Which metro area has the lowest population density?

Pahrump, NV ranks #1 with 1 (1990 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 metro areas by population density?

Pahrump, NV, Winnemucca, NV, Elko, NV, Bishop, CA, Ruidoso, NM.

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).

RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 418 SHOWN OF 918

Most sparsely populated, US metro areas · 1990

US metro areas with the fewest residents per square mile (2023).

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

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

501Eau Claire, WIWI176,64784−7%

502Urbana, OHOH38,82084−7%

503Muskogee, OKOK66,70884−2%

504Joplin, MOMO208,79684−13%

505Pinehurst, NCNC110,61985−21%

506Waynesville, NCNC63,36985−13%

507Fayetteville, ARAR622,17785−32%

508Wabash, ININ30,71385+0%

509St. Cloud, MNMN205,85485−11%

510Madisonville, KYKY45,12785−1%

511Meadville, PAPA81,79285−5%

512Freeport, ILIL43,22085−2%

513Celina, OHOH42,73785−4%

514Kahului, HIHI160,67486−22%

515Jasper, ININ44,01686−8%

516Sevierville, TNTN101,34286−28%

517Jackson, MSMS609,84786−10%

518Richmond, KYKY131,80686−15%

519Wilmington, OHOH42,30187−13%

520Opelousas, LALA80,76587−8%

521Ames, IAIA128,09087−6%

522Crestview, FLFL315,09887−19%

523Beaver Dam, WIWI89,09787−11%

524Charlottesville, VAVA228,59787−17%

525Watertown, NYNY111,54087−1%

526Lufkin, TXTX88,15488−13%

527Clarksville, TNTN349,00188−18%

528Middlesborough, KYKY22,82988+5%

529Jackson, TNTN184,56988−12%

530Sterling, ILIL54,12188−1%

531Oil City, PAPA49,34688+3%

532Greenwood, SCSC95,21588−10%

533Jefferson, GAGA99,26588−28%

534Ozark, ALAL49,91288+1%

535Ruston, LALA48,36089−2%

536Longview, TXTX297,31589−7%

537Angola, ININ34,79989−17%

538Danville, KYKY56,98589−11%

539Palatka, FLFL77,73489−8%

540Greenville, OHOH51,52090+1%

541Greeneville, TNTN73,83190−11%

542Stillwater, OKOK83,88990−10%

543Albany, GAGA145,51090−7%

544Mount Vernon, OHOH64,00290−13%

545Muscatine, IAIA41,85391−4%

546LaGrange, GAGA107,09791−3%

547Decatur, ININ36,65092−8%

548Seneca, SCSC83,77592−13%

549Cullman, ALAL94,00992−13%

550Merced, CACA297,26092−15%

551Auburn, ALAL208,01392−19%

552Kendallville, ININ47,93792−18%

553Bellefontaine, OHOH46,30292−8%

554Spokane, WAWA608,01292−14%

555Huntington, ININ37,22493−7%

556Gainesville, FLFL359,03693−19%

557Wisconsin Rapids, WIWI74,06093−3%

558Logansport, ININ37,83693−6%

559Fresno, CACA1,203,38393−18%

560Greenville, MSMS40,44694+8%

561Las Vegas, NVNV2,407,22694−46%

562Rockingham, NCNC42,04194−4%

563Lynchburg, VAVA269,16994−10%

564Riverside, CACA4,769,00795−20%

565Plymouth, ININ46,59995−7%

566Bedford, ININ45,56895−7%

567Killeen, TXTX511,49795−19%

568Mount Pleasant, MIMI64,69195−14%

569Defiance, OHOH38,29296−0%

570Salt Lake City, UTUT1,308,37797−20%

571Williamsport, PAPA112,58797−1%

572Auburn, ININ44,53597−12%

