RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 918

Most densely populated, US metro areas · 1990

US metro areas ranked by residents per square mile (2023). New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ leads at 2,739. 918 metro areas qualify in total. California carries 5 of the top 25 entries.

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All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01New York, NYNY20,112,4482,739−8%

02Los Angeles, CACA12,844,4412,323−9%

03San Francisco, CACA4,630,0411,493−11%

04Trenton, NJNJ399,2891,451−7%

05Honolulu, HIHI988,7031,392−5%

06Boston, MAMA5,034,2211,186−6%

07Philadelphia, PAPA6,329,1181,181−4%

08Chicago, ILIL9,434,1231,163−10%

09Detroit, MIMI4,390,9131,092−5%

10Milwaukee, WIWI1,575,010984−5%

11Providence, RIRI1,708,161951−5%

12Baltimore, MDMD2,857,781916−7%

13Tampa, FLFL3,418,895822−14%

14Cleveland, OHOH2,165,775815−2%

15Buffalo, NYNY1,155,653760+2%

16Springfield, MAMA464,338740+0%

17Akron, OHOH701,780730−5%

18Washington, DCDC6,465,724680−14%

19Flint, MIMI401,093676−1%

20Miami, FLFL6,391,072669−32%

21Dayton, OHOH826,554627−0%

22San Diego, CACA3,282,248593−11%

23San Jose, CACA1,984,473573−12%

24Racine, WIWI198,919526−7%

25Santa Cruz, CACA258,852516−10%

26New Orleans, LALA970,849484−0%

27Bremerton, WAWA283,374480−18%

28Youngstown, OHOH423,678479+2%

29Barnstable, MAMA233,539473−16%

30Allentown, PAPA887,615473−7%

31Kenosha, WIWI168,448472−14%

32Worcester, MAMA888,502470−5%

33Dallas, TXTX8,477,157459−23%

34Virginia Beach, VAVA1,797,213457−8%

35Pittsburgh, PAPA2,421,992455+2%

36Toledo, OHOH599,376451−1%

37Lancaster, PAPA563,159448−10%

38Seattle, WAWA4,161,883436−16%

39Cape Coral, FLFL875,607429−24%

40Houston, TXTX7,904,627426−20%

41Cincinnati, OHOH2,312,858421−8%

42Vallejo, CACA455,376414−14%

43Canton, OHOH400,246406−3%

44Ann Arbor, MIMI370,214401−12%

45Kalamazoo, MIMI263,795398−6%

46Atlantic City, NJNJ372,047396−10%

47Palm Bay, FLFL663,982393−16%

48Reading, PAPA440,072393−10%

49Manchester, NHNH433,415383−12%

50North Port, FLFL948,158377−17%

51York, PAPA473,197375−11%

52Springfield, OHOH135,340373+2%

53Minneapolis, MNMN3,790,295366−14%

54Oxnard, CACA830,851363−11%

55Rockford, ILIL337,242357−11%

56Kiryas Joel, NYNY718,377353−9%

57Atlanta, GAGA6,482,182351−28%

58Orlando, FLFL2,957,672351−26%

59Indianapolis, ININ2,205,695345−14%

60Stockton, CACA823,815345−15%

61Erie, PAPA265,832345−2%

62Rochester, NYNY1,056,149342−3%

63Elkhart, ININ208,774337−15%

64Scranton, PAPA574,418329+3%

65St. Louis, MOMO2,814,421326−4%

66Oshkosh, WIWI174,218323−10%

67Muskegon, MIMI177,901315−7%

68Lebanon, PAPA146,380314−5%

69South Bend, ININ324,538313−6%

70Boulder, COCO328,560310−23%

71Mobile, ALAL411,658308−5%

72Muncie, ININ113,106305+1%

73Columbus, OHOH2,242,028305−13%

74Harrisburg, PAPA617,427292−7%

75Brownsville, TXTX433,946292−22%

