RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 918

Most sparsely populated, US metro areas · 2020

US metro areas with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). Winnemucca, NV leads at 2. 918 metro areas qualify in total. Wyoming carries 5 of the top 25 entries.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Winnemucca, NVNV17,2672+7%

02Bishop, CACA18,1582+6%

03Elko, NVNV56,6823+18%

04Pahrump, NVNV57,3363+59%

05Ketchikan, AKAK13,5493−1%

06Rock Springs, WYWY41,2674+12%

07Ruidoso, NMNM19,8444+4%

08Cody, WYWY31,1714+15%

09Riverton, WYWY39,4644+10%

10Las Vegas, NMNM30,3115−11%

11Fallon, NVNV25,8515+6%

12Steamboat Springs, COCO38,4515+16%

13Baker City, OROR16,6585−0%

14Ontario, OROR60,0856+9%

15Town of Pecos, TXTX12,1386+12%

16Hailey, IDID32,4366+27%

17Española, NMNM39,8327−2%

18Silver City, NMNM27,2527−9%

19Susanville, CACA28,1177−3%

20Evanston, WYWY23,4157+6%

21Flagstaff, AZAZ144,3688+25%

22Jackson, WYWY36,5878+44%

23Vernal, UTUT38,2788+41%

24Safford, AZAZ40,1578+15%

25Alamosa, COCO27,8968+1%

26Deming, NMNM25,4079+2%

27Dickinson, NDND39,1429+43%

28Laramie, WYWY38,5589+16%

29Brigham City, UTUT70,4059+33%

30Mountain Home, IDID29,4659−2%

31Pierre, SDSD20,5889+8%

32Jamestown, NDND21,41410−1%

33Gillette, WYWY48,14510+40%

34Alamogordo, NMNM70,36810+9%

35Guymon, OKOK20,32210+6%

36Wahpeton, NDND23,01911−8%

37Othello, WAWA21,48811+25%

38Show Low, AZAZ109,94611+9%

39Roswell, NMNM63,36411+6%

40Payson, AZAZ53,80111+4%

41The Dalles, OROR26,31011+12%

42North Platte, NENE33,97211−0%

43Klamath Falls, OROR70,27412+9%

44Sterling, COCO20,65412+5%

45Pampa, TXTX21,78612−7%

46Juneau city and, AKAK31,60912+5%

47Sheridan, WYWY33,24112+16%

48Andrews, TXTX18,91412+43%

49Hereford, TXTX18,62612+0%

50La Grande, OROR25,90013+7%

51Fairbanks, AKAK93,97213+15%

52Vernon, TXTX12,48113−12%

53Gallup, NMNM68,11913−3%

54Price, UTUT20,68014−0%

55Zapata, TXTX13,75314+14%

56Burley, IDID49,30814+11%

57Helena, MTMT97,15314+28%

58Brookings, OROR22,62114+11%

59Aberdeen, SDSD41,58315+6%

60Carlsbad, NMNM62,50915+21%

61Casper, WYWY80,52615+20%

62Anchorage, AKAK405,82115+25%

63Del Rio, TXTX47,83515+6%

64Huron, SDSD19,62415+12%

65Taos, NMNM34,56416+15%

66Uvalde, TXTX24,96316−5%

67Lake Havasu City, AZAZ228,10216+38%

68Sweetwater, TXTX14,11716−7%

69Minot, NDND75,69416+15%

70Woodward, OKOK19,82716+11%

71Grand Rapids, MNMN45,40417+2%

72Hobbs, NMNM74,74917+34%

73Cedar City, UTUT67,14117+70%

74Clovis, NMNM65,27018+7%

75Hermiston, OROR93,72118+13%

76Lexington, NENE26,25518−2%

77Mitchell, SDSD25,91318+5%

78Port Townsend, WAWA33,97018+27%

79Bemidji, MNMN47,05518+17%

80Snyder, TXTX16,16219+3%

81Rapid City, SDSD156,93419+23%