573Staunton, VAVA129,69297−10%

574Fort Smith, ARAR234,14098−15%

575Iowa City, IAIA182,71198−12%

576Cortland, NYNY45,85098+1%

577Danville, ILIL71,25998+5%

578Calhoun, GAGA61,70198−20%

579Beckley, WVWV109,94098−2%

580Pikeville, KYKY89,12298+4%

581Marietta, OHOH58,38999−2%

582Peru, ININ34,48799+2%

583Faribault, MNMN69,93999−13%

584Keene, NHNH78,26999−5%

585Hudson, NYNY60,16899−0%

586Yuba City, CACA187,47899−12%

587Springfield, MOMO500,69499−19%

588Cornelia, GAGA50,416100−23%

589Columbus, GAGA324,830100−5%

590Greenfield, MAMA70,698100−2%

591Chillicothe, OHOH76,429101−5%

592Forest City, NCNC65,745101−10%

593Clarksburg, WVWV88,142101−1%

594Charleston, ILIL46,607102−3%

595Harrisonburg, VAVA140,155102−18%

596Lafayette, ININ228,468102−11%

597Sherman, TXTX153,613102−14%

598Morehead City, NCNC70,469104−11%

599Decatur, ALAL160,326104−10%

600Morgantown, WVWV141,995104−6%

601Morgan City, LALA46,552104+9%

602Seneca Falls, NYNY32,883104+1%

603Florence, ALAL156,609104−8%

604Wilmington, NCNC492,772105−27%

605Carbondale, ILIL52,501105+2%

606Cedar Rapids, IAIA279,285105−11%

607Corvallis, OROR97,728105−9%

608Blacksburg, VAVA181,616105−8%

609Waterloo, IAIA169,189106−3%

610Champaign, ILIL239,979106−4%

611Laurinburg, NCNC33,322106−6%

612El Paso, TXTX881,291106−13%

613Panama City, FLFL231,174107−15%

614Danville, VAVA101,137107−1%

615Farmington, MOMO67,809108−12%

616Hot Springs, ARAR99,695108−17%

617Hammond, LALA141,346108−15%

618Salinas, CACA433,729108−11%

619Tiffin, OHOH54,522108+2%

620Tallahassee, FLFL397,442108−19%

621Indiana, PAPA82,878109+0%

622Cedartown, GAGA45,514109−11%

623Bloomington, ILIL171,419109−14%

624Gloversville, NYNY52,216109−2%

625Holland, MIMI123,188110−14%

626Sidney, OHOH48,065110−6%

627Lumberton, NCNC119,941111−15%

628Lafayette, LALA423,758111−11%

629Wapakoneta, OHOH45,909111−4%

630Chico, CACA209,211111−10%

631Selinsgrove, PAPA39,655112−2%

632State College, PAPA157,393112−9%

633Ashland, OHOH52,523112−10%

634Lewistown, PAPA46,127112−1%

635Montgomery, ALAL388,747112−12%

636Vineyard Haven, MAMA21,219113−22%

637Gaffney, SCSC58,275113−15%

638Terre Haute, ININ169,241114−3%

639Easton, MDMD38,238114−10%

640Anderson Creek, NCNC150,137114−25%

641Elizabethtown, KYKY128,666114−6%

642Norwalk, OHOH58,250114−5%

643Cleveland, TNTN134,057114−16%

644Lewisburg, PAPA42,313114−13%

645Bartlesville, OKOK54,037116−2%

646Mount Airy, NCNC72,287116−13%

647Sturgis, MIMI60,968118−6%

648Athens, OHOH63,197118−4%

649Boone, NCNC54,786118−13%

650Bluefield, WVWV96,138118+3%

651New Iberia, LALA66,846119−7%

652Auburn, NYNY74,365119+0%

653Bucyrus, OHOH41,896119+2%

654Macon-Bibb County, GAGA238,553120−7%

655Utica, NYNY285,611121+6%

656Seaford, DEDE277,140121−28%

657Connersville, ININ23,533121+2%

658Tulsa, OKOK1,069,273121−11%

659Watertown, WIWI86,505122−8%

660Batavia, NYNY58,416122−1%

661Adrian, MIMI97,779122−7%

