Whether it be moving for better job opportunities, or for better higher education for your children, large crowds move to the cities of our country annually. Moving is a new and exciting phase of life, and while you search for the largest US cities by population, you might come across various questions about living in these cities.
You definitely don’t have a shortage of options when it comes to choosing a city to live in, since there are so many with their own strengths and weaknesses. To make things easier for you, we looked at data by the U.S. Census Bureau and compiled a list for you. While we know that no one wants to live in overcrowded spaces, the appeal these cities have is unparalleled, so we’ve gone ahead and also written a bit more about them.
List of 7 Largest Cities by Population in America
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Antonio, Texas
Top 7 Largest Cities in U.S. by Population
1. New York City, NY
New York is on every person’s mind, every singer’s lips, and every art student’s dream. Unsurprisingly, taking first place on the list, not only is New York City most populated in the United States, but it is also the highest populated city in the world. Wondering what this big number is? It’s 8.6 million people! When we looked at the population trends, the population in The Big Apple has experienced a 2% change since 2010 according to the US Census Bureau. When it comes to demographics, in 2019 the median age was 37.2 years.
From Wall Street to Times Square, from its iconic NY style pizza to Broadway, New York has become the world’s largest cultural and financial hub. There’s so much to say about this city, that we won’t have enough space, so we’ll make it brief – rank 8 in terms of overall education, a million job opportunities, great transportation systems, and higher salary averages!
New York City is also everything for everyone and is one of the most diverse places in the United States, which is why it’s also fondly called a melting pot. There are a few things to keep in mind though – New York City is expensive. Not only are real estate prices through the roof, but the cost of living is high too. At the same time, the better and greener the neighborhoods, the higher the housing prices.
- Median price of homes for sale in New York City: $889,000
- Median rent per month in New York City: $1,844
Fun stats: 1 in every 38 people living in the country actually resides in New York City!
See also: Moving to NYC
2. Los Angeles, CA
From La La Land to the City of Angels, Los Angeles always looks like a city with a halo around it. With a population of 3.9 million, the city stands in second place with the highest population in the United States. Data by the US Census Bureau showed that this city saw a massive 4.9% change in its population since 2010. Now the median age of the population is 35.9 years, which comes as no surprise since the city has become a hub for entertainment, and the population percentage above 65 years is just 12.4%.
A cosmopolitan city, Los Angeles is home to everything from studios like Paramount Pictures to the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. As part of the Golden State, Los Angeles has a very warm and mild climate which encourages residents to enjoy the outdoors which has a large number of parks, restaurants, beaches, and even opportunities to hike and rock climb.
Since the state of California has the biggest economic turnover annually in the United States, it’s no wonder that you’ll never fall short of job opportunities in the City of Angels. The city does not fall short in terms of education and transport either. What it does fall short on is the real estate prices and the cost of living, both of which are high.
Median price of homes for sale in Los Angeles: $630,000
Median rent per month in Los Angeles: $2,355
Fun fact: Los Angeles has hosted the Summer Olympics twice – the only city in the continent to have done so.
See also: Moving to Los Angeles
3. Chicago, IL
In third place as the highest populated city in the country is the city of Chicago with a population of 2.6 million. While we looked at data from the US Census Bureau, the Population trends in Chicago showed that there was a change of – 0.1% from 2010. However, recent data has shown that the population decline can be attributed to slowing birth rates and increasing death rates in the city. In fact, the same has been noticed in the home state of Illinois, where the population decline between 2019 to 2020 has been the highest since World War II. Similar to the states holding the first and second rank, the median age of the population in Chicago is 35.2 years
Chicago has long been known for producing some of the best impressive minds in the nation. What’s best about living in Chicago is its transportation system which is the second largest in the United States. You’ll also be surprised to know that getting lost in Chicago is relatively rare, since streets are numbered wherever possible. Job opportunities are available in abundance too so you don’t have to worry about that if you’re planning to move to Chicago. If you want to raise a family in Chicago, you’ll be glad to know that the schools here are Top Notch, while catacombs are also available that won’t poke a hole through your pockets. There’s one thing you have to keep in mind though, and that is the cost of living which is high.
- Median price of homes for sale in Chicago: $330,000
- Median rent per month in Chicago: $1,799
Fun fact: Sporting News has dubbed Chicago the Best Sports City thrice.
See also: Moving to Chicago IL
4. Houston, Texas
Houston in Texas has been fast emerging as one of the highest populated cities in the United States due to the increasing job opportunities that the state of Texas has to offer. Currently, the population of the city stands at 2.3 million, with the median age of the population being 33.2 years. According to data by the US Census Bureau, population trends in Houston show that there has been a change of 10.7% since 2010, which is very high.
