RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 918

Most densely populated, US metro areas · 2000

US metro areas ranked by residents per square mile (2000). New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ leads at 2,977. 918 metro areas qualify in total. California carries 4 of the top 25 entries.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 1990

01New York, NYNY20,112,4482,977+9%

02Los Angeles, CACA12,844,4412,548+10%

03San Francisco, CACA4,630,0411,670+12%

04Trenton, NJNJ399,2891,563+8%

05Honolulu, HIHI988,7031,458+5%

06Chicago, ILIL9,434,1231,293+11%

07Boston, MAMA5,034,2211,260+6%

08Philadelphia, PAPA6,329,1181,235+5%

09Detroit, MIMI4,390,9131,144+5%

10Milwaukee, WIWI1,575,0101,032+5%

11Providence, RIRI1,708,161997+5%

12Miami, FLFL6,391,072988+48%

13Baltimore, MDMD2,857,781981+7%

14Tampa, FLFL3,418,895952+16%

15Cleveland, OHOH2,165,775833+2%

16Washington, DCDC6,465,724789+16%

17Akron, OHOH701,780772+6%

18Buffalo, NYNY1,155,653748−2%

19Springfield, MAMA464,338739−0%

20Flint, MIMI401,093685+1%

21San Diego, CACA3,282,248668+13%

22San Jose, CACA1,984,473648+13%

23Dayton, OHOH826,554629+0%

24Dallas, TXTX8,477,157594+29%

25Bremerton, WAWA283,374587+22%

26Santa Cruz, CACA258,852574+11%

27Racine, WIWI198,919568+8%

28Cape Coral, FLFL875,607564+32%

29Barnstable, MAMA233,539564+19%

30Kenosha, WIWI168,448550+17%

31Houston, TXTX7,904,627534+25%

32Seattle, WAWA4,161,883519+19%

33Allentown, PAPA887,615510+8%

34Lancaster, PAPA563,159499+11%

35Virginia Beach, VAVA1,797,213498+9%

36Worcester, MAMA888,502497+6%

37New Orleans, LALA970,849486+0%

38Atlanta, GAGA6,482,182486+38%

39Vallejo, CACA455,376480+16%

40Orlando, FLFL2,957,672471+34%

41Palm Bay, FLFL663,982469+19%

42Youngstown, OHOH423,678469−2%

43Cincinnati, OHOH2,312,858458+9%

44Ann Arbor, MIMI370,214457+14%

45North Port, FLFL948,158454+21%

46Toledo, OHOH599,376454+1%

47Pittsburgh, PAPA2,421,992448−2%

48Atlantic City, NJNJ372,047440+11%

49Reading, PAPA440,072436+11%

50Manchester, NHNH433,415434+13%

51Minneapolis, MNMN3,790,295428+17%

52Kalamazoo, MIMI263,795425+7%

53York, PAPA473,197422+12%

54Canton, OHOH400,246420+3%

55Oxnard, CACA830,851409+13%

56Stockton, CACA823,815405+17%

57Rockford, ILIL337,242403+13%

58Indianapolis, ININ2,205,695401+16%

59Boulder, COCO328,560401+29%

60Elkhart, ININ208,774395+17%

61Kiryas Joel, NYNY718,377387+10%

62Raleigh, NCNC1,595,720376+47%

63Brownsville, TXTX433,946376+29%

64Springfield, OHOH135,340366−2%

65Carson, NVNV58,571363+30%

66McAllen, TXTX921,549362+48%

67Oshkosh, WIWI174,218361+12%

68Gainesville, GAGA226,568355+46%

69Rochester, NYNY1,056,149354+4%

70Sacramento, CACA2,477,274353+21%

71Erie, PAPA265,832352+2%

72Jacksonville, FLFL1,785,500351+21%

73Columbus, OHOH2,242,028349+15%

74Oak Harbor, WAWA85,657343+19%

75St. Louis, MOMO2,814,421340+4%

