Largest Cities in America by Population (2026)
Published April 12, 2026 · Census ACS 2023
New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago remain the three largest US cities by population, but the composition of the top 25 has shifted meaningfully over the past decade. Sun Belt cities, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Jacksonville, have climbed the rankings, while several Rust Belt cities have fallen out.
Top 25 US Cities by Population
| # | City | Population | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York city, NY | 8,516,202 | $79,713 |
| 2 | Los Angeles city, CA | 3,857,897 | $80,366 |
| 3 | Chicago city, IL | 2,707,648 | $75,134 |
| 4 | Houston city, TX | 2,300,419 | $62,894 |
| 5 | Phoenix city, AZ | 1,624,832 | $77,041 |
| 6 | Philadelphia city, PA | 1,582,432 | $60,698 |
| 7 | San Antonio city, TX | 1,458,954 | $62,917 |
| 8 | San Diego city, CA | 1,385,061 | $104,321 |
| 9 | Dallas city, TX | 1,299,553 | $67,760 |
| 10 | San Jose city, CA | 990,054 | $141,565 |
| 11 | Austin city, TX | 967,862 | $91,461 |
| 12 | Jacksonville city, FL | 961,739 | $66,981 |
| 13 | Fort Worth city, TX | 941,311 | $76,602 |
| 14 | Columbus city, OH | 906,480 | $65,327 |
| 15 | Charlotte city, NC | 886,283 | $78,438 |
| 16 | Indianapolis city (balance), IN | 882,043 | $62,995 |
| 17 | San Francisco city, CA | 836,321 | $141,446 |
| 18 | Seattle city, WA | 741,440 | $121,984 |
| 19 | Denver city, CO | 713,734 | $91,681 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City city, OK | 688,693 | $66,702 |
| 21 | Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN | 684,298 | $75,197 |
| 22 | El Paso city, TX | 678,147 | $58,734 |
| 23 | Washington city, DC | 672,079 | $106,287 |
| 24 | Boston city, MA | 663,972 | $94,755 |
| 25 | Las Vegas city, NV | 650,873 | $70,723 |
The Sun Belt Story
Six of the ten largest US cities are now in the Sun Belt: Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, and Austin. A decade ago, only four were. The ranking captures a three-decade reorientation of American population toward states with cheaper housing, warmer weather, and less restrictive zoning.
Austin, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Nashville, and Raleigh have each added several hundred thousand residents since 2010. Their city-proper populations remain smaller than legacy metros, but their growth rates are unmatched by any Northeastern or Midwestern city.
City vs. Metropolitan Area
A significant nuance in city rankings is whether you count the city proper or the metropolitan area. Los Angeles's city population is smaller than Chicago's, but the Los Angeles metropolitan area is roughly twice the Chicago metro's size. Boston's city population barely cracks the top 25, but Greater Boston is one of the largest metros in the country.
This ranking uses city-proper population because that's the Census definition and the only way to compare cities on a consistent legal basis. For metro-area rankings, the Census Bureau publishes a separate set of estimates by Metropolitan Statistical Area.
What the Top Cities Share
- Diversified economies. Every top-25 city has substantial healthcare, education, and professional-services employment, which buffer against single-industry downturns.
- Major airports and transportation hubs. Connectivity has become a reliable predictor of metropolitan growth.
- Immigration gateways. New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, and San Jose all attract large shares of new US immigrants.
- Research-university anchors. Boston, San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, and Raleigh all benefit from knowledge-economy spillover from major universities.
Related
For the full city directory, visit all US cities. See the complete largest cities ranking, or explore by state on any state page.
Frequently Asked Questions
New York city, NY is the largest US city by population with 8,516,202 residents according to Census ACS 2023 5-Year estimates.
City rankings depend on whether you count the city proper (the legal boundary) or the metropolitan area. Los Angeles has a smaller city proper than Chicago, but its metro area is larger. This ranking uses city-proper population, the standard Census definition.
Sun Belt cities like Austin, Raleigh, Phoenix, Charlotte, and Jacksonville have grown the fastest over the past decade. Older industrial cities including Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and St. Louis have generally plateaued or declined.
Yes. City-proper figures reflect the legally incorporated boundary as defined by the state. This differs from metropolitan statistical areas, which encompass surrounding suburbs and smaller cities.
City populations reflect Census ACS 5-Year estimates for city-proper (Place) geographies, not metropolitan statistical areas.