RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 918

Most densely populated, US metro areas · 2020

US metro areas ranked by residents per square mile (2020). New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ leads at 3,271. 918 metro areas qualify in total. California carries 4 of the top 25 entries.

Flip the list · Most sparsely populated, US metro areas →

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01New York, NYNY20,112,4483,271+10%

02Los Angeles, CACA12,844,4412,720+7%

03San Francisco, CACA4,630,0411,923+15%

04Trenton, NJNJ399,2891,726+10%

05Honolulu, HIHI988,7031,692+16%

06Boston, MAMA5,034,2211,418+13%

07Chicago, ILIL9,434,1231,365+6%

08Philadelphia, PAPA6,329,1181,357+10%

09Tampa, FLFL3,418,8951,262+33%

10Miami, FLFL6,391,0721,211+23%

11Detroit, MIMI4,390,9131,128−1%

12Baltimore, MDMD2,857,7811,093+11%

13Milwaukee, WIWI1,575,0101,082+5%

14Providence, RIRI1,708,1611,056+6%

15Washington, DCDC6,465,7241,040+32%

16Cape Coral, FLFL875,607974+73%

17Dallas, TXTX8,477,157880+48%

18Cleveland, OHOH2,165,775809−3%

19Houston, TXTX7,904,627809+52%

20San Diego, CACA3,282,248783+17%

21Akron, OHOH701,780780+1%

22Orlando, FLFL2,957,672766+63%

23Springfield, MAMA464,338755+2%

24San Jose, CACA1,984,473747+15%

25Buffalo, NYNY1,155,653746−0%

26Bremerton, WAWA283,374698+19%

27Atlanta, GAGA6,482,182695+43%

28Seattle, WAWA4,161,883685+32%

29Raleigh, NCNC1,595,720667+77%

30North Port, FLFL948,158642+41%

31Flint, MIMI401,093638−7%

32Dayton, OHOH826,554635+1%

33Kenosha, WIWI168,448622+13%

34Santa Cruz, CACA258,852609+6%

35Palm Bay, FLFL663,982598+27%

36Racine, WIWI198,919594+5%

37Allentown, PAPA887,615593+16%

38Lancaster, PAPA563,159586+17%

39Barnstable, MAMA233,539581+3%

40Worcester, MAMA888,502571+15%

41Stockton, CACA823,815560+38%

42Virginia Beach, VAVA1,797,213556+12%

43McAllen, TXTX921,549554+53%

44Vallejo, CACA455,376552+15%

45Austin, TXTX2,620,945541+83%

46Ann Arbor, MIMI370,214527+15%

47Minneapolis, MNMN3,790,295524+22%

48Gainesville, GAGA226,568517+46%

49Cincinnati, OHOH2,312,858513+12%

50Indianapolis, ININ2,205,695511+27%

51York, PAPA473,197505+20%

52Jacksonville, FLFL1,785,500502+43%

53Reading, PAPA440,072501+15%

54Manchester, NHNH433,415483+11%

55Charlotte, NCNC2,938,830475+53%

56Brownsville, TXTX433,946472+26%

57Sacramento, CACA2,477,274471+33%

58Kalamazoo, MIMI263,795466+10%

59Oxnard, CACA830,851458+12%

60Atlantic City, NJNJ372,047458+4%

61Boulder, COCO328,560455+14%

62Elkhart, ININ208,774447+13%

63Columbus, OHOH2,242,028446+28%

64Toledo, OHOH599,376445−2%

65Port St. Lucie, FLFL568,721437+53%

66Pittsburgh, PAPA2,421,992436−3%

67Kiryas Joel, NYNY718,377434+12%

68New Orleans, LALA970,849427−12%

69Rockford, ILIL337,242427+6%

70Deltona, FLFL746,933421+36%

71Youngstown, OHOH423,678418−11%

72Oak Harbor, WAWA85,657417+21%

73Canton, OHOH400,246414−1%

