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Largest cities in Pennsylvania, 2010 to 2025

Philadelphia: 1,574,281 residents in 2025, ahead of Pittsburgh (307,632). Compare Pennsylvania city-limit populations since 2010.

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What the data shows

  • In 2025, Philadelphia ranks #1 with 1.6M, ahead of Pittsburgh (308K) and Allentown (126K).
  • Philadelphia holds #1 for the whole period, 2010 to 2025.

About this chart

Philadelphia leads Pennsylvania with 1,574,281 residents in 2025, ahead of Pittsburgh by 1,266,649. Pittsburgh has 307,632 people, while Allentown ranks third with 126,044. The ranking uses incorporated-place populations rather than metropolitan areas. Philadelphia had 1,528,303 residents in 2010, so its city-limit count grew by 3.0% over the displayed period. Philadelphia was the largest of these places at the start of the series.

The annual Census estimates describe July 1 populations within the boundaries of each incorporated place in Pennsylvania. The series joins Vintage 2020 estimates for 2010–2019 with Vintage 2025 estimates from 2020 onward. Boundary changes and revisions can affect the trend. Unincorporated communities and census-designated places are excluded, and the ranking does not measure the population of the wider urban or commuting region. Every place that entered the annual top ten remains in the chart.

The data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Incorporated places only, not metro areas. Census towns and unincorporated census-designated places are excluded; this is not a ranking of every local jurisdiction. Boundary and vintage changes can affect comparisons.

Largest cities in Pennsylvania, City-limit population, 2010 to 2025, 2010–2025
DatePhiladelphiaPittsburghAllentownErieReadingScrantonBethlehemLancasterHarrisburgAltoonaYork
20101.5M305K118K102K88K76.1K75K59.3K49.5K45.9K43.9K
20111.5M306K119K101K88.2K75.9K75.1K59.4K49.4K45.8K43.8K
20121.6M306K119K101K88.1K76K75.1K59.4K49.4K45.6K43.7K
20131.6M307K119K101K88.3K75.8K74.9K59.4K49.4K45.3K44K
20141.6M306K119K99.9K88.2K75.5K75K59.4K49.4K45K44K
20151.6M304K120K99.2K88.1K77.2K75K59.5K49.3K44.7K44.1K
20161.6M305K120K98.5K88.2K77.3K75.3K59.5K49.2K44.3K44.1K
20171.6M302K121K97.4K88.2K77.3K75.6K59.5K49.2K44K44.1K
20181.6M301K122K96.5K88.5K77K75.8K59.4K49.2K43.7K44.1K
20191.6M300K121K95.6K88.4K76.9K75.6K59.3K49.2K43.4K44K
20201.6M303K126K94.9K95K76.2K75.7K57.9K50.1K43.9K44.8K
20211.6M305K126K94.3K94.9K76.2K77.9K57.6K50.2K43.5K44.8K
20221.6M303K125K93.7K94.9K75.8K77.7K57.2K50.1K43K44.9K
20231.6M305K126K92.9K95.2K75.8K78.8K57.2K50.2K42.8K45K
20241.6M307K126K92.3K95.7K75.7K79.4K58.2K50.6K42.6K45.1K
20251.6M308K126K91.8K95.8K75.5K79.6K58.4K50.5K42.3K45.3K

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Pennsylvania?

In 2025, Philadelphia ranks #1 with 1.6M, followed by Pittsburgh (308K) and Allentown (126K). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, people.

What is the largest city in Pennsylvania?

Philadelphia is the largest incorporated place in Pennsylvania, with 1,574,281 residents in the Census July 1, 2025 estimates. Pittsburgh follows with 307,632.

How has the population of Philadelphia changed?

Its city-limit population moved from 1,528,303 in 2010 to 1,574,281 in 2025, a 3.0% increase. Boundary changes and Census revisions can contribute to differences.

Does this ranking include metro areas?

No. It compares incorporated places within Pennsylvania, not metropolitan areas. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are excluded.

Where does this data come from?

U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Incorporated places only, not metro areas. Census towns and unincorporated census-designated places are excluded; this is not a ranking of every local jurisdiction. Boundary and vintage changes can affect comparisons. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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