76Muskegon, MIMI177,901338+7%

77South Bend, ININ324,538334+7%

78Lebanon, PAPA146,380333+6%

79Mobile, ALAL411,658325+6%

80Fayetteville, NCNC395,412323+13%

81Greensboro, NCNC805,945323+19%

82Scranton, PAPA574,418321−3%

83Harrisburg, PAPA617,427314+7%

84Charlotte, NCNC2,938,830311+28%

85Deltona, FLFL746,933311+23%

86Burlington, NCNC186,177309+21%

87Grand Rapids, MIMI1,183,645306+17%

88Vineland, NJNJ157,148303+6%

89Muncie, ININ113,106303−1%

90Modesto, CACA557,719299+21%

91Austin, TXTX2,620,945296+48%

92Albany, NYNY915,835294+2%

93Louisville, KYKY1,402,509291+10%

94Santa Rosa, CACA486,444291+18%

95Kokomo, ININ83,904290+5%

96Amherst, MAMA164,065289+4%

97Portland, OROR2,542,282288+27%

98Lacey, WAWA304,261287+29%

99Fort Wayne, ININ466,258287+10%

100Ogden, UTUT672,784287+26%

101Port St. Lucie, FLFL568,721286+27%

102Niles, MIMI152,444286+1%

103Winston-Salem, NCNC712,206283+17%

104Lexington Park, MDMD211,176281+26%

105Lexington, KYKY535,174278+17%

106Syracuse, NYNY652,273273−1%

107Lima, OHOH100,881269−1%

108Lakeland, FLFL874,790269+19%

109Greenville, SCSC1,014,101268+18%

110Monroe, MIMI156,004266+9%

111Lansing, MIMI479,722264+3%

112Saginaw, MIMI187,688262−1%

113Mansfield, OHOH124,893260+2%

114Denver, COCO3,092,037260+31%

115Warner Robins, GAGA208,091255+22%

116Huntsville, ALAL556,444251+17%

117Kansas City, MOMO2,270,682250+12%

118Bay City, MIMI102,123249−1%

119Pensacola, FLFL544,949247+20%

120Altoona, PAPA119,541246−1%

121Evansville, ININ273,786245+7%

122Memphis, TNTN1,341,412244+13%

123Durham, NCNC625,485242+24%

124Richmond, VAVA1,389,338238+15%

125Sandusky, OHOH112,777238+3%

126Morristown, TNTN128,867235+23%

127Portland, MEME577,635234+10%

128San Antonio, TXTX2,813,140234+22%

129Chattanooga, TNTN594,530228+10%

130East Stroudsburg, PAPA167,179228+45%

131Weirton, WVWV112,468228−7%

132Slidell, LALA279,108226+32%

133Corpus Christi, TXTX451,191226+10%

134Jackson, MIMI159,552226+6%

135Sebastian, FLFL172,799225+25%

136Elmira, NYNY80,415224−4%

137Phoenix, AZAZ5,228,938223+45%

138Johnstown, PAPA128,968222−6%

139Lewiston, MEME116,487222−1%

140Hagerstown, MDMD315,280221+16%

141Sheboygan, WIWI118,047220+8%

142Lawrence, KSKS120,920219+22%

143Nashville, TNTN2,197,416219+25%

144Savannah, GAGA438,314217+14%

145Dover, DEDE194,786216+14%

146Spartanburg, SCSC407,656215+10%

147Knoxville, TNTN968,137214+15%

148Asheville, NCNC422,345213+21%

149Johnson City, TNTN216,416213+13%

150Janesville, WIWI166,472212+9%

151Charleston, SCSC889,263212+8%

152Appleton, WIWI249,876211+15%

153Salem, OHOH99,377211+4%

154Hickory, NCNC376,890209+17%

155Punta Gorda, FLFL217,212208+28%

156Shelby, NCNC103,325207+14%

157Nantucket, MAMA14,758206+58%

158Binghamton, NYNY243,189206−5%

159Greenville, NCNC182,936205+24%

160Goldsboro, NCNC122,278205+8%

161Ithaca, NYNY104,047203+3%