74Ogden, UTUT672,784412+44%

75Lacey, WAWA304,261408+42%

76Carson, NVNV58,571406+12%

77Burlington, NCNC186,177405+31%

78Lakeland, FLFL874,790403+50%

79Lebanon, PAPA146,380396+19%

80Oshkosh, WIWI174,218395+10%

81Greensboro, NCNC805,945389+21%

82Portland, OROR2,542,282376+30%

83Fayetteville, NCNC395,412371+15%

84Modesto, CACA557,719370+24%

85Harrisburg, PAPA617,427365+16%

86Warner Robins, GAGA208,091364+43%

87Rochester, NYNY1,056,149364+3%

88Lexington Park, MDMD211,176361+28%

89Huntsville, ALAL556,444360+44%

90St. Louis, MOMO2,814,421359+5%

91Denver, COCO3,092,037355+37%

92Grand Rapids, MIMI1,183,645355+16%

93Lexington, KYKY535,174352+27%

94San Antonio, TXTX2,813,140350+49%

95Muskegon, MIMI177,901349+3%

96Louisville, KYKY1,402,509344+18%

97Springfield, OHOH135,340344−6%

98Greenville, SCSC1,014,101343+28%

99South Bend, ININ324,538342+2%

100Erie, PAPA265,832339−4%

101Mobile, ALAL411,658337+4%

102Winston-Salem, NCNC712,206336+19%

103Durham, NCNC625,485335+38%

104Phoenix, AZAZ5,228,938333+49%

105Fort Wayne, ININ466,258329+15%

106Scranton, PAPA574,418325+1%

107Albany, NYNY915,835320+9%

108Nashville, TNTN2,197,416320+46%

109Vineland, NJNJ157,148319+5%

110Sebastian, FLFL172,799318+41%

111Slidell, LALA279,108313+38%

112Santa Rosa, CACA486,444310+7%

113Dover, DEDE194,786310+44%

114Myrtle Beach, SCSC427,551310+79%

115Charleston, SCSC889,263309+46%

116Nantucket, MAMA14,758309+50%

117Amherst, MAMA164,065308+7%

118Pensacola, FLFL544,949305+24%

119Kansas City, MOMO2,270,682302+21%

120Richmond, VAVA1,389,338301+26%

121Savannah, GAGA438,314300+38%

122Hagerstown, MDMD315,280292+32%

123Las Vegas, NVNV2,407,226287+65%

124Kokomo, ININ83,904285−2%

125Muncie, ININ113,106285−6%

126Monroe, MIMI156,004282+6%

127Colorado Springs, COCO781,796281+40%

128Lansing, MIMI479,722279+6%

129Syracuse, NYNY652,273278+2%

130East Stroudsburg, PAPA167,179277+21%

131Asheville, NCNC422,345275+29%

132Punta Gorda, FLFL217,212274+32%

133Morristown, TNTN128,867273+16%

134Niles, MIMI152,444272−5%

135Memphis, TNTN1,341,412270+11%

136Chattanooga, TNTN594,530269+18%

137Spartanburg, SCSC407,656269+25%

138Jacksonville, NCNC217,175268+36%

139Portland, MEME577,635265+13%

140Homosassa Springs, FLFL171,666264+30%

141Evansville, ININ273,786262+7%

142Greenville, NCNC182,936261+27%

143Lawrence, KSKS120,920261+19%

144Oklahoma City, OKOK1,512,813259+30%

145Knoxville, TNTN968,137258+21%

146Appleton, WIWI249,876254+21%

147Lima, OHOH100,881254−6%

148Seaford, DEDE277,140254+52%

149Tyler, TXTX252,549253+34%

150Mansfield, OHOH124,893252−3%

151Corpus Christi, TXTX451,191250+11%

152Sanford, NCNC70,258248+29%

153Johnson City, TNTN216,416243+14%

154Lincoln, NENE352,081241+28%

155Lewiston, MEME116,487237+7%

156Saginaw, MIMI187,688237−9%

157Ocala, FLFL442,660237+45%

158Bay City, MIMI102,123235−6%