662Laconia, NHNH65,147122−13%

663Ocala, FLFL442,660123−25%

664New Castle, ININ49,137123−1%

665Warsaw, ININ80,892123−12%

666Wichita, KSKS663,809123−11%

667Findlay, OHOH75,034123−8%

668Zanesville, OHOH87,014123−3%

669Des Moines, IAIA758,539125−13%

670Albertville, ALAL103,537125−14%

671Fond du Lac, WIWI104,669125−7%

672Huntington, WVWV365,965127−3%

673Myrtle Beach, SCSC427,551127−27%

674Augusta, GAGA641,231127−13%

675Rocky Mount, NCNC148,486127−7%

676Concord, NHNH158,078129−12%

677Amsterdam, NYNY50,046129+5%

678Florence, SCSC201,392129−9%

679Toccoa, GAGA27,854130−9%

680Nantucket, MAMA14,758130−37%

681Green Bay, WIWI336,756130−14%

682Bloomsburg, PAPA66,193131−1%

683Little Rock, ARAR777,607131−12%

684Albemarle, NCNC68,830131−11%

685Owosso, MIMI67,681131−3%

686Portsmouth, OHOH71,365132+1%

687Odessa, TXTX173,801132−2%

688Athens, GAGA224,148133−18%

689Augusta, MEME129,067134−1%

690Jamestown, NYNY124,126134+2%

691Whitewater, WIWI106,127135−20%

692Santa Maria, CACA442,065135−7%

693Cumberland, MDMD93,640136−0%

694Owensboro, KYKY113,962136−5%

695Manitowoc, WIWI81,710136−3%

696Kingsport, TNTN314,834137−8%

697Marion, ILIL67,225137−6%

698Elizabeth City, NCNC42,201138−10%

699Shreveport, LALA383,474139−4%

700Charleston, WVWV200,170139+3%

701Madison, WIWI709,685140−14%

702Salisbury, MDMD131,872141−11%

703Burlington, VTVT227,803142−11%

704Dubuque, IAIA99,381142−3%

705Frankfort, KYKY77,874142−13%

706Kankakee, ILIL105,525142−7%

707Kinston, NCNC55,837144−4%

708Roanoke, VAVA316,547144−7%

709Salem, OROR445,814145−20%

710Peoria, ILIL363,505145−2%

711Gulfport, MSMS431,329146−14%

712Midland, MIMI83,754146−9%

713Kingston, NYNY183,330147−7%

714Napa, CACA132,949147−11%

715Baton Rouge, LALA888,699148−11%

716Columbia, SCSC879,918148−15%

717New Philadelphia, OHOH92,373148−8%

718Pittsfield, MAMA128,224150+3%

719Gettysburg, PAPA107,594151−14%

720Fremont, OHOH58,655152+0%

721Colorado Springs, COCO781,796153−24%

722Milledgeville, GAGA44,029153−12%

723Phoenix, AZAZ5,228,938154−31%

724Parkersburg, WVWV87,264154−2%

725Henderson, NCNC42,638154−9%

726Sumter, SCSC105,067154−2%

727Dalton, GAGA147,819155−18%

728Columbus, ININ85,729156−11%

729Chambersburg, PAPA160,652157−6%

730East Stroudsburg, PAPA167,179157−31%

731Omaha, NENE1,009,836158−11%

732Marion, OHOH65,115159−3%

733Rome, GAGA101,378159−10%

734Springfield, ILIL206,033160−6%

735Homosassa Springs, FLFL171,666161−21%

736Bloomington, ININ165,231162−11%

737Davenport, IAIA380,452162−2%

738Sanford, NCNC70,258162−16%

739Lincoln, NENE352,081163−14%

740Punta Gorda, FLFL217,212163−22%

741Tyler, TXTX252,549164−13%

742Greenville, NCNC182,936165−19%

743Los Alamos, NMNM19,407166−1%

744Wheeling, WVWV134,089169+4%

745Slidell, LALA279,108171−24%

746Beaumont, TXTX399,310172−6%

747Nashville, TNTN2,197,416175−20%

748Oklahoma City, OKOK1,512,813176−11%