76Sacramento, CACA2,477,274291−18%

77Jacksonville, FLFL1,785,500289−18%

78Oak Harbor, WAWA85,657289−16%

79Albany, NYNY915,835288−2%

80Vineland, NJNJ157,148286−6%

81Fayetteville, NCNC395,412285−12%

82Niles, MIMI152,444284−1%

83Carson, NVNV58,571280−23%

84Amherst, MAMA164,065278−4%

85Syracuse, NYNY652,273277+1%

86Kokomo, ININ83,904276−5%

87Lima, OHOH100,881273+1%

88Greensboro, NCNC805,945271−16%

89Louisville, KYKY1,402,509265−9%

90Saginaw, MIMI187,688265+1%

91Grand Rapids, MIMI1,183,645262−14%

92Fort Wayne, ININ466,258260−9%

93Burlington, NCNC186,177256−17%

94Raleigh, NCNC1,595,720255−32%

95Lansing, MIMI479,722255−3%

96Mansfield, OHOH124,893255−2%

97Bay City, MIMI102,123253+1%

98Deltona, FLFL746,933252−19%

99Altoona, PAPA119,541249+1%

100Modesto, CACA557,719248−17%

101Santa Rosa, CACA486,444246−15%

102Weirton, WVWV112,468246+8%

103McAllen, TXTX921,549244−33%

104Charlotte, NCNC2,938,830244−22%

105Monroe, MIMI156,004243−8%

106Gainesville, GAGA226,568243−31%

107Winston-Salem, NCNC712,206243−14%

108Lexington, KYKY535,174237−15%

109Johnstown, PAPA128,968237+7%

110Elmira, NYNY80,415234+5%

111Sandusky, OHOH112,777231−3%

112Evansville, ININ273,786230−6%

113Portland, OROR2,542,282228−21%

114Greenville, SCSC1,014,101228−15%

115Ogden, UTUT672,784228−21%

116Lakeland, FLFL874,790225−16%

117Port St. Lucie, FLFL568,721225−21%

118Lewiston, MEME116,487225+1%

119Lacey, WAWA304,261223−22%

120Lexington Park, MDMD211,176223−21%

121Kansas City, MOMO2,270,682222−11%

122Binghamton, NYNY243,189216+5%

123Memphis, TNTN1,341,412216−11%

124Huntsville, ALAL556,444215−14%

125Jackson, MIMI159,552213−5%

126Portland, MEME577,635212−9%

127Warner Robins, GAGA208,091210−18%

128Chattanooga, TNTN594,530207−9%

129Richmond, VAVA1,389,338207−13%

130Pensacola, FLFL544,949206−16%

131Corpus Christi, TXTX451,191206−9%

132Salem, OHOH99,377204−3%

133Sheboygan, WIWI118,047203−8%

134Decatur, ILIL99,300202+2%

135Austin, TXTX2,620,945201−32%

136Denver, COCO3,092,037199−24%

137Ithaca, NYNY104,047198−2%

138Jacksonville, NCNC217,175197−0%

139Pottsville, PAPA145,085196+1%

140Durham, NCNC625,485196−19%

141Charleston, SCSC889,263196−8%

142Sunbury, PAPA107,788195+2%

143Spartanburg, SCSC407,656195−9%

144Janesville, WIWI166,472194−8%

145Battle Creek, MIMI133,408193−1%

146San Antonio, TXTX2,813,140192−18%

147Oxford, ALAL115,834192+3%

148Morristown, TNTN128,867191−18%

149Savannah, GAGA438,314191−12%

150Hagerstown, MDMD315,280191−13%

151Dover, DEDE194,786189−12%

152Goldsboro, NCNC122,278189−8%

153Johnson City, TNTN216,416188−12%

154Gadsden, ALAL103,886187−3%

155Knoxville, TNTN968,137186−13%

156Martinsville, VAVA63,091186−0%

157Fairmont, WVWV55,584185+1%

158Appleton, WIWI249,876183−13%

159Wooster, OHOH116,758183−9%

160Shelby, NCNC103,325182−12%

161Birmingham, ALAL1,197,766181−9%

162Hermitage, PAPA107,860180+1%

