America’s population has more than doubled since 1950, when about 151.3 million people inhabited the U.S. As of August 2021, the resident population of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, was just over 332.6 million, making America the third-most populous nation on Earth after China and India.
24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the largest cities in every state, using figures obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau.
In all but 11 states, the largest city gained population since 2015. There are six cities on the list with a population topping 1 million people. Population changes between 2015 and 2020 vary from a decrease of more than 5% to an increase of over 10%.
Americans have always relocated between cities, but the pace of relocation has slowed. In 2018 and 2019, just 9.8% of residents changed residence, an all-time low. Still, many cities in all parts of the country have grown since 2010, and cities in the South have grown the fastest.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still unclear, though there is some evidence suggesting the move away from cities is not as significant as previously thought.
Millennials used to drive population growth in cities as they preferred to stay close to work, but as they get older, they are turning to the suburbs and looking to buy a house and start a family. And that sometimes means relocating to another state. Here are the best and worst states to raise a family.
Click here to see the most populous city in every state
Alabama: Birmingham
> City population in 2019: 212,297
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.04%
> State population in 2019: 4,876,250
> Share of state pop. living in Birmingham: 4.35%
> Birmingham land area: 148.6 sq. miles
> Birmingham pop. density: 1,453 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Alabama: Montgomery (2019 pop: 199,783)
[in-text-ad]
Alaska: Anchorage
> City population in 2019: 293,531
> Population change between 2015-2019: -1.86%
> State population in 2019: 737,068
> Share of state pop. living in Anchorage: 39.82%
> Anchorage land area: 1961.0 sq. miles
> Anchorage pop. density: 171 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Alaska: Juneau (2019 pop: 32,227)
24/7 Wall St.
Arizona: Phoenix
> City population in 2019: 1,633,017
> Population change between 2015-2019: 7.85%
> State population in 2019: 7,050,299
> Share of state pop. living in Phoenix: 23.16%
> Phoenix land area: 518.0 sq. miles
> Phoenix pop. density: 2,798 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Arizona: Tucson (2019 pop: 541,482)
Arkansas: Little Rock
> City population in 2019: 197,958
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.52%
> State population in 2019: 2,999,370
> Share of state pop. living in Little Rock: 6.60%
> Little Rock land area: 121.0 sq. miles
> Little Rock pop. density: 1,624 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Arkansas: Fort Smith (2019 pop: 87,743)
[in-text-ad-2]
California: Los Angeles
> City population in 2019: 3,966,936
> Population change between 2015-2019: 1.70%
> State population in 2019: 39,283,497
> Share of state pop. living in Los Angeles: 10.10%
> Los Angeles land area: 502.7 sq. miles
> Los Angeles pop. density: 8,092 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in California: San Diego (2019 pop: 1,409,573)
Colorado: Denver
> City population in 2019: 705,576
> Population change between 2015-2019: 8.61%
> State population in 2019: 5,610,349
> Share of state pop. living in Denver: 12.58%
> Denver land area: 154.6 sq. miles
> Denver pop. density: 3,923 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Colorado: Colorado Springs (2019 pop: 464,871)
[in-text-ad]
Connecticut: Bridgeport
> City population in 2019: 145,639
> Population change between 2015-2019: -1.15%
> State population in 2019: 3,575,074
> Share of state pop. living in Bridgeport: 4.07%
> Bridgeport land area: 19.3 sq. miles
> Bridgeport pop. density: 9,029 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Connecticut: New Haven (2019 pop: 130,331)
Delaware: Wilmington
> City population in 2019: 70,644
> Population change between 2015-2019: -1.26%
> State population in 2019: 957,248
> Share of state pop. living in Wilmington: 7.38%
> Wilmington land area: 16.9 sq. miles
> Wilmington pop. density: 6,498 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Delaware: Dover (2019 pop: 37,523)
Florida: Jacksonville
> City population in 2019: 890,467
> Population change between 2015-2019: 5.14%
> State population in 2019: 20,901,636
> Share of state pop. living in Jacksonville: 4.26%
> Jacksonville land area: 874.6 sq. miles
> Jacksonville pop. density: 1,100 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Florida: Miami (2019 pop: 454,279)
[in-text-ad-2]
Georgia: Atlanta
> City population in 2019: 488,800
> Population change between 2015-2019: 8.89%
> State population in 2019: 10,403,847
> Share of state pop. living in Atlanta: 4.70%
