The U.S. reported over 1,026,000 new cases of coronavirus on September 21, bringing the total count to more than 41.8 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. There have been more than 669,000 COVID-19-related deaths — the highest death toll of any country.
New cases continue to rise at a steady rate. In the past week, there were an average of 47.3 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans — essentially unchanged from the week prior, when there were an average of 48.1 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people.
While new data shows that the risk of contracting COVID-19 is high in almost every part of the country, cities continue to be the sites of major outbreaks and superspreader events. Experts agree that the virus is more likely to spread in group settings where large numbers of people routinely have close contact with one another, such as colleges, nursing homes, bars, and restaurants. Metropolitan areas with a high degree of connectivity between different neighborhoods and a large population may be particularly at-risk.
The metro areas with the lowest incidence of COVID-19 cases are distributed relatively unevenly across the United States. Of the 50 metro areas with the lowest case counts per capita, 26 are in the West, 17 are in the Northeast, five are in the South, and two are in the Midwest.
The five metro areas with the smallest number of coronavirus cases per capita are: Corvallis, OR; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA; Urban Honolulu, HI; Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI; and Ithaca, NY. The incidence of COVID-19 in these metro areas range from 4,983.2 cases per 100,000 to 5,737.4 cases per 100,000. For comparison, there are currently 12,954.8 cases per 100,000 Americans nationwide.
The 50 cities with the lowest incidence of COVID-19 have more than 4,900 fewer coronavirus cases per capita than the U.S. as a whole, but cases are growing at an increasing rate. There were an average of 55.1 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the week ending September 21, an increase from the week prior, when there were an average of 46.1 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people. In 46 of the 50 cities with the lowest COVID-19 incidence, new cases are rising at a slowing rate.
To determine the cities with the fewest COVID-19 cases, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed data from state and local health departments. We ranked metro areas based on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents as of September 21.To estimate the incidence of COVID-19 at the metropolitan level, we aggregated data from the county level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data used to adjust case and death totals came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates. Unemployment data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is seasonally adjusted.
50. Grants Pass, OR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 8,536
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,896.7
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 163
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 189.0
> Population: 86,251
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
49. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 118,724
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,830.8
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 3,073
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 254.5
> Population: 1,207,677
48. Manchester-Nashua, NH
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 40,585
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,826.0
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 662
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 160.3
> Population: 413,035
47. Fort Collins, CO
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 33,762
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,792.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 275
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 79.8
> Population: 344,786
46. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 60,676
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,681.9
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 611
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 97.5
> Population: 626,695
45. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 43,065
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,681.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 500
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 112.4
> Population: 444,829
44. Norwich-New London, CT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 25,746
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,628.6
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 462
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 172.8
> Population: 267,390
43. Rochester, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 103,025
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,602.7
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 1,502
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 140.0
> Population: 1,072,877
42. Lawrence, KS
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 11,543
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,596.0
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: N/A
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: N/A
> Population: 120,290
These are all the counties in Kansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
41. Medford, OR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 20,753
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,582.4
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 255
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 117.7
> Population: 216,574
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
40. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 221,338
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,557.0
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 2,800
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 120.9
> Population: 2,315,980
39. Chico, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 21,205
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,390.3
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 230
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 101.9
> Population: 225,817
38. Syracuse, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 60,270
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,238.0
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 904
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 138.6
> Population: 652,416
37. Kingston, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 16,239
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,089.1
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 271
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 151.7
> Population: 178,665
36. Salem, OR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 38,358
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 9,075.0
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 458
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 108.4
> Population: 422,678
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
35. Erie, PA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 24,328
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,884.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 444
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 162.1
> Population: 273,835
34. Bend, OR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 16,401
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,805.9
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 100
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 53.7
> Population: 186,251
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
33. Napa, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 12,246
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,770.8
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 95
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 68.0
> Population: 139,623
32. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 76,947
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,736.7
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 942
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 107.0
> Population: 880,736
31. Lewiston-Auburn, ME
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 9,287
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,630.9
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 90
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 83.6
> Population: 107,602
These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
30. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 534,099
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,619.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 8,203
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 132.4
> Population: 6,196,585
Click here to see all current COVID-19 data for Washington D.C.
29. Boulder, CO
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 27,759
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,607.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 241
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 74.7
> Population: 322,510
28. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 233,601
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,352.6
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 4,684
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 167.5
> Population: 2,796,733
27. Albany-Lebanon, OR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 10,302
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,238.4
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 85
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 68.0
> Population: 125,048
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
26. Ann Arbor, MI
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 29,682
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,087.7
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 309
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 84.2
> Population: 367,000
25. Santa Fe, NM
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 12,026
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,055.3
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 162
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 108.5
> Population: 149,293
24. Charlottesville, VA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 17,284
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 8,022.5
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 206
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 95.6
> Population: 215,445
23. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 39,376
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 7,878.8
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 376
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 75.2
> Population: 499,772
22. Barnstable Town, MA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 16,364
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 7,664.8
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 495
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 231.9
> Population: 213,496
21. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 147,472
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 7,418.7
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 1,908
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 96.0
> Population: 1,987,846
20. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 20,134
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 7,349.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 211
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 77.0
> Population: 273,962
19. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 279,786
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 7,227.1
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 3,261
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 84.2
> Population: 3,871,323
_along_the_border_of_Solomons,_Calvert_County,_Maryland_and_California,_St._Mary%27s_County,_Maryland_just_before_sunset.jpg "View northwest up the Patuxent River... by Famartin")
18. California-Lexington Park, MD
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 7,985
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 7,111.1
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 142
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 126.5
> Population: 112,290
17. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 332,723
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 7,077.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 3,698
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 78.7
> Population: 4,701,332
16. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 8,728
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,948.4
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 90
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 71.6
> Population: 125,612
15. Portland-South Portland, ME
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 36,727
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,902.6
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 370
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 69.5
> Population: 532,075
These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
14. Glens Falls, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 8,516
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,764.5
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 137
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 108.8
> Population: 125,892
13. Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 7,370
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,531.3
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 71
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 62.9
> Population: 112,842
12. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 158,361
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,474.9
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 1,712
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 70.0
> Population: 2,445,761
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
11. Eugene-Springfield, OR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 23,632
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,329.9
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 246
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 65.9
> Population: 373,340
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
10. Bellingham, WA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 13,743
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,223.6
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 130
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 58.9
> Population: 220,821
9. Pittsfield, MA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 7,825
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,189.4
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 309
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 244.4
> Population: 126,425
8. Bangor, ME
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 9,249
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 6,093.9
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 127
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 83.7
> Population: 151,774
These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
7. Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 16,726
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 5,979.7
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 176
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 62.9
> Population: 279,711
6. Burlington-South Burlington, VT
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 12,563
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 5,742.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 158
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 72.2
> Population: 218,784
5. Ithaca, NY
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 5,889
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 5,737.4
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 59
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 57.5
> Population: 102,642
4. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 9,053
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 5,454.3
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 83
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 50.0
> Population: 165,979
These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
3. Urban Honolulu, HI
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 52,646
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 5,345.7
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 542
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 55.0
> Population: 984,821
These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
2. Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 13,865
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 5,214.7
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 162
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 60.9
> Population: 265,882
1. Corvallis, OR
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21: 4,540
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 4,983.2
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21: 27
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of September 21 per 100,000 residents: 29.6
> Population: 91,107
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.
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