159Altoona, PAPA119,541234−5%

160The Villages, FLFL157,772233+143%

161Sheboygan, WIWI118,047231+5%

162Sandusky, OHOH112,777229−4%

163Jackson, MIMI159,552228+1%

164Janesville, WIWI166,472228+7%

165Salem, OROR445,814225+25%

166Dalton, GAGA147,819225+19%

167Anderson Creek, NCNC150,137224+47%

168Columbia, SCSC879,918224+28%

169Birmingham, ALAL1,197,766224+12%

170Jefferson, GAGA99,265224+83%

171Hickory, NCNC376,890223+7%

172Ithaca, NYNY104,047223+10%

173Omaha, NENE1,009,836223+26%

174Wilmington, NCNC492,772221+54%

175Shelby, NCNC103,325214+3%

176Wilson, NCNC81,150214+7%

177Goldsboro, NCNC122,278212+4%

178Wooster, OHOH116,758211+5%

179Athens, GAGA224,148210+30%

180Fayetteville, ARAR622,177208+68%

181Elmira, NYNY80,415207−8%

182Bloomington, ININ165,231207+13%

183Madison, WIWI709,685206+27%

184Columbus, ININ85,729202+15%

185Chambersburg, PAPA160,652202+21%

186Binghamton, NYNY243,189202−2%

187Weirton, WVWV112,468202−11%

188Gettysburg, PAPA107,594200+14%

189Vineyard Haven, MAMA21,219200+37%

190Baton Rouge, LALA888,699199+19%

191Des Moines, IAIA758,539196+37%

192Johnstown, PAPA128,968194−13%

193Rome, GAGA101,378193+9%

194Gadsden, ALAL103,886193−0%

195Oxford, ALAL115,834192+4%

196Whitewater, WIWI106,127192+14%

197Salem, OHOH99,377192−9%

198Battle Creek, MIMI133,408190−3%

199Beaumont, TXTX399,310189+3%

200Naples, FLFL417,131188+49%

201Michigan City, ININ111,294188+2%

202Gulfport, MSMS431,329188+10%

203Sunbury, PAPA107,788187−3%

204Salisbury, MDMD131,872185+17%

205Odessa, TXTX173,801184+36%

206Frankfort, KYKY77,874184+13%

207Pottsville, PAPA145,085184−5%

208Napa, CACA132,949184+11%

209Little Rock, ARAR777,607183+23%

210Fairmont, WVWV55,584182−1%

211Burlington, VTVT227,803181+13%

212Decatur, ILIL99,300179−9%

213Elizabeth City, NCNC42,201179+16%

214Los Alamos, NMNM19,407178+6%

215Springfield, ILIL206,033176+4%

216Green Bay, WIWI336,756176+16%

217Augusta, GAGA641,231176+20%

218Hilton Head Island, SCSC242,966175+52%

219Boone, NCNC54,786173+27%

220Albertville, ALAL103,537173+19%

221Davenport, IAIA380,452169+2%

222Milledgeville, GAGA44,029169−2%

223Roanoke, VAVA316,547169+9%

224Henderson, NCNC42,638169−1%

225Killeen, TXTX511,497169+44%

226Riverside, CACA4,769,007169+41%

227Hammond, LALA141,346168+32%

228Cornelia, GAGA50,416166+28%

229Sevierville, TNTN101,342166+38%

230Richmond, ININ66,169166−6%

231Cleveland, TNTN134,057165+21%

232Concord, NHNH158,078165+13%

233Hermitage, PAPA107,860165−8%

234New Philadelphia, OHOH92,373164+3%

235Santa Maria, CACA442,065164+12%

236Martinsville, VAVA63,091164−12%

237Dubuque, IAIA99,381163+11%

238Tulsa, OKOK1,069,273162+18%

239Marion, OHOH65,115162−1%

240Kingston, NYNY183,330162+2%

241Calhoun, GAGA61,701161+30%

242Salt Lake City, UTUT1,308,377161+34%

243Midland, MIMI83,754161+1%

244Marion, ININ66,524161−9%

245Tallahassee, FLFL397,442161+20%