749Asheville, NCNC422,345177−17%

750Hickory, NCNC376,890178−14%

751Michigan City, ININ111,294179−3%

752Richmond, ININ66,169179+1%

753Marion, ININ66,524179+1%

754Lawrence, KSKS120,920179−18%

755Sebastian, FLFL172,799180−20%

756Wilson, NCNC81,150180−11%

757Hermitage, PAPA107,860180+1%

758Birmingham, ALAL1,197,766181−9%

759Shelby, NCNC103,325182−12%

760Wooster, OHOH116,758183−9%

761Appleton, WIWI249,876183−13%

762Fairmont, WVWV55,584185+1%

763Martinsville, VAVA63,091186−0%

764Knoxville, TNTN968,137186−13%

765Gadsden, ALAL103,886187−3%

766Johnson City, TNTN216,416188−12%

767Goldsboro, NCNC122,278189−8%

768Dover, DEDE194,786189−12%

769Hagerstown, MDMD315,280191−13%

770Savannah, GAGA438,314191−12%

771Morristown, TNTN128,867191−18%

772Oxford, ALAL115,834192+3%

773San Antonio, TXTX2,813,140192−18%

774Battle Creek, MIMI133,408193−1%

775Janesville, WIWI166,472194−8%

776Spartanburg, SCSC407,656195−9%

777Sunbury, PAPA107,788195+2%

778Charleston, SCSC889,263196−8%

779Durham, NCNC625,485196−19%

780Pottsville, PAPA145,085196+1%

781Jacksonville, NCNC217,175197−0%

782Ithaca, NYNY104,047198−2%

783Denver, COCO3,092,037199−24%

784Austin, TXTX2,620,945201−32%

785Decatur, ILIL99,300202+2%

786Sheboygan, WIWI118,047203−8%

787Salem, OHOH99,377204−3%

788Corpus Christi, TXTX451,191206−9%

789Pensacola, FLFL544,949206−16%

790Richmond, VAVA1,389,338207−13%

791Chattanooga, TNTN594,530207−9%

792Warner Robins, GAGA208,091210−18%

793Portland, MEME577,635212−9%

794Jackson, MIMI159,552213−5%

795Huntsville, ALAL556,444215−14%

796Memphis, TNTN1,341,412216−11%

797Binghamton, NYNY243,189216+5%

798Kansas City, MOMO2,270,682222−11%

799Lexington Park, MDMD211,176223−21%

800Lacey, WAWA304,261223−22%

801Lewiston, MEME116,487225+1%

802Port St. Lucie, FLFL568,721225−21%

803Lakeland, FLFL874,790225−16%

804Ogden, UTUT672,784228−21%

805Greenville, SCSC1,014,101228−15%

806Portland, OROR2,542,282228−21%

807Evansville, ININ273,786230−6%

808Sandusky, OHOH112,777231−3%

809Elmira, NYNY80,415234+5%

810Johnstown, PAPA128,968237+7%

811Lexington, KYKY535,174237−15%

812Winston-Salem, NCNC712,206243−14%

813Gainesville, GAGA226,568243−31%

814Monroe, MIMI156,004243−8%

815Charlotte, NCNC2,938,830244−22%

816McAllen, TXTX921,549244−33%

817Weirton, WVWV112,468246+8%

818Santa Rosa, CACA486,444246−15%

819Modesto, CACA557,719248−17%

820Altoona, PAPA119,541249+1%

821Deltona, FLFL746,933252−19%

822Bay City, MIMI102,123253+1%

823Mansfield, OHOH124,893255−2%

824Lansing, MIMI479,722255−3%

825Raleigh, NCNC1,595,720255−32%

826Burlington, NCNC186,177256−17%

827Fort Wayne, ININ466,258260−9%

828Grand Rapids, MIMI1,183,645262−14%

829Saginaw, MIMI187,688265+1%

830Louisville, KYKY1,402,509265−9%

831Greensboro, NCNC805,945271−16%

832Lima, OHOH100,881273+1%

833Kokomo, ININ83,904276−5%

834Syracuse, NYNY652,273277+1%

835Amherst, MAMA164,065278−4%