162Homosassa Springs, FLFL171,666203+26%

163Wooster, OHOH116,758201+10%

164Wilson, NCNC81,150201+12%

165Colorado Springs, COCO781,796200+31%

166Birmingham, ALAL1,197,766199+10%

167Oklahoma City, OKOK1,512,813199+13%

168Decatur, ILIL99,300198−2%

169Jacksonville, NCNC217,175197+0%

170Battle Creek, MIMI133,408195+1%

171Gadsden, ALAL103,886193+4%

172Pottsville, PAPA145,085193−1%

173Sanford, NCNC70,258192+19%

174Sunbury, PAPA107,788192−1%

175Tyler, TXTX252,549190+15%

176Lincoln, NENE352,081189+16%

177Dalton, GAGA147,819189+22%

178Martinsville, VAVA63,091186+0%

179Oxford, ALAL115,834185−3%

180Michigan City, ININ111,294184+3%

181Fairmont, WVWV55,584183−1%

182Beaumont, TXTX399,310183+7%

183Bloomington, ININ165,231183+13%

184Salem, OROR445,814181+25%

185Hermitage, PAPA107,860179−1%

186Rome, GAGA101,378178+11%

187Marion, ININ66,524177−1%

188Richmond, ININ66,169177−1%

189Omaha, NENE1,009,836177+12%

190Gettysburg, PAPA107,594176+17%

191Columbus, ININ85,729176+12%

192Columbia, SCSC879,918175+18%

193Las Vegas, NVNV2,407,226174+86%

194Myrtle Beach, SCSC427,551174+36%

195Milledgeville, GAGA44,029173+13%

196Gulfport, MSMS431,329170+17%

197Springfield, ILIL206,033170+6%

198Henderson, NCNC42,638170+10%

199Whitewater, WIWI106,127169+25%

200Los Alamos, NMNM19,407168+1%

201Chambersburg, PAPA160,652167+7%

202Seaford, DEDE277,140167+38%

203Baton Rouge, LALA888,699167+13%

204Davenport, IAIA380,452166+2%

205Napa, CACA132,949165+12%

206Marion, OHOH65,115164+3%

207Ocala, FLFL442,660163+33%

208Frankfort, KYKY77,874163+14%

209Wheeling, WVWV134,089162−4%

210Athens, GAGA224,148162+22%

211Madison, WIWI709,685162+16%

212New Philadelphia, OHOH92,373160+8%

213Midland, MIMI83,754160+10%

214Burlington, VTVT227,803159+12%

215Kingston, NYNY183,330158+8%

216Salisbury, MDMD131,872158+12%

217Sumter, SCSC105,067157+2%

218Parkersburg, WVWV87,264157+2%

219Roanoke, VAVA316,547154+7%

220Elizabeth City, NCNC42,201154+11%

221Kankakee, ILIL105,525153+8%

222Anderson Creek, NCNC150,137153+34%

223Fremont, OHOH58,655151−0%

224Green Bay, WIWI336,756151+16%

225Little Rock, ARAR777,607149+14%

226Kinston, NCNC55,837149+4%

227Peoria, ILIL363,505149+2%

228Kingsport, TNTN314,834148+8%

229Albemarle, NCNC68,830147+12%

230Dubuque, IAIA99,381147+3%

231Santa Maria, CACA442,065146+8%

232Concord, NHNH158,078146+14%

233Augusta, GAGA641,231146+15%

234Marion, ILIL67,225146+6%

235Pittsfield, MAMA128,224146−3%

236Albertville, ALAL103,537145+16%

237Vineyard Haven, MAMA21,219145+29%

238Shreveport, LALA383,474145+5%

239Des Moines, IAIA758,539144+15%

240Wilmington, NCNC492,772143+37%

241Owensboro, KYKY113,962143+5%

242Toccoa, GAGA27,854142+9%

243Florence, SCSC201,392142+10%

244Manitowoc, WIWI81,710141+3%

245Laconia, NHNH65,147140+14%

246Warsaw, ININ80,892139+13%

247Wichita, KSKS663,809138+12%

248Tulsa, OKOK1,069,273137+13%