82Plainview, TXTX36,70019−15%

83Montrose, COCO44,59119+28%

84Ellensburg, WAWA48,80319+33%

85Williston, NDND41,76720+107%

86Weatherford, OKOK39,05920+5%

87Camden, ARAR26,36320−21%

88Rifle, COCO80,09920+35%

89Sierra Vista, AZAZ126,33220+7%

90Kalispell, MTMT115,42921+40%

91Emporia, KSKS34,83821−11%

92Farmington, NMNM120,34022+7%

93Roseburg, OROR111,95122+11%

94Pullman, WAWA48,51222+18%

95Red Bluff, CACA64,66522+17%

96Fort Morgan, COCO30,30623+7%

97Blackfoot, IDID51,15323+15%

98Borger, TXTX19,63323−14%

99Sault Ste. Marie, MIMI36,08124−5%

100Dumas, TXTX21,89124+6%

101Hastings, NENE40,57724−4%

102Maryville, MOMO20,17424−3%

103Iron Mountain, MIMI30,57524−6%

104Scottsbluff, NENE36,27225−3%

105Arkadelphia, ARAR20,93825−9%

106Elk City, OKOK22,15925+13%

107Sonora, CACA53,16025+2%

108Fredericksburg, TXTX28,52725+28%

109Heber, UTUT81,65525+72%

110Alice, TXTX45,38325−3%

111Houghton, MIMI40,02825+3%

112Beatrice, NENE21,71125−6%

113Wenatchee, WAWA128,41426+23%

114Ukiah, CACA88,12226+6%

115Clewiston, FLFL61,54626+11%

116Eufaula, ALAL26,86126−13%

117Marinette, WIWI65,51527−5%

118Detroit Lakes, MNMN35,49727+17%

119Elkins, WVWV26,88227−1%

120Sandpoint, IDID54,42027+28%

121Crescent City, CACA26,41028+1%

122Fairmont, MNMN19,44028−8%

123Rexburg, IDID69,38028+69%

124Billings, MTMT193,60328+25%

125Great Bend, KSKS24,79028−10%

126Spencer, IAIA16,20229−6%

127Prescott Valley, AZAZ252,55229+41%

128Garden City, KSKS37,50530−5%

129Magnolia, ARAR21,89430−11%

130Le Mars, IAIA25,69730+3%

131Mineral Wells, TXTX30,79130+5%

132Natchitoches, LALA36,08930−4%

133Idaho Falls, IDID173,85130+51%

134Fergus Falls, MNMN61,04130+5%

135Grand Forks, NDND105,04631+7%

136Arkansas City, KSKS34,38231−5%

137Altus, OKOK24,76431−13%

138Marshall, MOMO23,26531−2%

139Norfolk, NENE49,22831−2%

140Worthington, MNMN22,33831+7%

141Bismarck, NDND139,75031+38%

142Dodge City, KSKS33,99331+6%

143Great Falls, MTMT85,02931+5%

144Greenwood, MSMS34,91231−21%

145Escanaba, MIMI36,58232−4%

146DeRidder, LALA36,67332+11%

147Paris, TXTX63,31932−2%

148Harrison, ARAR45,65432+5%

149Bend, OROR266,37632+61%

150Brainerd, MNMN100,56232+17%

151Cañon City, COCO50,03932+6%

152Missoula, MTMT128,69832+23%

153Hays, KSKS29,07532+5%

154Spearfish, SDSD29,45932+18%

155Durango, COCO56,89833+27%

156Natchez, MSMS54,72233−14%

157Edwards, COCO54,29133+34%

158Bay City, TXTX36,46333−4%

159Duluth, MNMN281,21933+2%

160McAlester, OKOK43,32034−0%

161Kirksville, MOMO29,82434+1%

162McPherson, KSKS30,06434+2%

163Raymondville, TXTX19,97134+0%

164Centralia, WAWA88,06234+20%

165Pontiac, ILIL35,05734−10%

166Liberal, KSKS21,07334−2%

167Gardnerville Ranchos, NVNV51,15435+19%

168Kingsville, TXTX30,31535−2%

