Special Report

The Most Populated Zip Codes in America

Samuel Stebbins

Published: June 26, 2019 5:15 pm

Last Updated: January 6, 2020 3:23 am

The United States is home to nearly 327.2 million people, more than any other country in the Western Hemisphere and the third most worldwide, trailing only China and India. Despite a massive population, the United States is not especially crowded. Spanning over 3.7 million square miles, the U.S. has one of the lowest population densities in the world.

Americans are not spread out evenly across the country, however, and many of us have less elbow room than one might think. According to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, rural areas cover over 97% of the nation’s land area but are home to only 19% of the population. This means that the rest of the population, over 80%, lives in just 3% of the landmass.

24/7 Tempo reviewed population data in nearly 33,000 U.S. ZIP codes to identify the most populated ZIP codes in America. Every ZIP code on this list is part of a major metropolitan area. Over half are located in New York or Los Angeles, the only two American cities to rank among the world’s 33 megacities. 

While a crowded urban area may not be for everyone, the appeal of living in a city is undeniable. Cities offer easy access to jobs, entertainment, and culture not found in other settings. Some of these ZIP codes are particularly attractive places to live, as they lie within the best city to live in their respective state.