246Marion, ILIL67,225160+10%

247Auburn, ALAL208,013159+39%

248Kankakee, ILIL105,525159+4%

249Sumter, SCSC105,067159+1%

250Laconia, NHNH65,147159+13%

251Albemarle, NCNC68,830158+8%

252Owensboro, KYKY113,962158+11%

253Springfield, MOMO500,694158+29%

254Harrisonburg, VAVA140,155156+25%

255Wichita, KSKS663,809156+13%

256El Paso, TXTX881,291156+27%

257Kingsport, TNTN314,834153+3%

258Watertown, WIWI86,505153+15%

259Shreveport, LALA383,474152+5%

260Warsaw, ININ80,892151+8%

261Toccoa, GAGA27,854150+5%

262Peoria, ILIL363,505149+1%

263Parkersburg, WVWV87,264149−5%

264Panama City, FLFL231,174149+19%

265Clarksville, TNTN349,001149+38%

266Iowa City, IAIA182,711148+33%

267Farmington, MOMO67,809148+20%

268Wheeling, WVWV134,089148−9%

269Hot Springs, ARAR99,695148+14%

270Florence, SCSC201,392147+4%

271Yuba City, CACA187,478147+30%

272Granbury, TXTX70,501146+50%

273Holland, MIMI123,188146+14%

274Crestview, FLFL315,098146+36%

275Daphne, ALAL267,761146+65%

276Sherman, TXTX153,613145+23%

277Merced, CACA297,260145+34%

278Gainesville, FLFL359,036145+27%

279Fond du Lac, WIWI104,669145+7%

280Bloomington, ILIL171,419144+14%

281Fremont, OHOH58,655144−5%

282Lafayette, LALA423,758144+16%

283Fresno, CACA1,203,383144+26%

284Gaffney, SCSC58,275143+7%

285Pinehurst, NCNC110,619143+33%

286State College, PAPA157,393143+17%

287Augusta, MEME129,067143+6%

288Montgomery, ALAL388,747142+11%

289Elizabethtown, KYKY128,666142+17%

290Findlay, OHOH75,034141+5%

291Corvallis, OROR97,728141+22%

292Kahului, HIHI160,674140+29%

293Easton, MDMD38,238140+11%

294Pittsfield, MAMA128,224139−4%

295Morgantown, WVWV141,995139+26%

296Coeur d'Alene, IDID191,864138+58%

297Fort Collins, COCO377,292138+43%

298Kinston, NCNC55,837138−8%

299Spokane, WAWA608,012138+28%

300Cedartown, GAGA45,514138+12%

301Manitowoc, WIWI81,710138−2%

302Cedar Rapids, IAIA279,285138+17%

303Rocky Mount, NCNC148,486138+1%

304Lafayette, ININ228,468136+20%

305Macon-Bibb County, GAGA238,553136+5%

306Faribault, MNMN69,939135+18%

307Lewisburg, PAPA42,313135+3%

308Charlottesville, VAVA228,597135+27%

309Winchester, VAVA152,332134+38%

310Mount Airy, NCNC72,287134+0%

311Bloomsburg, PAPA66,193134+1%

312Salinas, CACA433,729134+9%

313Morehead City, NCNC70,469133+14%

314Adrian, MIMI97,779133+1%

315Zanesville, OHOH87,014130+2%

316Chico, CACA209,211129+4%

317Huntington, WVWV365,965129−2%

318Owosso, MIMI67,681128−5%

319College Station, TXTX287,476128+45%

320Cumberland, MDMD93,640127−7%

321Bartlesville, OKOK54,037126+7%

322Fort Smith, ARAR234,140126+10%

323Seneca, SCSC83,775125+19%

324Staunton, VAVA129,692125+15%

325Blacksburg, VAVA181,616125+10%

326New Castle, ININ49,137125+1%

327Provo, UTUT773,426124+78%

328Ashland, OHOH52,523124−0%

329Athens, OHOH63,197124+0%

330Lynchburg, VAVA269,169123+18%

331Decatur, ALAL160,326123+7%