169Beeville, TXTX32,51535−4%

170Cleveland, MSMS28,26235−24%

171Marshall, MNMN25,68435−1%

172Mexico, MOMO24,52836−3%

173Shawano, WIWI45,75936−0%

174Storm Lake, IAIA20,44936+2%

175Vermillion, SDSD15,03136+11%

176Forrest City, ARAR21,80036−21%

177Carroll, IAIA20,30336−3%

178Marquette, MIMI68,06436+2%

179Moscow, IDID41,84237+13%

180Yuma, AZAZ224,44937+27%

181Moses Lake, WAWA105,72737+33%

182Cheyenne, WYWY102,93837+23%

183St. Marys, PAPA29,92637−12%

184El Dorado, ARAR36,92638−14%

185Atchison, KSKS16,17238−3%

186Grenada, MSMS30,22238−11%

187Kearney, NENE57,96238+16%

188Eureka, CACA131,64738+8%

189El Campo, TXTX42,06038+1%

190Nogales, AZAZ50,02039+24%

191Clarksdale, MSMS19,84939−30%

192Big Spring, TXTX30,50439+4%

193Canton, ILIL32,90139−12%

194Oskaloosa, IAIA21,88039−1%

195Breckenridge, COCO39,06939+23%

196Stephenville, TXTX43,91139+29%

197Selma, ALAL35,14039−17%

198Port Lavaca, TXTX19,59940−3%

199Aberdeen, WAWA78,14440+13%

200Bonham, TXTX39,26540+14%

201Brownwood, TXTX38,71140+1%

202Massena, NYNY105,48840−3%

203Coos Bay, OROR63,99241+3%

204Watertown, SDSD29,56241+9%

205Bradford, PAPA38,98441−12%

206Columbus, NENE46,58341+7%

207Salina, KSKS59,12142+0%

208Lock Haven, PAPA37,87042−1%

209New Ulm, MNMN25,51742−4%

210West Plains, MOMO40,79843+7%

211Hannibal, MOMO38,96943+3%

212El Centro, CACA181,41143+26%

213Cadillac, MIMI49,71943+8%

214Lewiston, IDID65,45043+11%

215Brookings, SDSD37,63543+22%

216Warren, PAPA37,03844−12%

217Albert Lea, MNMN30,44044−5%

218Port Angeles, WAWA78,20244+20%

219Yankton, SDSD23,63545+8%

220Bangor, MEME157,96745+5%

221Blytheville, ARAR37,82845−22%

222Waycross, GAGA57,67045+9%

223Eagle Pass, TXTX58,82345+22%

224Lincoln, ILIL27,18245−10%

225Platteville, WIWI52,44645+5%

226Twin Falls, IDID123,90145+38%

227Ottawa, KSKS26,29945+5%

228Bozeman, MTMT128,74046+75%

229Hood River, OROR23,72046+17%

230Jacksonville, ILIL37,38146−10%

231Macomb, ILIL25,91646−17%

232Spirit Lake, IAIA18,07747+8%

233Grand Junction, COCO162,84547+34%

234Jesup, GAGA32,48147+13%

235Dixon, ILIL32,91447−5%

236Lebanon, MOMO36,94347+11%

237San Angelo, TXTX122,06547+15%

238Ponca City, OKOK43,49048−9%

239Gainesville, TXTX44,46148+15%

240Kerrville, TXTX54,03748+20%

241Jacksonville, TXTX53,33748+8%

242Sulphur Springs, TXTX39,06348+15%

243Taylorville, ILIL33,44348−4%

244Russellville, ARAR84,93248+11%

245Grand Island, NENE78,07648+13%

246Redding, CACA181,64848+12%

247Scottsboro, ALAL54,28149−2%

248Monticello, ININ25,16449−2%

249Butte-Silver Bow, MTMT36,11849+2%

250Troy, ALAL33,68849+11%

251Bainbridge, GAGA29,43249+4%

252Duncan, OKOK44,31049−1%

253Walla Walla, WAWA62,36149+13%

254Hutchinson, KSKS61,53949−4%

255Astoria, OROR40,92650+15%