163Wilson, NCNC81,150180−11%

164Sebastian, FLFL172,799180−20%

165Lawrence, KSKS120,920179−18%

166Marion, ININ66,524179+1%

167Richmond, ININ66,169179+1%

168Michigan City, ININ111,294179−3%

169Hickory, NCNC376,890178−14%

170Asheville, NCNC422,345177−17%

171Oklahoma City, OKOK1,512,813176−11%

172Nashville, TNTN2,197,416175−20%

173Beaumont, TXTX399,310172−6%

174Slidell, LALA279,108171−24%

175Wheeling, WVWV134,089169+4%

176Los Alamos, NMNM19,407166−1%

177Greenville, NCNC182,936165−19%

178Tyler, TXTX252,549164−13%

179Punta Gorda, FLFL217,212163−22%

180Lincoln, NENE352,081163−14%

181Sanford, NCNC70,258162−16%

182Davenport, IAIA380,452162−2%

183Bloomington, ININ165,231162−11%

184Homosassa Springs, FLFL171,666161−21%

185Springfield, ILIL206,033160−6%

186Rome, GAGA101,378159−10%

187Marion, OHOH65,115159−3%

188Omaha, NENE1,009,836158−11%

189East Stroudsburg, PAPA167,179157−31%

190Chambersburg, PAPA160,652157−6%

191Columbus, ININ85,729156−11%

192Dalton, GAGA147,819155−18%

193Sumter, SCSC105,067154−2%

194Henderson, NCNC42,638154−9%

195Parkersburg, WVWV87,264154−2%

196Phoenix, AZAZ5,228,938154−31%

197Milledgeville, GAGA44,029153−12%

198Colorado Springs, COCO781,796153−24%

199Fremont, OHOH58,655152+0%

200Gettysburg, PAPA107,594151−14%

201Pittsfield, MAMA128,224150+3%

202New Philadelphia, OHOH92,373148−8%

203Columbia, SCSC879,918148−15%

204Baton Rouge, LALA888,699148−11%

205Napa, CACA132,949147−11%

206Kingston, NYNY183,330147−7%

207Midland, MIMI83,754146−9%

208Gulfport, MSMS431,329146−14%

209Peoria, ILIL363,505145−2%

210Salem, OROR445,814145−20%

211Roanoke, VAVA316,547144−7%

212Kinston, NCNC55,837144−4%

213Kankakee, ILIL105,525142−7%

214Frankfort, KYKY77,874142−13%

215Dubuque, IAIA99,381142−3%

216Burlington, VTVT227,803142−11%

217Salisbury, MDMD131,872141−11%

218Madison, WIWI709,685140−14%

219Charleston, WVWV200,170139+3%

220Shreveport, LALA383,474139−4%

221Elizabeth City, NCNC42,201138−10%

222Marion, ILIL67,225137−6%

223Kingsport, TNTN314,834137−8%

224Manitowoc, WIWI81,710136−3%

225Owensboro, KYKY113,962136−5%

226Cumberland, MDMD93,640136−0%

227Santa Maria, CACA442,065135−7%

228Whitewater, WIWI106,127135−20%

229Jamestown, NYNY124,126134+2%

230Augusta, MEME129,067134−1%

231Athens, GAGA224,148133−18%

232Odessa, TXTX173,801132−2%

233Portsmouth, OHOH71,365132+1%

234Owosso, MIMI67,681131−3%

235Albemarle, NCNC68,830131−11%

236Little Rock, ARAR777,607131−12%

237Bloomsburg, PAPA66,193131−1%

238Green Bay, WIWI336,756130−14%

239Nantucket, MAMA14,758130−37%

240Toccoa, GAGA27,854130−9%

241Florence, SCSC201,392129−9%

242Amsterdam, NYNY50,046129+5%

243Concord, NHNH158,078129−12%

244Rocky Mount, NCNC148,486127−7%

245Augusta, GAGA641,231127−13%

246Myrtle Beach, SCSC427,551127−27%

247Huntington, WVWV365,965127−3%

248Fond du Lac, WIWI104,669125−7%

249Albertville, ALAL103,537125−14%