249Rocky Mount, NCNC148,486137+7%

250Boone, NCNC54,786137+16%

251Cleveland, TNTN134,057136+19%

252Cumberland, MDMD93,640136+0%

253Fond du Lac, WIWI104,669135+8%

254Charleston, WVWV200,170135−3%

255Owosso, MIMI67,681135+3%

256Augusta, MEME129,067135+1%

257Odessa, TXTX173,801135+2%

258Findlay, OHOH75,034134+9%

259Tallahassee, FLFL397,442134+24%

260Mount Airy, NCNC72,287134+15%

261Gaffney, SCSC58,275134+18%

262Watertown, WIWI86,505133+9%

263Bloomsburg, PAPA66,193133+2%

264Adrian, MIMI97,779132+8%

265Jamestown, NYNY124,126132−2%

266Lewisburg, PAPA42,313132+15%

267Huntington, WVWV365,965131+4%

268Lumberton, NCNC119,941130+17%

269Hot Springs, ARAR99,695130+20%

270Portsmouth, OHOH71,365130−1%

271Cornelia, GAGA50,416130+30%

272Macon-Bibb County, GAGA238,553129+8%

273Holland, MIMI123,188128+17%

274Montgomery, ALAL388,747128+14%

275New Iberia, LALA66,846127+7%

276Zanesville, OHOH87,014127+3%

277Hammond, LALA141,346127+17%

278Bloomington, ILIL171,419127+16%

279Panama City, FLFL231,174126+18%

280Easton, MDMD38,238126+11%

281Naples, FLFL417,131126+65%

282Harrisonburg, VAVA140,155125+23%

283Sturgis, MIMI60,968125+6%

284Ashland, OHOH52,523124+11%

285Chico, CACA209,211124+12%

286Lafayette, LALA423,758124+12%

287Fayetteville, ARAR622,177124+46%

288New Castle, ININ49,137124+1%

289Calhoun, GAGA61,701124+26%

290Athens, OHOH63,197124+4%

291Amsterdam, NYNY50,046123−4%

292Farmington, MOMO67,809123+14%

293Cedartown, GAGA45,514123+13%

294State College, PAPA157,393123+10%

295Springfield, MOMO500,694123+23%

296Jefferson, GAGA99,265122+39%

297Batavia, NYNY58,416122+1%

298Salinas, CACA433,729122+13%

299El Paso, TXTX881,291122+15%

300Elizabethtown, KYKY128,666122+7%

301Norwalk, OHOH58,250121+6%

302Salt Lake City, UTUT1,308,377121+25%

303Sevierville, TNTN101,342120+39%

304Riverside, CACA4,769,007119+26%

305Connersville, ININ23,533119−2%

306Sherman, TXTX153,613119+16%

307Auburn, NYNY74,365119−0%

308Cedar Rapids, IAIA279,285118+13%

309Bartlesville, OKOK54,037118+2%

310Sidney, OHOH48,065118+7%

311Killeen, TXTX511,497117+23%

312Morehead City, NCNC70,469117+13%

313Bucyrus, OHOH41,896117−2%

314Terre Haute, ININ169,241117+3%

315Wapakoneta, OHOH45,909116+5%

316Corvallis, OROR97,728116+10%

317Fort Smith, ARAR234,140115+18%

318Hilton Head Island, SCSC242,966115+39%

319Decatur, ALAL160,326115+11%

320Bluefield, WVWV96,138115−3%

321Auburn, ALAL208,013114+24%

322Utica, NYNY285,611114−5%

323Faribault, MNMN69,939114+15%

324Selinsgrove, PAPA39,655114+2%

325Fresno, CACA1,203,383114+22%

326Gainesville, FLFL359,036114+23%

327Lafayette, ININ228,468114+12%

328Blacksburg, VAVA181,616114+8%

329Florence, ALAL156,609113+9%

330Lewistown, PAPA46,127113+1%

331Laurinburg, NCNC33,322113+7%

332Yuba City, CACA187,478113+13%

333Kendallville, ININ47,937113+22%

334Iowa City, IAIA182,711111+14%

