Which US Cities Are the Largest?

The United States’ population growth has been slowing for the better part of a decade,¹ and in 2020, growth in the US plummeted due to the Coronavirus pandemic.² Despite this trend, the United States is still a big place with some very densely populated cities.

Which cities are the largest, though? We looked at Census Bureau data to find out which US cities have the most residents. Predictably, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago took the top three spots, though you may be surprised to see where your city ranks.

As a bonus, we also checked median rent in each city to give you an idea of how much it would cost to live there if you’re thinking about moving.

Whether you’re looking for a new city to call home or you’re just curious to learn how populated your current home is, keep reading to learn about the US’s most populous cities.

• With 8,336,817 residents, New York City is the largest city in the United States. There are 27,000 people per square mile in New York City, and the city’s population is larger than the combined populations of the two next most populous cities.
• There are 3 California cities and 3 Texas cities in the top 10.
• The average median rent for the top 10 largest cities is $1,364. The average for the 100 most populous cities is $1,213.

• Population: 8,336,817
• Median rent: $1,483

It isn't called the Big Apple for nothing. With a bustling population of over eight million, New York is the largest city in the United States. In fact, it has held this title for over 200 years.³ Even if you’ve never been to New York, you’re likely familiar with the city’s crowded streets and busy subways from seeing them in dozens of films, newscasts, and television shows.

• Population: 3,979,537
• Median rent: $1,554

Los Angeles—a city on the opposite side of the country from New York—is right next to NYC in the population rankings. That said, LA only has about half as many residents as NYC, though its median rent is almost $100 higher.

• Population: 2,693,959
• Median rent: $1,134

With a population that doesn’t quite break three million, Chicago is much smaller than both New York and LA. The good news is that Chicago’s median rent is around $400 cheaper than either of the larger cities’ median rents.

• Population: 2,316,797
• Median rent: $1,095

Contrary to popular belief, not everything is bigger in Texas. While Houston’s population of 2,316,797 is immense, it’s only the fourth-largest city in the nation. That said, Houston is one of three Texas cities to make our top ten list, so Texas is tied with California for the most entries in the top ten.

• Population: 1,680,988
• Median rent: $1,107

Though Phoenix ranks fifth in population size, it’s among the fastest-growing cities in the nation,⁴ so don’t be surprised to see it climbing the ranks in the coming decade.

• Population: 1,584,064
• Median rent: $1,079

Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania, but it’s still only the sixth-largest city in the nation. It probably isn’t going to be moving up the rankings anytime soon, either. Philly has seen a small population boom since 2010, but it seems to have ended,⁵ more or less cementing Philly’s population size for now.

• Population: 1,547,250
• Median rent: $1,029

San Antonio is the second Texas city to rank in our top ten, and it’s also a quickly growing city, so it might overtake Philly soon. San Antonio also has the lowest median rent of the US’s 10 most populous cities.

• Population: 1,423,852
• Median rent: $1,806

Like Philadelphia, San Diego’s growth rate has seen a sharp decline in recent years.⁶ This makes San Diego’s placement on this list a little tenuous, especially considering how close to the bottom it currently is. In a few years, San Diego may no longer rank in the ten most populous US cities.

• Population: 1,343,565
• Median rent: $1,128

The Dallas metro area is projected to grow faster than any other metro in the US.⁷ This isn’t particularly surprising since Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the country.⁸ Three Texas cities landed in our top ten list this year, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see Texas making an even stronger showing soon.

• Population: 1,021,786
• Median rent: $2,223

San Jose may rank tenth in population size, but its median rent is higher than any other city in our top ten. In fact, of the 100 most populous cities in the US, only Irvine, California has a higher median rent than San Jose.

We based our rankings exclusively on population size, and we used US Census Bureau sources to gather all data around population sizes⁹ and median rent costs¹⁰ in the 100 most populous US cities.

1. United States Census Bureau, “New Estimates Show U.S. Population Growth Continues to Slow,” December 30, 2019. Accessed May 10, 2021.
2. The Washington Post, “Natural Population Growth was Slowing. The Pandemic Pressed the Brakes,” May 5, 2021. Accessed May 10, 2021.
3. Britannica, “Growth of the Metropolis.” Accessed May 10, 2021.
4. My Home, “Population Growth: Where Are People Moving?” February 1, 2021. Accessed May 10, 2021.
5. The Philadelphia Citizen, “The End of the Boom?” April 9, 2020. Accessed May 11, 2021.
6. San Diego News Desk, “San Diego County Population Growth has all but Stopped.” January 23, 2020. Accessed May 11, 2021.
7. CultureMap Dallas, “Dallas-Fort Worth Could See Biggest Population Surge in U.S. Through 2029.” Jan 9, 2020. Accessed May 11, 2021.
8. Zippia, “The Fastest Growing States in the US.” February 2, 2021. Accessed May 11, 2021.
9. United States Census Bureau, “Total Population.” Accessed May 10, 2021.
10. United States Census Bureau, “Selected Housing Characteristics.” Accessed May 10, 2021.