250Des Moines, IAIA758,539125−13%

251Zanesville, OHOH87,014123−3%

252Findlay, OHOH75,034123−8%

253Wichita, KSKS663,809123−11%

254Warsaw, ININ80,892123−12%

255New Castle, ININ49,137123−1%

256Ocala, FLFL442,660123−25%

257Laconia, NHNH65,147122−13%

258Adrian, MIMI97,779122−7%

259Batavia, NYNY58,416122−1%

260Watertown, WIWI86,505122−8%

261Tulsa, OKOK1,069,273121−11%

262Connersville, ININ23,533121+2%

263Seaford, DEDE277,140121−28%

264Utica, NYNY285,611121+6%

265Macon-Bibb County, GAGA238,553120−7%

266Bucyrus, OHOH41,896119+2%

267Auburn, NYNY74,365119+0%

268New Iberia, LALA66,846119−7%

269Bluefield, WVWV96,138118+3%

270Boone, NCNC54,786118−13%

271Athens, OHOH63,197118−4%

272Sturgis, MIMI60,968118−6%

273Mount Airy, NCNC72,287116−13%

274Bartlesville, OKOK54,037116−2%

275Lewisburg, PAPA42,313114−13%

276Cleveland, TNTN134,057114−16%

277Norwalk, OHOH58,250114−5%

278Elizabethtown, KYKY128,666114−6%

279Anderson Creek, NCNC150,137114−25%

280Easton, MDMD38,238114−10%

281Terre Haute, ININ169,241114−3%

282Gaffney, SCSC58,275113−15%

283Vineyard Haven, MAMA21,219113−22%

284Montgomery, ALAL388,747112−12%

285Lewistown, PAPA46,127112−1%

286Ashland, OHOH52,523112−10%

287State College, PAPA157,393112−9%

288Selinsgrove, PAPA39,655112−2%

289Chico, CACA209,211111−10%

290Wapakoneta, OHOH45,909111−4%

291Lafayette, LALA423,758111−11%

292Lumberton, NCNC119,941111−15%

293Sidney, OHOH48,065110−6%

294Holland, MIMI123,188110−14%

295Gloversville, NYNY52,216109−2%

296Bloomington, ILIL171,419109−14%

297Cedartown, GAGA45,514109−11%

298Indiana, PAPA82,878109+0%

299Tallahassee, FLFL397,442108−19%

300Tiffin, OHOH54,522108+2%

301Salinas, CACA433,729108−11%

302Hammond, LALA141,346108−15%

303Hot Springs, ARAR99,695108−17%

304Farmington, MOMO67,809108−12%

305Danville, VAVA101,137107−1%

306Panama City, FLFL231,174107−15%

307El Paso, TXTX881,291106−13%

308Laurinburg, NCNC33,322106−6%

309Champaign, ILIL239,979106−4%

310Waterloo, IAIA169,189106−3%

311Blacksburg, VAVA181,616105−8%

312Corvallis, OROR97,728105−9%

313Cedar Rapids, IAIA279,285105−11%

314Carbondale, ILIL52,501105+2%

315Wilmington, NCNC492,772105−27%

316Florence, ALAL156,609104−8%

317Seneca Falls, NYNY32,883104+1%

318Morgan City, LALA46,552104+9%

319Morgantown, WVWV141,995104−6%

320Decatur, ALAL160,326104−10%

321Morehead City, NCNC70,469104−11%

322Sherman, TXTX153,613102−14%

323Lafayette, ININ228,468102−11%

324Harrisonburg, VAVA140,155102−18%

325Charleston, ILIL46,607102−3%

326Clarksburg, WVWV88,142101−1%

327Forest City, NCNC65,745101−10%

328Chillicothe, OHOH76,429101−5%

329Greenfield, MAMA70,698100−2%

330Columbus, GAGA324,830100−5%

331Cornelia, GAGA50,416100−23%

332Springfield, MOMO500,69499−19%

333Yuba City, CACA187,47899−12%

334Hudson, NYNY60,16899−0%

335Keene, NHNH78,26999−5%

336Faribault, MNMN69,93999−13%

337Peru, ININ34,48799+2%

338Marietta, OHOH58,38999−2%