335Forest City, NCNC65,745111+11%

336Gloversville, NYNY52,216111+2%

337Auburn, ININ44,535111+14%

338Mount Pleasant, MIMI64,691111+16%

339Morgantown, WVWV141,995110+6%

340Champaign, ILIL239,979109+4%

341Kahului, HIHI160,674109+28%

342Waterloo, IAIA169,189109+3%

343Danville, VAVA101,137109+1%

344Staunton, VAVA129,692109+12%

345Merced, CACA297,260109+18%

346Indiana, PAPA82,878108−0%

347Spokane, WAWA608,012108+17%

348Angola, ININ34,799108+21%

349Clarksville, TNTN349,001108+23%

350Crestview, FLFL315,098107+23%

351Pinehurst, NCNC110,619107+27%

352Tiffin, OHOH54,522106−2%

353Chillicothe, OHOH76,429106+6%

354Charlottesville, VAVA228,597106+21%

355Seneca, SCSC83,775106+15%

356Cullman, ALAL94,009105+15%

357Columbus, GAGA324,830105+5%

358Lynchburg, VAVA269,169105+11%

359Charleston, ILIL46,607105+3%

360Keene, NHNH78,269104+5%

361Mount Vernon, OHOH64,002104+15%

362Seneca Falls, NYNY32,883103−1%

363Greenfield, MAMA70,698102+2%

364Bedford, ININ45,568102+7%

365Carbondale, ILIL52,501102−2%

366Richmond, KYKY131,806102+18%

367Plymouth, ININ46,599102+7%

368Clarksburg, WVWV88,142101+1%

369Greeneville, TNTN73,831101+13%

370Lufkin, TXTX88,154100+15%

371Bellefontaine, OHOH46,302100+9%

372Marietta, OHOH58,389100+2%

373Beckley, WVWV109,940100+2%

374Stillwater, OKOK83,889100+11%

375Huntington, ININ37,224100+7%

376Danville, KYKY56,98599+12%

377Hudson, NYNY60,16899+0%

378Jackson, TNTN184,56999+13%

379Ocean Pines, MDMD54,45999+33%

380Logansport, ININ37,83699+7%

381Decatur, ININ36,65099+8%

382Wilmington, OHOH42,30199+14%

383Rockingham, NCNC42,04198+5%

384Beaver Dam, WIWI89,09798+12%

385Granbury, TXTX70,50198+42%

386Williamsport, PAPA112,58798+1%

387Greenwood, SCSC95,21598+11%

388Waynesville, NCNC63,36998+15%

389Cortland, NYNY45,85097−1%

390Joplin, MOMO208,79697+15%

391Winchester, VAVA152,33297+22%

392Fort Collins, COCO377,29297+35%

393Palatka, FLFL77,73497+8%

394Albany, GAGA145,51097+8%

395Peru, ININ34,48797−2%

396Tullahoma, TNTN69,33996+19%

397Athens, TNTN71,59096+19%

398Truckee, CACA101,91196+17%

399Defiance, OHOH38,29296+0%

400Marion, NCNC45,19896+18%

401Morgan City, LALA46,55296−8%

402The Villages, FLFL157,77296+69%

403Jackson, MSMS609,84796+11%

404St. Cloud, MNMN205,85496+12%

405Longview, TXTX297,31596+8%

406Muscatine, IAIA41,85395+5%

407Wisconsin Rapids, WIWI74,06095+3%

408Opelousas, LALA80,76595+9%

409Columbia, MOMO219,06295+19%

410LaGrange, GAGA107,09794+3%

411Kapaa, HIHI73,40094+14%

412Pikeville, KYKY89,12294−4%

413Danville, ILIL71,25993−5%

414Hanford, CACA154,32793+28%

415Ames, IAIA128,09093+7%

416Jasper, ININ44,01693+8%

417Tucson, AZAZ1,074,68592+27%

418Urbana, OHOH38,82091+8%

419Coldwater, MIMI45,99390+10%

420Ruston, LALA48,36090+2%

421Eau Claire, WIWI176,64790+8%

422Waco, TXTX308,80790+12%

423Meadville, PAPA81,79289+5%

424Greenville, OHOH51,52089−1%

