What is the largest city in the United States by population?

With a population of 8,478,072, New York City, New York, is the largest city in the United States by population in 2024, according to the most recent population estimates published by the U.S. Census Bureau. Los Angeles, California, is the second-largest city in the United States, with a population of 3,878,718, less than half that of New York City. Following Los Angeles are Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix with populations of 2,721,326, 2,387,910, and 1,673,122, respectively. The most recent data show that the United States has 11 cities with a population of at least one million, and 361 cities with a population of at least 100,000. The U.S. Census Bureau categorizes cities, villages, and other inhabited locales as places for statistical purposes. You can find more information about places here. The chart below is a breakdown of the 25 largest cities in the United States by population.

America’s largest cities are spread across the District of Columbia and 16 states, including New York, California, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington, Colorado, Oklahoma, Nevada, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oregon. The country’s two largest states by population, California and Texas, boast the most cities with populations of at least 100,000. California has six, while Texas has four, and the remaining states each have one.