339Pikeville, KYKY89,12298+4%

340Beckley, WVWV109,94098−2%

341Calhoun, GAGA61,70198−20%

342Danville, ILIL71,25998+5%

343Cortland, NYNY45,85098+1%

344Iowa City, IAIA182,71198−12%

345Fort Smith, ARAR234,14098−15%

346Staunton, VAVA129,69297−10%

347Auburn, ININ44,53597−12%

348Williamsport, PAPA112,58797−1%

349Salt Lake City, UTUT1,308,37797−20%

350Defiance, OHOH38,29296−0%

351Mount Pleasant, MIMI64,69195−14%

352Killeen, TXTX511,49795−19%

353Bedford, ININ45,56895−7%

354Plymouth, ININ46,59995−7%

355Riverside, CACA4,769,00795−20%

356Lynchburg, VAVA269,16994−10%

357Rockingham, NCNC42,04194−4%

358Las Vegas, NVNV2,407,22694−46%

359Greenville, MSMS40,44694+8%

360Fresno, CACA1,203,38393−18%

361Logansport, ININ37,83693−6%

362Wisconsin Rapids, WIWI74,06093−3%

363Gainesville, FLFL359,03693−19%

364Huntington, ININ37,22493−7%

365Spokane, WAWA608,01292−14%

366Bellefontaine, OHOH46,30292−8%

367Kendallville, ININ47,93792−18%

368Auburn, ALAL208,01392−19%

369Merced, CACA297,26092−15%

370Cullman, ALAL94,00992−13%

371Seneca, SCSC83,77592−13%

372Decatur, ININ36,65092−8%

373LaGrange, GAGA107,09791−3%

374Muscatine, IAIA41,85391−4%

375Mount Vernon, OHOH64,00290−13%

376Albany, GAGA145,51090−7%

377Stillwater, OKOK83,88990−10%

378Greeneville, TNTN73,83190−11%

379Greenville, OHOH51,52090+1%

380Palatka, FLFL77,73489−8%

381Danville, KYKY56,98589−11%

382Angola, ININ34,79989−17%

383Longview, TXTX297,31589−7%

384Ruston, LALA48,36089−2%

385Ozark, ALAL49,91288+1%

386Jefferson, GAGA99,26588−28%

387Greenwood, SCSC95,21588−10%

388Oil City, PAPA49,34688+3%

389Sterling, ILIL54,12188−1%

390Jackson, TNTN184,56988−12%

391Middlesborough, KYKY22,82988+5%

392Clarksville, TNTN349,00188−18%

393Lufkin, TXTX88,15488−13%

394Watertown, NYNY111,54087−1%

395Charlottesville, VAVA228,59787−17%

396Beaver Dam, WIWI89,09787−11%

397Crestview, FLFL315,09887−19%

398Ames, IAIA128,09087−6%

399Opelousas, LALA80,76587−8%

400Wilmington, OHOH42,30187−13%

401Richmond, KYKY131,80686−15%

402Jackson, MSMS609,84786−10%

403Sevierville, TNTN101,34286−28%

404Jasper, ININ44,01686−8%

405Kahului, HIHI160,67486−22%

406Celina, OHOH42,73785−4%

407Freeport, ILIL43,22085−2%

408Meadville, PAPA81,79285−5%

409Madisonville, KYKY45,12785−1%

410St. Cloud, MNMN205,85485−11%

411Wabash, ININ30,71385+0%

412Fayetteville, ARAR622,17785−32%

413Waynesville, NCNC63,36985−13%

414Pinehurst, NCNC110,61985−21%

415Joplin, MOMO208,79684−13%

416Muskogee, OKOK66,70884−2%

417Urbana, OHOH38,82084−7%

418Eau Claire, WIWI176,64784−7%

419Plattsburgh, NYNY78,13883+8%

420Hilton Head Island, SCSC242,96683−28%

421Ottumwa, IAIA35,21083−1%

422Madison, ININ33,27983−6%

423Kapaa, HIHI73,40083−12%

424Truckee, CACA101,91182−15%

425Coldwater, MIMI45,99382−9%

426Vicksburg, MSMS41,75981−4%

427Thomaston, GAGA28,50081−5%

428Marion, NCNC45,19881−15%

429Paducah, KYKY102,25981−4%