> Atlanta land area: 134.0 sq. miles
> Atlanta pop. density: 3,154 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Georgia: Augusta-Richmond County (2019 pop: 197,191)
Hawaii: Urban Honolulu
> City population in 2019: 348,985
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.29%
> State population in 2019: 1,422,094
> Share of state pop. living in Urban Honolulu: 24.54%
> Urban Honolulu land area: 68.4 sq. miles
> Urban Honolulu pop. density: 5,573 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Hawaii: East Honolulu (2019 pop: 47,540)
[in-text-ad]
Idaho: Boise City
> City population in 2019: 226,115
> Population change between 2015-2019: 5.56%
> State population in 2019: 1,717,750
> Share of state pop. living in Boise City: 13.16%
> Boise City land area: 80.0 sq. miles
> Boise City pop. density: 2,592 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Idaho: Meridian (2019 pop: 101,905)
Illinois: Chicago
> City population in 2019: 2,709,534
> Population change between 2015-2019: -0.29%
> State population in 2019: 12,770,631
> Share of state pop. living in Chicago: 21.22%
> Chicago land area: 234.1 sq. miles
> Chicago pop. density: 11,842 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Illinois: Aurora (2019 pop: 199,927)
Indiana: Indianapolis
> City population in 2019: 864,447
> Population change between 2015-2019: 2.73%
> State population in 2019: 6,665,703
> Share of state pop. living in Indianapolis: 12.97%
> Indianapolis land area: 368.0 sq. miles
> Indianapolis pop. density: 2,270 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Indiana: Fort Wayne (2019 pop: 265,752)
[in-text-ad-2]
Iowa: Des Moines
> City population in 2019: 215,636
> Population change between 2015-2019: 3.66%
> State population in 2019: 3,139,508
> Share of state pop. living in Des Moines: 6.87%
> Des Moines land area: 82.6 sq. miles
> Des Moines pop. density: 2,516 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Iowa: Cedar Rapids (2019 pop: 132,301)
Kansas: Wichita
> City population in 2019: 389,877
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.71%
> State population in 2019: 2,910,652
> Share of state pop. living in Wichita: 13.39%
> Wichita land area: 163.6 sq. miles
> Wichita pop. density: 2,400 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Kansas: Overland Park (2019 pop: 191,011)
[in-text-ad]
Kentucky: Louisville/Jefferson County
> City population in 2019: 617,790
> Population change between 2015-2019: 1.49%
> State population in 2019: 4,449,052
> Share of state pop. living in Louisville/Jefferson County: 13.89%
> Louisville/Jefferson County land area: 342.2 sq. miles
> Louisville/Jefferson County pop. density: 1,837 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Kentucky: Lexington-Fayette (2019 pop: 320,601)
24/7 Wall St.
Louisiana: New Orleans
> City population in 2019: 390,845
> Population change between 2015-2019: 3.74%
> State population in 2019: 4,664,362
> Share of state pop. living in New Orleans: 8.38%
> New Orleans land area: 350.2 sq. miles
> New Orleans pop. density: 2,029 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Louisiana: Baton Rouge (2019 pop: 224,149)
Maine: Portland
> City population in 2019: 66,595
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.16%
> State population in 2019: 1,335,492
> Share of state pop. living in Portland: 4.99%
> Portland land area: 69.4 sq. miles
> Portland pop. density: 3,107 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Maine: Lewiston (2019 pop: 36,095)
[in-text-ad-2]
Maryland: Baltimore
> City population in 2019: 609,032
> Population change between 2015-2019: -2.16%
> State population in 2019: 6,018,848
> Share of state pop. living in Baltimore: 10.12%
> Baltimore land area: 92.0 sq. miles
> Baltimore pop. density: 7,672 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Maryland: Columbia (2019 pop: 103,991)
Massachusetts: Boston
> City population in 2019: 684,379
> Population change between 2015-2019: 5.24%
> State population in 2019: 6,850,553
> Share of state pop. living in Boston: 9.99%
> Boston land area: 89.6 sq. miles
> Boston pop. density: 12,793 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Massachusetts: Worcester (2019 pop: 185,143)
[in-text-ad]
Michigan: Detroit
> City population in 2019: 674,841
> Population change between 2015-2019: -2.21%
> State population in 2019: 9,965,265
> Share of state pop. living in Detroit: 6.77%
> Detroit land area: 142.9 sq. miles
> Detroit pop. density: 5,144 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Michigan: Grand Rapids (2019 pop: 198,401)
Minnesota: Minneapolis
> City population in 2019: 420,324
> Population change between 2015-2019: 5.09%
> State population in 2019: 5,563,378
> Share of state pop. living in Minneapolis: 7.56%
> Minneapolis land area: 57.5 sq. miles
> Minneapolis pop. density: 7,088 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Minnesota: St. Paul (2019 pop: 304,547)
Mississippi: Jackson
> City population in 2019: 166,383