256Batesville, ARAR38,78550+11%

257Hilo, HIHI210,04350+35%

258Huntingdon, PAPA43,00150−3%

259Alpena, MIMI28,85351−8%

260Russellville, ALAL32,44951+3%

261Pine Bluff, ARAR70,21151−19%

262Durant, OKOK51,36751+26%

263Moberly, MOMO24,51351+0%

264Sparta, WIWI46,57251+13%

265Newport, OROR50,63651+13%

266Okeechobee, FLFL42,60852+10%

267Fort Dodge, IAIA36,83852−8%

268Corsicana, TXTX57,18152+17%

269Amarillo, TXTX276,23552+17%

270Kennett, MOMO26,85552−15%

271Mason City, IAIA49,71052−7%

272Sayre, PAPA59,60052−4%

273Roanoke Rapids, NCNC63,02552−17%

274Americus, GAGA33,39453−8%

275Ada, OKOK38,52853+8%

276Dublin, GAGA60,35153+10%

277Arcadia, FLFL37,07853+5%

278Menomonie, WIWI46,22353+14%

279Washington, NCNC44,67054−1%

280Malvern, ARAR33,45154+9%

281Grants Pass, OROR87,86754+16%

282Rio Grande City, TXTX66,31954+23%

283Rice Lake, WIWI46,48454+4%

284Clearlake, CACA67,77254+17%

285Palestine, TXTX59,80555+5%

286Effingham, ILIL44,72755−1%

287Willmar, MNMN44,72055+6%

288Douglas, GAGA52,86155+14%

289Bennington, VTVT36,63055+1%

290Quincy, ILIL74,14656−4%

291Albany, OROR132,84356+25%

292Austin, MNMN40,97156+4%

293Union City, TNTN30,06757−5%

294Wichita Falls, TXTX149,44857−2%

295Lebanon, NHNH224,50057+6%

296Martin, TNTN33,26157−6%

297Victoria, TXTX99,86457+8%

298Burlington, IAIA44,06157−10%

299Paris, TNTN32,89657+3%

300Columbus, MSMS67,14458−7%

301Alexander City, ALAL40,95358−0%

302Las Cruces, NMNM229,09158+26%

303Ardmore, OKOK48,91058+5%

304Brattleboro, VTVT45,20458+4%

305Oneonta, NYNY60,58958−5%

306Ludington, MIMI29,04059+3%

307Olean, NYNY75,39059−8%

308Vidalia, GAGA36,18059+4%

309Brenham, TXTX38,28859+18%

310Enid, OKOK61,77959+9%

311Brookhaven, MSMS35,01260+5%

312Yakima, WAWA259,18560+15%

313Newberry, SCSC39,56160+4%

314Cambridge, MDMD33,62860+6%

315Pella, IAIA34,19260+4%

316Poplar Bluff, MOMO41,90461+3%

317Sikeston, MOMO49,97861−6%

318Laurel, MSMS82,28161+1%

319Alexandria, MNMN40,12061+19%

320Fayetteville, TNTN36,85362+13%

321Greenville, MSMS40,44662−29%

322Oxford, MSMS71,97262+32%

323Minden, LALA34,94862−12%

324Gallipolis, OHOH29,07263−6%

325Tahlequah, OKOK49,19663+11%

326Red Wing, MNMN48,19563+8%

327Sedalia, MOMO44,25463+9%

328Meridian, MSMS85,41964−8%

329Reno, NVNV578,73464+46%

330Miami, OKOK30,43864−9%

331Abilene, TXTX185,42964+10%

332Fort Madison, IAIA32,30665−12%

333Coshocton, OHOH37,18865−0%

334Mount Vernon, ILIL36,14765−7%

335Boise City, IDID864,24365+65%

336Rutland, VTVT59,65365−4%

337Warrensburg, MOMO56,67065+12%

338Mount Pleasant, TXTX57,07665+6%

339Centralia, ILIL36,38266−10%

340Pittsburg, KSKS39,00866+2%

341Mayfield, KYKY37,05066−1%

342Rolla, MOMO45,24766+12%

343McComb, MSMS52,64067+0%