430Tullahoma, TNTN69,33981−16%

431Athens, TNTN71,59081−16%

432Tifton, GAGA51,23780−9%

433Barre, VTVT59,65280−5%

434Murray, KYKY39,42180−10%

435Columbia, MOMO219,06280−16%

436Waco, TXTX308,80780−11%

437Houma, LALA199,66880−6%

438Key West, FLFL80,40679−2%

439Corinth, MSMS34,56979−8%

440Winchester, VAVA152,33279−18%

441La Crosse, WIWI171,18279−8%

442North Wilkesboro, NCNC66,23379−10%

443Galesburg, ILIL47,76779+1%

444Sioux City, IAIA145,73878−8%

445Tupelo, MSMS133,16778−12%

446Vincennes, ININ35,65277+2%

447Stevens Point, WIWI71,94377−9%

448Orangeburg, SCSC83,17777−7%

449Frankfort, ININ33,32276−9%

450Winona, MNMN50,52376−4%

451McMinnville, TNTN43,71776−14%

452Naples, FLFL417,13176−39%

453Monroe, LALA222,39076−3%

454Alexandria, LALA147,95276+3%

455Fort Leonard Wood, MOMO54,44276+0%

456Somerset, KYKY67,38475−12%

457Ocean Pines, MDMD54,45975−25%

458Fort Madison, IAIA32,30675+2%

459Cambridge, OHOH38,37975−4%

460Wausau, WIWI139,43275−8%

461Shawnee, OKOK75,10275−10%

462Van Wert, OHOH29,01374+3%

463Corbin, KYKY150,04074−12%

464Henderson, KYKY57,18474−3%

465Seymour, ININ47,37074−9%

466Clinton, IAIA46,00273+2%

467Cordele, GAGA19,23773−9%

468Hanford, CACA154,32773−22%

469Somerset, PAPA72,00473−2%

470Hillsdale, MIMI45,73873−7%

471Centralia, ILIL36,38273−0%

472Tucson, AZAZ1,074,68573−21%

473Longview, WAWA114,88572−12%

474College Station, TXTX287,47672−18%

475Fort Collins, COCO377,29272−26%

476Monticello, NYNY80,58672−6%

477Owatonna, MNMN37,46472−9%

478Corning, NYNY91,85571+0%

479Summerville, GAGA25,30071−13%

480Minden, LALA34,94871+0%

481Fort Payne, ALAL74,08570−15%

482Dothan, ALAL156,26670−8%

483St. Joseph, MOMO119,17070−5%

484Bowling Green, KYKY197,18070−16%

485Glens Falls, NYNY124,37370−5%

486Lawton, OKOK127,59069−3%

487Lake Charles, LALA244,65569−8%

488Granbury, TXTX70,50169−29%

489Mankato, MNMN104,90769−4%

490Alma, MIMI41,19069−8%

491Ottawa, ILIL145,90269−3%

492Crawfordsville, ININ38,95468−8%

493DuBois, PAPA78,10068−6%

494Hattiesburg, MSMS158,01468−11%

495Dyersburg, TNTN36,32068−7%

496New Bern, NCNC127,35868−11%

497Washington Court House, OHOH28,55268−3%

498Brevard, NCNC34,21167−13%

499Sebring, FLFL111,12267−22%

500Big Rapids, MIMI42,32067−8%

SHOWING 1–500 OF 918

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which metro area has the highest population density?

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ranks #1 with 2,739 (1990 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 metro areas by population density?

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Trenton-Princeton, NJ, Honolulu, HI.

How many metro areas are in this ranking?

918 metro areas qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 ACS 5-year data.

How is population density measured?

Residents per square mile of land area. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (1990).