> Population change between 2015-2019: -3.94%
> State population in 2019: 2,984,418
> Share of state pop. living in Jackson: 5.58%
> Jackson land area: 113.2 sq. miles
> Jackson pop. density: 1,563 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Mississippi: Gulfport (2019 pop: 71,676)
[in-text-ad-2]
Missouri: Kansas City
> City population in 2019: 486,404
> Population change between 2015-2019: 3.93%
> State population in 2019: 6,104,910
> Share of state pop. living in Kansas City: 7.97%
> Kansas City land area: 319.0 sq. miles
> Kansas City pop. density: 1,460 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Missouri: St. Louis (2019 pop: 308,174)
Montana: Billings
> City population in 2019: 109,595
> Population change between 2015-2019: 1.35%
> State population in 2019: 1,050,649
> Share of state pop. living in Billings: 10.43%
> Billings land area: 43.5 sq. miles
> Billings pop. density: 2,400 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Montana: Missoula (2019 pop: 73,710)
[in-text-ad]
Nebraska: Omaha
> City population in 2019: 475,862
> Population change between 2015-2019: 8.14%
> State population in 2019: 1,914,571
> Share of state pop. living in Omaha: 24.85%
> Omaha land area: 130.6 sq. miles
> Omaha pop. density: 3,218 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Nebraska: Lincoln (2019 pop: 283,839)
Nevada: Las Vegas
> City population in 2019: 634,773
> Population change between 2015-2019: 4.90%
> State population in 2019: 2,972,382
> Share of state pop. living in Las Vegas: 21.36%
> Las Vegas land area: 135.9 sq. miles
> Las Vegas pop. density: 4,298 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Nevada: Henderson (2019 pop: 300,116)
New Hampshire: Manchester
> City population in 2019: 112,109
> Population change between 2015-2019: 1.79%
> State population in 2019: 1,348,124
> Share of state pop. living in Manchester: 8.32%
> Manchester land area: 35.0 sq. miles
> Manchester pop. density: 3,310 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in New Hampshire: Nashua (2019 pop: 88,815)
[in-text-ad-2]
New Jersey: Newark
> City population in 2019: 281,054
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.45%
> State population in 2019: 8,878,503
> Share of state pop. living in Newark: 3.17%
> Newark land area: 26.1 sq. miles
> Newark pop. density: 11,458 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in New Jersey: Jersey City (2019 pop: 261,940)
New Mexico: Albuquerque
> City population in 2019: 559,374
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.59%
> State population in 2019: 2,092,454
> Share of state pop. living in Albuquerque: 26.73%
> Albuquerque land area: 189.6 sq. miles
> Albuquerque pop. density: 2,908 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in New Mexico: Las Cruces (2019 pop: 102,102)
[in-text-ad]
New York: New York
> City population in 2019: 8,419,316
> Population change between 2015-2019: -0.09%
> State population in 2019: 19,572,319
> Share of state pop. living in New York: 43.02%
> New York land area: 468.5 sq. miles
> New York pop. density: 27,012 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in New York: Buffalo (2019 pop: 256,480)
24/7 Wall St.
North Carolina: Charlotte
> City population in 2019: 857,425
> Population change between 2015-2019: 8.24%
> State population in 2019: 10,264,876
> Share of state pop. living in Charlotte: 8.35%
> Charlotte land area: 299.7 sq. miles
> Charlotte pop. density: 2,457 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in North Carolina: Raleigh (2019 pop: 464,485)
North Dakota: Fargo
> City population in 2019: 121,889
> Population change between 2015-2019: 7.43%
> State population in 2019: 756,717
> Share of state pop. living in Fargo: 16.11%
> Fargo land area: 48.8 sq. miles
> Fargo pop. density: 2,162 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in North Dakota: Bismarck (2019 pop: 72,777)
[in-text-ad-2]
Ohio: Columbus
> City population in 2019: 878,553
> Population change between 2015-2019: 6.53%
> State population in 2019: 11,655,397
> Share of state pop. living in Columbus: 7.54%
> Columbus land area: 223.1 sq. miles
> Columbus pop. density: 3,624 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Ohio: Cleveland (2019 pop: 385,282)
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
> City population in 2019: 643,692
> Population change between 2015-2019: 5.41%
> State population in 2019: 3,932,870
> Share of state pop. living in Oklahoma City: 16.37%
> Oklahoma City land area: 620.8 sq. miles
> Oklahoma City pop. density: 956 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Oklahoma: Tulsa (2019 pop: 402,324)
[in-text-ad]
Oregon: Portland
> City population in 2019: 645,291
> Population change between 2015-2019: 5.40%
> State population in 2019: 4,129,803
> Share of state pop. living in Portland: 15.63%
> Portland land area: 145.1 sq. miles
> Portland pop. density: 4,375 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Oregon: Salem (2019 pop: 169,259)
24/7 Wall St.