332Columbia, MOMO219,062123+30%

333Lumberton, NCNC119,941123−6%

334Champaign, ILIL239,979123+12%

335Amsterdam, NYNY50,046123−0%

336Richmond, KYKY131,806122+20%

337Sturgis, MIMI60,968122−2%

338New Iberia, LALA66,846122−5%

339Portsmouth, OHOH71,365121−7%

340Selinsgrove, PAPA39,655121+6%

341Charleston, WVWV200,170121−11%

342Jamestown, NYNY124,126120−9%

343Cullman, ALAL94,009120+13%

344Florence, ALAL156,609120+5%

345Mount Vernon, OHOH64,002119+15%

346Auburn, ININ44,535119+7%

347Stillwater, OKOK83,889119+20%

348Norwalk, OHOH58,250119−2%

349Batavia, NYNY58,416118−3%

350Sidney, OHOH48,065118+1%

351Kapaa, HIHI73,400118+25%

352Columbus, GAGA324,830118+12%

353Wapakoneta, OHOH45,909116−0%

354Kendallville, ININ47,937116+3%

355Tullahoma, TNTN69,339115+20%

356Terre Haute, ININ169,241115−1%

357St. Cloud, MNMN205,854114+19%

358Forest City, NCNC65,745114+2%

359Tucson, AZAZ1,074,685114+24%

360Greeneville, TNTN73,831113+12%

361Mount Pleasant, MIMI64,691112+2%

362Lewistown, PAPA46,127112−1%

363Waynesville, NCNC63,369112+15%

364Waterloo, IAIA169,189112+3%

365Ocean Pines, MDMD54,459112+13%

366Chillicothe, OHOH76,429112+5%

367Bakersfield, CACA927,068112+37%

368Angola, ININ34,799112+4%

369Utica, NYNY285,611111−3%

370Bowling Green, KYKY197,180111+33%

371Auburn, NYNY74,365110−7%

372Hanford, CACA154,327110+18%

373Ames, IAIA128,090110+18%

374Connersville, ININ23,533109−9%

375Joplin, MOMO208,796108+12%

376Lufkin, TXTX88,154108+8%

377Keene, NHNH78,269108+4%

378Gloversville, NYNY52,216108−3%

379Bellingham, WAWA236,392108+36%

380Hemlock Farms, PAPA62,808107+26%

381Laurinburg, NCNC33,322107−5%

382Statesboro, GAGA97,977107+38%

383Danville, KYKY56,985107+8%

384Longview, TXTX297,315107+12%

385Truckee, CACA101,911107+11%

386Bluefield, WVWV96,138107−7%

387Lake of the Woods, VAVA40,083106+40%

388Waco, TXTX308,807106+19%

389Shelbyville, TNTN55,273106+34%

390Decatur, ININ36,650106+6%

391Athens, TNTN71,590106+10%

392Jackson, TNTN184,569105+6%

393Bucyrus, OHOH41,896105−11%

394Eau Claire, WIWI176,647104+16%

395Seneca Falls, NYNY32,883104+1%

396Plymouth, ININ46,599104+2%

397Kennewick, WAWA324,334103+58%

398LaGrange, GAGA107,097103+9%

399Jackson, MSMS609,847103+8%

400Wilmington, OHOH42,301103+4%

401Ruston, LALA48,360103+14%

402Jasper, ININ44,016102+10%

403Beaver Dam, WIWI89,097102+4%

404Danville, VAVA101,137102−6%

405Greenfield, MAMA70,698102−1%

406Marion, NCNC45,198101+6%

407Palatka, FLFL77,734101+4%

408Bellefontaine, OHOH46,302101+0%

409Indiana, PAPA82,878101−7%

410Bedford, ININ45,568100−2%

411Tiffin, OHOH54,522100−6%

412Clarksburg, WVWV88,142100−2%

413Sebring, FLFL111,12299+16%

414Greenwood, SCSC95,21599+1%

415Muscatine, IAIA41,85399+4%

416Somerset, KYKY67,38499+16%

417Albuquerque, NMNM925,27999+26%

418Fort Leonard Wood, MOMO54,44299+31%

419Visalia, CACA485,14698+29%

