New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago lead the nation, while Sun Belt cities — Houston, San Antonio, and Fort Worth — continue their rapid growth, based on 2025 Census estimates.
Quick answer: 1. New York, New York, 2. Los Angeles, California, 3. Chicago, Illinois, 4. Houston, Texas, 5. Phoenix, Arizona, 6. San Antonio, Texas, 7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 8. San Diego, California, 9. Dallas, Texas, 10. Fort Worth, Texas.
The United States is home to more than 340 million people, and its population is concentrated in a handful of major cities — most of them in coastal states and the Sun Belt. This list ranks the ten most populous cities in the US by their city-proper population (the legal municipal boundary, not the wider metropolitan area), using the latest official estimates from the United States Census Bureau. City-proper populations capture the people who live within the city limits — a narrower figure than the metropolitan-area population, which includes surrounding suburbs. New York City has held the number-one spot for over a century, but the fastest growth in recent years has come from Texas cities, which now claim four of the top ten spots.
The largest city in the United States by a wide margin, New York City's population of 8.5 million exceeds the combined populations of the next two largest cities. The city's population has declined slightly since the 2020 Census, continuing a trend that accelerated during the pandemic era, but it remains the nation's undisputed commercial, cultural, and financial capital.
Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the US and the largest on the West Coast. Its population has also seen a modest decline since the 2020 Census, but the city remains a global hub for entertainment, international trade, and technology. The city's sprawling geography covers 471 square miles, significantly more area than New York City.
Chicago remains the largest city in the Midwest and the third-largest in the country. Its population has been in a slow decline, reflecting broader population trends in the Great Lakes region. The city's 228 square miles and dense urban core make it one of the most walkable and transit-oriented large cities in the US.
Houston is the fastest-growing city in the top five and has added over 120,000 residents since the 2020 Census. The city's strong economy, anchored by the energy sector, healthcare, and the Port of Houston, continues to attract new residents. Houston's 641 square miles make it one of the largest US cities by land area as well.
Phoenix has been one of the fastest-growing major cities in the US for two decades, and it surpassed 1.6 million residents in the 2020s. The city's desert climate, lower cost of living, and job growth in technology and services continue to drive in-migration. Phoenix is now the largest city in the American Southwest.
San Antonio has grown by over 130,000 residents since the 2020 Census, a 1.5% annual growth rate that makes it the fastest-growing city in the top ten. Its economy is anchored by the military, healthcare, tourism (the Alamo and the River Walk), and a growing bioscience sector. San Antonio is the second-most populous city in Texas.
Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city at the 2020 Census, has slipped to seventh as Sun Belt cities have grown faster. Its population has declined slightly since 2020. The city remains a major cultural and historical center, with the densest downtown of any major US city outside New York.
San Diego is the second-largest city in California and the eighth-largest in the US. Its population has grown modestly since 2020, driven by its strong biotech and defense sectors, desirable climate, and proximity to the US-Mexico border. The city's natural harbor is one of the finest on the West Coast.
Dallas continues to grow steadily, adding over 30,000 residents since the 2020 Census. The city is a major economic hub for the southern United States, with a strong presence in banking, telecommunications, technology, and transportation. Dallas is the third of four Texas cities in the top ten.
Fort Worth rounds out the top ten and is the fastest-growing city in the ranking by percentage, with a 2.15% annual growth rate. It has added over 125,000 residents since the 2020 Census, reflecting the explosive growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Fort Worth's economy is anchored by aviation, defense, and logistics, and it surpassed the 1 million resident mark in 2023.
| # | Name | State | 2020 Census | Annual change | Land area | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, New York | New York | 8,751,188 | -0.47% | 301 mi² | 28,441/mi² |
| 2 | Los Angeles, California | California | 3,896,473 | -0.14% | 471 mi² | 8,210/mi² |
| 3 | Chicago, Illinois | Illinois | 2,741,640 | -0.08% | 228 mi² | 11,977/mi² |
| 4 | Houston, Texas | Texas | 2,298,295 | +0.86% | 641 mi² | 3,775/mi² |
| 5 | Phoenix, Arizona | Arizona | 1,612,458 | +0.67% | 518 mi² | 3,237/mi² |
| 6 | San Antonio, Texas | Texas | 1,438,310 | +1.50% | 499 mi² | 3,152/mi² |
| 7 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 1,600,737 | -0.35% | 134 mi² | 11,668/mi² |
| 8 | San Diego, California | California | 1,382,566 | +0.33% | 326 mi² | 4,326/mi² |
| 9 | Dallas, Texas | Texas | 1,303,503 | +0.42% | 340 mi² | 3,934/mi² |
| 10 | Fort Worth, Texas | Texas | 923,653 | +2.15% | 352 mi² | 2,981/mi² |
Cities are ranked by their estimated population within city limits (city proper), not the wider metropolitan statistical area. Population figures are 2025 estimates from the US Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program, as compiled by World Population Review. Annual change rates reflect the compound growth or decline between the 2020 Census and the 2025 estimate. Rank 1 is the city with the largest population; ranks descend from there.
City proper refers to the population living within the legal municipal boundaries. The metropolitan area includes the city plus all surrounding suburbs and economically connected areas. New York City proper has 8.5 million residents, but the New York metropolitan area has over 20 million.
Both cities saw population declines in the early 2020s, driven by pandemic-era relocations, high housing costs, and shifts to remote work. The declines have slowed since 2023, and some cities are now stabilizing or seeing modest growth return.
Texas cities have grown rapidly due to a combination of strong job markets, lower cost of living compared to coastal cities, no state income tax, and a business-friendly regulatory environment. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex alone has two cities in the top ten.
The Census Bureau releases annual population estimates, so the ranking can shift. The core top five — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix — have been stable for years, but the bottom half of the top ten has seen more movement, especially with Texas cities rising.
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