836Carson, NVNV58,571280−23%

837Niles, MIMI152,444284−1%

838Fayetteville, NCNC395,412285−12%

839Vineland, NJNJ157,148286−6%

840Albany, NYNY915,835288−2%

841Oak Harbor, WAWA85,657289−16%

842Jacksonville, FLFL1,785,500289−18%

843Sacramento, CACA2,477,274291−18%

844Brownsville, TXTX433,946292−22%

845Harrisburg, PAPA617,427292−7%

846Columbus, OHOH2,242,028305−13%

847Muncie, ININ113,106305+1%

848Mobile, ALAL411,658308−5%

849Boulder, COCO328,560310−23%

850South Bend, ININ324,538313−6%

851Lebanon, PAPA146,380314−5%

852Muskegon, MIMI177,901315−7%

853Oshkosh, WIWI174,218323−10%

854St. Louis, MOMO2,814,421326−4%

855Scranton, PAPA574,418329+3%

856Elkhart, ININ208,774337−15%

857Rochester, NYNY1,056,149342−3%

858Erie, PAPA265,832345−2%

859Stockton, CACA823,815345−15%

860Indianapolis, ININ2,205,695345−14%

861Orlando, FLFL2,957,672351−26%

862Atlanta, GAGA6,482,182351−28%

863Kiryas Joel, NYNY718,377353−9%

864Rockford, ILIL337,242357−11%

865Oxnard, CACA830,851363−11%

866Minneapolis, MNMN3,790,295366−14%

867Springfield, OHOH135,340373+2%

868York, PAPA473,197375−11%

869North Port, FLFL948,158377−17%

870Manchester, NHNH433,415383−12%

871Reading, PAPA440,072393−10%

872Palm Bay, FLFL663,982393−16%

873Atlantic City, NJNJ372,047396−10%

874Kalamazoo, MIMI263,795398−6%

875Ann Arbor, MIMI370,214401−12%

876Canton, OHOH400,246406−3%

877Vallejo, CACA455,376414−14%

878Cincinnati, OHOH2,312,858421−8%

879Houston, TXTX7,904,627426−20%

880Cape Coral, FLFL875,607429−24%

881Seattle, WAWA4,161,883436−16%

882Lancaster, PAPA563,159448−10%

883Toledo, OHOH599,376451−1%

884Pittsburgh, PAPA2,421,992455+2%

885Virginia Beach, VAVA1,797,213457−8%

886Dallas, TXTX8,477,157459−23%

887Worcester, MAMA888,502470−5%

888Kenosha, WIWI168,448472−14%

889Allentown, PAPA887,615473−7%

890Barnstable, MAMA233,539473−16%

891Youngstown, OHOH423,678479+2%

892Bremerton, WAWA283,374480−18%

893New Orleans, LALA970,849484−0%

894Santa Cruz, CACA258,852516−10%

895Racine, WIWI198,919526−7%

896San Jose, CACA1,984,473573−12%

897San Diego, CACA3,282,248593−11%

898Dayton, OHOH826,554627−0%

899Miami, FLFL6,391,072669−32%

900Flint, MIMI401,093676−1%

901Washington, DCDC6,465,724680−14%

902Akron, OHOH701,780730−5%

903Springfield, MAMA464,338740+0%

904Buffalo, NYNY1,155,653760+2%

905Cleveland, OHOH2,165,775815−2%

906Tampa, FLFL3,418,895822−14%

907Baltimore, MDMD2,857,781916−7%

908Providence, RIRI1,708,161951−5%

909Milwaukee, WIWI1,575,010984−5%

910Detroit, MIMI4,390,9131,092−5%

911Chicago, ILIL9,434,1231,163−10%

912Philadelphia, PAPA6,329,1181,181−4%

913Boston, MAMA5,034,2211,186−6%

914Honolulu, HIHI988,7031,392−5%

915Trenton, NJNJ399,2891,451−7%

916San Francisco, CACA4,630,0411,493−11%

917Los Angeles, CACA12,844,4412,323−9%

918New York, NYNY20,112,4482,739−8%

SHOWING 501–918 OF 918

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