From what you’ve read, we’re sure it comes as no wonder that the population of Houston is steadily increasing. One of the biggest reasons is that the city’s job market is booming with industries that range from oil and gas to aeronautics and engineering. Another reason is that the state is highly affordable to live in because of no income tax and high household incomes. Add to this the cost of living and real estate prices which are comparatively lower in Houston. If you are considering education, Houston’s schooling system is above average, and you also have to note that you will be sending your child into a thriving job market.
- Median price of homes for sale in Houston: $299,900
- Median rent per month in Houston: $1,102
Fun fact: After New York and LA, Houston has the largest number of languages spoken in the country.
See also: Moving to Houston
5. Phoenix, AZ
Also called the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix in Arizona is the fifth most populated city in the United States. Currently, the population of the city stands at 1.6 million, where the median age is 34.4 years. Data by the US Census Bureau shows that the population trends in the city have been quite astounding – in the last 10 years itself, population growth has been an equivalent of 16.2 percent!
One of the biggest reasons for the most population is Phoenix’s landscapes which are scenic, and the sunsets which are the best in the country. While the city has some really dry and hot climate, it makes up for that with the remainder of the months that offer a respite and enough beauty making you want to hike, bike, climb and ride horses. When it comes to housing prices, Phoenix is affordable, but your budgeting should account for the high cost of living that you’ll experience. On the flip side, you will have access to many job opportunities and transportation systems. But if you want to raise a family, there’s a catch. Phoenix might not be the best place in terms of education, since Arizona’s public school system is the third-worst in the United States.
- Median price of homes for sale in Florida: $438,500
- Median rent per month in Florida: $1,195
Fun fact: Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert, which happens to be one of the greenest deserts on the continent.
See also: Moving to Phoenix AZ
6. Philadelphia, PA
Standing at sixth place in the city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania with a population of 1.5 million. When it comes to specifics, the median age of the population of this city which is also called The City of Brotherly Love, is 34.7 years. The population change since 2010 has been an increase of 3.8 % according to data by the US Census Bureau.
When one talks of Philadelphia, the first thing that comes to mind is the city’s association with the country’s rich history. Apart from that, Philadelphia has many perks, the highest being its cost of living which is actually 4% lower than the national average. What’s also best about living in the city is that you’ll be surrounded by lush greenery, which is something overcrowded cities rarely get to have. Other things that might interest you is a good quality education, better job opportunities, and a thriving economy.
- Median price of homes for sale in Philadelphia: $250,000
- Median rent per month in Philadelphia: $1,625
Fun fact: The Library Company of Philadelphia was the first library in the country. It was established by Benjamin Franklin in 1731.
See also: Moving to Philadelphia
7. San Antonio, Texas
Like Phoenix, San Antonio’s population has also been steadily increasing through the last decade according to data by the US Census Bureau, which stated that there was a significant 16.7% increase since 2010. So currently, the city’s population stands at 1.5 million with the median age of the population being 33.6 years. Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest reasons for this population boost has been the increase in job opportunities and Fortune 500 companies in recent years.
If you compare San Antonio to other major cities in Texas, it is fairly affordable since real estate prices are not expensive and low taxes help bring the cost of living down. At the same time, the city hardly sees a shortage of job opportunities with 6 Fortune 500 companies and many more slowly setting offices here. San Antonio is also great if you want to raise a family since the areas are picturesque and the schools are above average. If you’re worried about transportation, you’ll be glad to know that as compared to its neighbors like Dallas and Houston, San Antonio has less traffic and better commute times.
- Median price of homes for sale in San Antonio: $234,935
- Median rent per month in San Antonio: $1,015
Fun fact: The city of San Antonio was ranked as the second-best travel destination in the United States and the ninth-best in the world by Conde Nast Traveler.
See also: Moving to San Antonio
How many cities in the US have over 100,000 people?
The United States has 335 cities that have a population of over 100,000.
Which is the least populous state?
Wyoming is the least populous state in the United States with a population of 579,000.
What are the 10 largest cities in the world?
Ten of the largest cities in the world are Mumbai (India), Beijing (China), Cairo (Egypt), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Mexico City (United States), São Paulo (Brazil), Shanghai (China), New Delhi (India) and Osaka (Japan).
Conclusion
There’s a reason why some cities become overpopulated and continue to grow even though the land’s resources are extremely taxed. This reason is pretty simple – cities are hubs for opportunities and a better way of life. While your quality of life might deplete owing to factors like pollution, it might also increase if you can afford to live in better areas or you have a high paying job.
While the process of choosing where to live is difficult, we hope that the list we’ve given you briefly explains why the cities have witnessed such an influx of people through the decades. In the end, you have to carefully look into factors like tax rates, housing costs, crime rates, and the cost of living before you move, since these factors are usually expensive in large and overpopulated cities.
Also Read: Stats and Facts about Moving