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
> City population in 2019: 1,579,075
> Population change between 2015-2019: 1.54%
> State population in 2019: 12,791,530
> Share of state pop. living in Philadelphia: 12.34%
> Philadelphia land area: 142.7 sq. miles
> Philadelphia pop. density: 11,380 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh (2019 pop: 302,205)
Rhode Island: Providence
> City population in 2019: 179,494
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.46%
> State population in 2019: 1,057,231
> Share of state pop. living in Providence: 16.98%
> Providence land area: 20.6 sq. miles
> Providence pop. density: 9,676 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Rhode Island: Cranston (2019 pop: 81,254)
[in-text-ad-2]
South Carolina: Charleston
> City population in 2019: 135,257
> Population change between 2015-2019: 5.92%
> State population in 2019: 5,020,806
> Share of state pop. living in Charleston: 2.69%
> Charleston land area: 127.5 sq. miles
> Charleston pop. density: 1,102 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in South Carolina: Columbia (2019 pop: 133,273)
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> City population in 2019: 177,117
> Population change between 2015-2019: 7.77%
> State population in 2019: 870,638
> Share of state pop. living in Sioux Falls: 20.34%
> Sioux Falls land area: 73.5 sq. miles
> Sioux Falls pop. density: 2,109 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in South Dakota: Rapid City (2019 pop: 75,258)
[in-text-ad]
Tennessee: Nashville-Davidson
> City population in 2019: 663,750
> Population change between 2015-2019: 4.61%
> State population in 2019: 6,709,356
> Share of state pop. living in Nashville-Davidson: 9.89%
> Nashville-Davidson land area: 496.9 sq. miles
> Nashville-Davidson pop. density: 1,265 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Tennessee: Memphis (2019 pop: 651,932)
24/7 Wall St.
Texas: Houston
> City population in 2019: 2,310,432
> Population change between 2015-2019: 4.18%
> State population in 2019: 28,260,856
> Share of state pop. living in Houston: 8.18%
> Houston land area: 627.5 sq. miles
> Houston pop. density: 3,502 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Texas: San Antonio (2019 pop: 1,508,083)
Utah: Salt Lake City
> City population in 2019: 197,756
> Population change between 2015-2019: 3.71%
> State population in 2019: 3,096,848
> Share of state pop. living in Salt Lake City: 6.39%
> Salt Lake City land area: 111.7 sq. miles
> Salt Lake City pop. density: 1,678 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Utah: West Valley City (2019 pop: 136,009)
[in-text-ad-2]
Vermont: Burlington
> City population in 2019: 42,545
> Population change between 2015-2019: -0.06%
> State population in 2019: 624,313
> Share of state pop. living in Burlington: 6.81%
> Burlington land area: 15.5 sq. miles
> Burlington pop. density: 4,116 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Vermont: South Burlington (2019 pop: 19,162)
Virginia: Virginia Beach
> City population in 2019: 450,201
> Population change between 2015-2019: 0.43%
> State population in 2019: 8,454,463
> Share of state pop. living in Virginia Beach: 5.33%
> Virginia Beach land area: 497.3 sq. miles
> Virginia Beach pop. density: 1,759 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Virginia: Norfolk (2019 pop: 244,601)
[in-text-ad]
Washington: Seattle
> City population in 2019: 724,305
> Population change between 2015-2019: 10.92%
> State population in 2019: 7,404,107
> Share of state pop. living in Seattle: 9.78%
> Seattle land area: 142.7 sq. miles
> Seattle pop. density: 7,251 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Washington: Spokane (2019 pop: 217,353)
West Virginia: Charleston
> City population in 2019: 48,006
> Population change between 2015-2019: -5.06%
> State population in 2019: 1,817,305
> Share of state pop. living in Charleston: 2.64%
> Charleston land area: 32.7 sq. miles
> Charleston pop. density: 1,631 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in West Virginia: Huntington (2019 pop: 46,667)
Wisconsin: Milwaukee
> City population in 2019: 594,548
> Population change between 2015-2019: -0.83%
> State population in 2019: 5,790,716
> Share of state pop. living in Milwaukee: 10.27%
> Milwaukee land area: 96.8 sq. miles
> Milwaukee pop. density: 6,188 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Wisconsin: Madison (2019 pop: 254,977)
[in-text-ad-2]
Wyoming: Cheyenne
> City population in 2019: 63,607
> Population change between 2015-2019: 2.27%
> State population in 2019: 581,024
> Share of state pop. living in Cheyenne: 10.95%
> Cheyenne land area: 24.6 sq. miles
> Cheyenne pop. density: 2,425 per sq. mile
> Second largest city in Wyoming: Casper (2019 pop: 58,446)
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