420Huntsville, TXTX83,84297+24%

421Longview, WAWA114,88597+19%

422Hudson, NYNY60,16897−2%

423Midland, TXTX193,13997+45%

424Murray, KYKY39,42196+9%

425Kill Devil Hills, NCNC38,24596+23%

426Peru, ININ34,48796−0%

427Huntington, ININ37,22496−4%

428Hattiesburg, MSMS158,01496+24%

429La Crosse, WIWI171,18295+10%

430McMinnville, TNTN43,71795+7%

431Tupelo, MSMS133,16795+7%

432Marietta, OHOH58,38995−6%

433Athens, TXTX88,59594+12%

434Cortland, NYNY45,85094−4%

435Sioux Falls, SDSD314,63894+46%

436Albany, GAGA145,51094−3%

437Wisconsin Rapids, WIWI74,06094−2%

438Defiance, OHOH38,29293−3%

439Cookeville, TNTN152,47793+21%

440Williamsport, PAPA112,58793−5%

441Charleston, ILIL46,60792−12%

442Tifton, GAGA51,23792+5%

443Valdosta, GAGA153,27692+24%

444Fort Payne, ALAL74,08592+11%

445Watertown, NYNY111,54092+4%

446Shawnee, OKOK75,10292+11%

447Celina, OHOH42,73792+4%

448Madison, ININ33,27992+5%

449Logansport, ININ37,83692−7%

450Jonesboro, ARAR139,44092+25%

451Lewisburg, TNTN38,07191+28%

452Rochester, MNMN231,18491+23%

453Seymour, ININ47,37091+12%

454Beckley, WVWV109,94091−9%

455Carbondale, ILIL52,50191−11%

456Traverse City, MIMI156,97291+17%

457Rockingham, NCNC42,04191−8%

458Sioux City, IAIA145,73890+6%

459Urbana, OHOH38,82090−0%

460Houma, LALA199,66890+7%

461Crossville, TNTN66,30090+31%

462Opelousas, LALA80,76589−6%

463Wausau, WIWI139,43289+10%

464Fargo, NDND269,52889+43%

465Hinesville, GAGA91,87089+13%

466Branson, MOMO57,00189+41%

467Coldwater, MIMI45,99389−2%

468Morgan City, LALA46,55288−8%

469Dothan, ALAL156,26688+15%

470Ozark, ALAL49,91288+0%

471Stevens Point, WIWI71,94388+5%

472St. Simons, GAGA118,52488+22%

473North Wilkesboro, NCNC66,23388+1%

474Lake City, FLFL74,09487+23%

475Brevard, NCNC34,21187+12%

476Owatonna, MNMN37,46487+11%

477Barre, VTVT59,65287+3%

478Kingsland, GAGA60,14387+25%

479Corinth, MSMS34,56987+1%

480Corbin, KYKY150,04087+3%

481Greenville, OHOH51,52087−3%

482Mankato, MNMN104,90787+21%

483Thomaston, GAGA28,50086+0%

484San Luis Obispo, CACA282,36786+14%

485Lake Charles, LALA244,65585+13%

486Key West, FLFL80,40684+4%

487Eugene, OROR381,58484+19%

488Moultrie, GAGA47,43884+9%

489Madisonville, KYKY45,12784−2%

490Paducah, KYKY102,25984−1%

491Franklin, KYKY20,78884+19%

492Meadville, PAPA81,79283−7%

493Danville, ILIL71,25983−12%

494Greeley, COCO378,42683+82%

495Newport, TNTN37,88983+7%

496Ottumwa, IAIA35,21082−2%

497Frankfort, ININ33,32282−2%

498Muskogee, OKOK66,70882−4%

499Sterling, ILIL54,12181−8%

500Monticello, NYNY80,58681+6%

SHOWING 1–500 OF 918

1 2

Download CSV (full list, 918 rows)

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 3,271 (2020 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 2020 Decennial Census data.

How is population density measured?

Residents per square mile of land area. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.