344Talladega, ALAL91,76467+0%

345Lubbock, TXTX368,43167+22%

346Clinton, IAIA46,00267−7%

347Jefferson City, MOMO152,71267+7%

348Middlesborough, KYKY22,82967−20%

349Campbellsville, KYKY38,40767+8%

350Corning, NYNY91,85567−5%

351Bogalusa, LALA44,93768+3%

352Cape Girardeau, MOMO99,21568+8%

353Rochelle, ILIL51,39968+1%

354Nacogdoches, TXTX66,03568+9%

355Shelton, WAWA71,16568+33%

356Ottawa, ILIL145,90269−3%

357Fitzgerald, GAGA17,09969−2%

358Somerset, PAPA72,00469−7%

359Mount Sterling, KYKY48,42869+17%

360Picayune, MSMS59,36369+15%

361Galesburg, ILIL47,76770−11%

362Marshalltown, IAIA39,89070+2%

363Starkville, MSMS62,06370+16%

364Fremont, NENE38,05770+3%

365Vincennes, ININ35,65270−8%

366DuBois, PAPA78,10070−3%

367Pueblo, COCO169,27770+19%

368Glasgow, KYKY56,22470+14%

369Van Wert, OHOH29,01371−2%

370Greensburg, ININ26,57671+8%

371Washington Court House, OHOH28,55271+2%

372Big Rapids, MIMI42,32072−2%

373Lawrenceburg, TNTN46,91472+11%

374Dyersburg, TNTN36,32072−1%

375Thomasville, GAGA72,95872+8%

376Topeka, KSKS233,05272+4%

377Texarkana, TXTX146,81672+3%

378Petoskey, MIMI33,77573+9%

379Manhattan, KSKS136,12273+23%

380St. Joseph, MOMO119,17073−1%

381Alma, MIMI41,19073−1%

382Cambridge, OHOH38,37974−6%

383Cordele, GAGA19,23774−8%

384St. George, UTUT213,67074+100%

385Searcy, ARAR80,08574+14%

386Lawton, OKOK127,59074+4%

387Glens Falls, NYNY124,37375+2%

388Hutchinson, MNMN36,63175+5%

389Oil City, PAPA49,34675−12%

390Mount Vernon, WAWA132,97575+26%

391Wabash, ININ30,71375−11%

392Mountain Home, ARAR42,98275+8%

393Crawfordsville, ININ38,95475+1%

394Henderson, KYKY57,18475−2%

395Vicksburg, MSMS41,75976−10%

396Orangeburg, SCSC83,17776−8%

397Greencastle, ININ37,87676+2%

398Hillsdale, MIMI45,73876−2%

399Tuscaloosa, ALAL281,85077+26%

400Plattsburgh, NYNY78,13877−0%

401Winchester, TNTN45,57977+9%

402Alexandria, LALA147,95277+5%

403Washington, ININ34,20978+12%

404Murrells Inlet, SCSC65,91278+14%

405Pocatello, IDID91,59178+15%

406Enterprise, ALAL56,95379+23%

407Baraboo, WIWI66,65279+19%

408Freeport, ILIL43,22079−9%

409Paragould, ARAR47,41179+23%

410Winona, MNMN50,52379−1%

411Laredo, TXTX281,22479+38%

412Summerville, GAGA25,30080−2%

413Monroe, LALA222,39080+2%

414Pikeville, KYKY89,12280−15%

415Medford, OROR221,79580+23%

416Logan, UTUT160,88981+43%

417New Bern, NCNC127,35881+6%

418Santa Fe, NMNM156,90781+20%

419Monticello, NYNY80,58681+6%

420Sterling, ILIL54,12181−8%

421Muskogee, OKOK66,70882−4%

422Frankfort, ININ33,32282−2%

423Ottumwa, IAIA35,21082−2%

424Newport, TNTN37,88983+7%

425Greeley, COCO378,42683+82%

426Danville, ILIL71,25983−12%

427Meadville, PAPA81,79283−7%

428Franklin, KYKY20,78884+19%

429Paducah, KYKY102,25984−1%