425Murray, KYKY39,42189+11%

426Tupelo, MSMS133,16789+14%

427Sterling, ILIL54,12189+1%

428Celina, OHOH42,73788+4%

429McMinnville, TNTN43,71788+16%

430Daphne, ALAL267,76188+43%

431Watertown, NYNY111,54088+1%

432College Station, TXTX287,47688+22%

433Madison, ININ33,27988+6%

434Coeur d'Alene, IDID191,86488+56%

435Tifton, GAGA51,23788+10%

436Ozark, ALAL49,91288−1%

437North Wilkesboro, NCNC66,23387+11%

438Greenville, MSMS40,44687−7%

439Freeport, ILIL43,22087+2%

440Corinth, MSMS34,56986+9%

441La Crosse, WIWI171,18286+9%

442Sebring, FLFL111,12286+28%

443Madisonville, KYKY45,12786+1%

444Muskogee, OKOK66,70886+2%

445Sioux City, IAIA145,73886+9%

446Somerset, KYKY67,38485+14%

447Oil City, PAPA49,34685−3%

448Thomaston, GAGA28,50085+5%

449Hemlock Farms, PAPA62,80885+66%

450Wabash, ININ30,71385−0%

451Houma, LALA199,66885+6%

452Barre, VTVT59,65284+6%

453Vicksburg, MSMS41,75984+4%

454Paducah, KYKY102,25984+4%

455Corbin, KYKY150,04084+13%

456Stevens Point, WIWI71,94384+9%

457Athens, TXTX88,59584+25%

458Middlesborough, KYKY22,82984−5%

459Bowling Green, KYKY197,18084+20%

460Frankfort, ININ33,32284+9%

461Ottumwa, IAIA35,21083+1%

462Shawnee, OKOK75,10283+12%

463Fort Payne, ALAL74,08583+18%

464Orangeburg, SCSC83,17783+8%

465Longview, WAWA114,88581+13%

466Wausau, WIWI139,43281+9%

467Bakersfield, CACA927,06881+22%

468Summerville, GAGA25,30081+15%

469Seymour, ININ47,37081+10%

470Key West, FLFL80,40681+2%

471Cordele, GAGA19,23781+10%

472Winona, MNMN50,52380+5%

473Shelbyville, TNTN55,27379+24%

474Bellingham, WAWA236,39279+31%

475Huntsville, TXTX83,84279+21%

476Albuquerque, NMNM925,27979+22%

477Hinesville, GAGA91,87078+22%

478Owatonna, MNMN37,46478+10%

479Monroe, LALA222,39078+3%

480Kill Devil Hills, NCNC38,24578+32%

481Cambridge, OHOH38,37978+5%

482Galesburg, ILIL47,76778−1%

483Hillsdale, MIMI45,73878+7%

484Traverse City, MIMI156,97278+23%

485Brevard, NCNC34,21178+15%

486Statesboro, GAGA97,97777+28%

487Plattsburgh, NYNY78,13877−7%

488Newport, TNTN37,88977+15%

489Hattiesburg, MSMS158,01477+13%

490Moultrie, GAGA47,43877+15%

491Henderson, KYKY57,18477+3%

492Cookeville, TNTN152,47777+18%

493Monticello, NYNY80,58676+7%

494Visalia, CACA485,14676+18%

495Dothan, ALAL156,26676+9%

496Vincennes, ININ35,65276−2%

497Lake of the Woods, VAVA40,08376+21%

498New Bern, NCNC127,35876+12%

499Fort Leonard Wood, MOMO54,44275−0%

500Lake Charles, LALA244,65575+8%

SHOWING 1–500 OF 918

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which metro area has the highest population density?

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ranks #1 with 2,977 (2000 Decennial Census).

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 2000 Decennial Census data.

How is population density measured?

Residents per square mile of land area. Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census.