Largest Cities in the US· by numbers
The 150 largest cities in the US (America) by city-proper population — inside the city limits, from the 2025 Census estimates. New York leads with about 8.6M residents, more than twice the size of Los Angeles.
The full ranking
All 150 cities, largest to smallest. Sort any column; search a city or state.
| # ▲ | City | State | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | New York | 8.6M | 11.3% |
| 2 | Los Angeles | California | 3.9M | 5.1% |
| 3 | Chicago | Illinois | 2.7M | 3.6% |
| 4 | Houston | Texas | 2.4M | 3.1% |
| 5 | Phoenix | Arizona | 1.7M | 2.2% |
| 6 | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 1.6M | 2.1% |
| 7 | San Antonio | Texas | 1.5M | 2.0% |
| 8 | San Diego | California | 1.4M | 1.8% |
| 9 | Dallas | Texas | 1.3M | 1.7% |
| 10 | Fort Worth | Texas | 1M | 1.3% |
| 11 | Jacksonville | Florida | 1M | 1.3% |
| 12 | Austin | Texas | 1M | 1.3% |
| 13 | San Jose | California | 990K | 1.3% |
| 14 | Charlotte | North Carolina | 965K | 1.3% |
| 15 | Columbus | Ohio | 938K | 1.2% |
City proper vs metro area
How big is a US city? It depends on where the line is drawn. This ranking uses city proper — the population inside the incorporated city limits — so New York’s 8.6 million is the city itself, not the wider region. Switch to metro areas and the numbers roughly double.
A metropolitan area adds the surrounding suburbs and commuter counties. New York’s metro is around 19 million; its city proper is 8.6 million. The gap explains why some cities that feel enormous — because their metro sprawls — sit lower here than a densely incorporated city with tight boundaries.
City-limits figures are the more comparable measure: every city is counted the same way, by the same Census program, in the same year. New York happens to lead both ways, but the ranking can shuffle sharply when you switch between city-proper and metro figures.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest city in the United States?
New York City, with about 8.6 million residents inside the city limits — more than twice the size of Los Angeles, the second-largest US city (3.9 million).
Where do Los Angeles and Chicago rank?
Los Angeles is second (about 3.9 million) and Chicago third (about 2.7 million), followed by Houston and Phoenix — the five biggest US cities by city-proper population.
City proper vs metro area — what's the difference?
City proper counts only people inside the official city limits; a metropolitan area adds the surrounding suburbs and commuter region. New York's city-proper figure is 8.6 million, but its metro area is around 19 million.
Is New York the biggest US city by metro area too?
Yes — New York leads both ways. It is the largest US city by city limits and by metropolitan area (~19 million), which is not true everywhere: rankings can shuffle sharply when you switch between city-proper and metro figures.
Where does this data come from?
The US Census Bureau's 2025 population estimates. As a US Government work, the figures are in the public domain and free to use.
Cite this page
CC BY 4.0Our compilation on this page — the figures as arranged, ranked and dated here — is published under CC BY 4.0. Reuse it anywhere, including commercially, with a link back. The underlying data belongs to the organizations credited below.
Us, by Numbers. "Us, by Numbers." https://usbynumbers.com
Sources & method
City-limits population from the US Census Bureau (public domain, 2025 estimates).