430Madisonville, KYKY45,12784−2%

431Moultrie, GAGA47,43884+9%

432Eugene, OROR381,58484+19%

433Key West, FLFL80,40684+4%

434Lake Charles, LALA244,65585+13%

435San Luis Obispo, CACA282,36786+14%

436Thomaston, GAGA28,50086+0%

437Mankato, MNMN104,90787+21%

438Greenville, OHOH51,52087−3%

439Corbin, KYKY150,04087+3%

440Corinth, MSMS34,56987+1%

441Kingsland, GAGA60,14387+25%

442Barre, VTVT59,65287+3%

443Owatonna, MNMN37,46487+11%

444Brevard, NCNC34,21187+12%

445Lake City, FLFL74,09487+23%

446North Wilkesboro, NCNC66,23388+1%

447St. Simons, GAGA118,52488+22%

448Stevens Point, WIWI71,94388+5%

449Ozark, ALAL49,91288+0%

450Dothan, ALAL156,26688+15%

451Morgan City, LALA46,55288−8%

452Coldwater, MIMI45,99389−2%

453Branson, MOMO57,00189+41%

454Hinesville, GAGA91,87089+13%

455Fargo, NDND269,52889+43%

456Wausau, WIWI139,43289+10%

457Opelousas, LALA80,76589−6%

458Crossville, TNTN66,30090+31%

459Houma, LALA199,66890+7%

460Urbana, OHOH38,82090−0%

461Sioux City, IAIA145,73890+6%

462Rockingham, NCNC42,04191−8%

463Traverse City, MIMI156,97291+17%

464Carbondale, ILIL52,50191−11%

465Beckley, WVWV109,94091−9%

466Seymour, ININ47,37091+12%

467Rochester, MNMN231,18491+23%

468Lewisburg, TNTN38,07191+28%

469Jonesboro, ARAR139,44092+25%

470Logansport, ININ37,83692−7%

471Madison, ININ33,27992+5%

472Celina, OHOH42,73792+4%

473Shawnee, OKOK75,10292+11%

474Watertown, NYNY111,54092+4%

475Fort Payne, ALAL74,08592+11%

476Valdosta, GAGA153,27692+24%

477Tifton, GAGA51,23792+5%

478Charleston, ILIL46,60792−12%

479Williamsport, PAPA112,58793−5%

480Cookeville, TNTN152,47793+21%

481Defiance, OHOH38,29293−3%

482Wisconsin Rapids, WIWI74,06094−2%

483Albany, GAGA145,51094−3%

484Sioux Falls, SDSD314,63894+46%

485Cortland, NYNY45,85094−4%

486Athens, TXTX88,59594+12%

487Marietta, OHOH58,38995−6%

488Tupelo, MSMS133,16795+7%

489McMinnville, TNTN43,71795+7%

490La Crosse, WIWI171,18295+10%

491Hattiesburg, MSMS158,01496+24%

492Huntington, ININ37,22496−4%

493Peru, ININ34,48796−0%

494Kill Devil Hills, NCNC38,24596+23%

495Murray, KYKY39,42196+9%

496Midland, TXTX193,13997+45%

497Hudson, NYNY60,16897−2%

498Longview, WAWA114,88597+19%

499Huntsville, TXTX83,84297+24%

500Visalia, CACA485,14698+29%

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

Frequently asked

Which metro area has the lowest population density?

Winnemucca, NV ranks #1 with 2 (2020 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 metro areas by population density?

Winnemucca, NV, Bishop, CA, Elko, NV, Pahrump, NV, Ketchikan, AK.

How many metro areas are in this ranking?

918 metro areas qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 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 (2020).