — #35 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 195.8 — #32 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,442 — #437 of 625 cities
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Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
Omaha, Nebraska
> Population: 478,203
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 146.1 — #52 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 142.5 — #48 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,356 — #311 of 625 cities
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Raleigh, North Carolina
> Population: 474,708
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 148.2 — #49 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 147.1 — #45 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,227 — #323 of 625 cities
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Source: Art Wager / Getty Images
Miami, Florida
> Population: 467,968
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 56.1 — #192 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 36.0 — #308 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 13,001 — #19 of 625 cities
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images
Long Beach, California
> Population: 462,645
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 77.8 — #128 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 50.7 — #205 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 9,122 — #48 of 625 cities
Source: Oliver Kawwass / Getty Images
Virginia Beach, Virginia
> Population: 449,974
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 497.5 — #8 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 244.7 — #25 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 1,839 — #524 of 625 cities
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Oakland, California
> Population: 433,044
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 78.0 — #127 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 55.9 — #176 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 7,742 — #68 of 625 cities
Source: StevenGaertner / Getty Images
Minneapolis, Minnesota
> Population: 429,605
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 57.5 — #187 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 54.0 — #190 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 7,956 — #65 of 625 cities
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Tulsa, Oklahoma
> Population: 401,760
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 201.8 — #34 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 197.7 — #31 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,032 — #492 of 625 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Tampa, Florida
> Population: 399,690
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 175.8 — #43 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 114.0 — #68 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 3,506 — #292 of 625 cities
Source: stockcam / Getty Images
Arlington, Texas
> Population: 398,860
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 99.4 — #97 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 95.8 — #93 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 4,162 — #219 of 625 cities
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
New Orleans, Louisiana
> Population: 390,144
> Total area (including water) in square miles: 349.8 — #19 of 625 cities
> Land area square miles: 169.5 — #39 of 625 cities
> Population density per sq mile of land area: 2,302 — #458 of 625 cities
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