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Largest US cities, 2010 to 2025

New York is the largest US city at about 8.58 million people in 2025, ahead of Los Angeles at 3.87 million and Chicago at 2.73 million.

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What the data shows

  • In 2025, New York ranks #1 with 8.59M, ahead of Los Angeles (3.87M) and Chicago (2.73M).
  • New York holds #1 for the whole period, 2010 to 2025.

About this chart

New York has more than twice as many residents as Los Angeles, with about 8.58 million people in 2025 against 3.87 million. Chicago (2.73 million), Houston (2.40 million) and Phoenix (1.67 million) complete the top five. Phoenix passed Philadelphia for fifth place by 2015. Fort Worth is the fastest riser in the table, growing from about 748,000 in 2010 to 1.03 million in 2025 and moving ahead of both Jacksonville and Austin.

These are city limits, not metro areas: Census Bureau July 1 estimates for incorporated places, in millions. Two Census releases are joined here, Vintage 2020 for 2010 to 2019 and Vintage 2025 for 2020 to 2025. Changes between 2019 and 2020, such as New York's move from 8.34 to 8.75 million, partly reflect that switch rather than a one-year change in population.

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, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026. City limits only (not metro areas).

Largest US cities, City population in millions, 2010 to 2025, 2010–2025
DateNew YorkLos AngelesChicagoHoustonPhoenixPhiladelphiaSan AntonioSan DiegoDallasFort WorthJacksonvilleAustinSan Jose
20108.19M3.80M2.70M2.10M1.45M1.53M1.33M1.31M1.20M0.75M0.82M0.81M0.96M
20118.27M3.82M2.71M2.12M1.47M1.54M1.36M1.32M1.22M0.76M0.83M0.83M0.97M
20128.35M3.85M2.72M2.16M1.50M1.55M1.38M1.34M1.24M0.78M0.84M0.86M0.98M
20138.40M3.88M2.73M2.20M1.53M1.56M1.41M1.35M1.26M0.80M0.84M0.88M1.00M
20148.43M3.90M2.73M2.24M1.56M1.57M1.44M1.37M1.28M0.82M0.85M0.90M1.02M
20158.46M3.93M2.72M2.28M1.58M1.57M1.47M1.39M1.30M0.84M0.87M0.92M1.03M
20168.47M3.96M2.72M2.31M1.61M1.58M1.49M1.40M1.32M0.86M0.88M0.94M1.04M
20178.44M3.98M2.71M2.31M1.63M1.58M1.51M1.41M1.34M0.87M0.89M0.95M1.04M
20188.40M3.98M2.70M2.31M1.66M1.59M1.53M1.42M1.34M0.89M0.90M0.96M1.04M
20198.34M3.98M2.69M2.32M1.68M1.58M1.55M1.42M1.34M0.91M0.91M0.98M1.03M
20208.75M3.90M2.74M2.30M1.61M1.60M1.44M1.38M1.30M0.92M0.95M0.96M1.01M
20218.45M3.83M2.71M2.29M1.63M1.59M1.45M1.37M1.29M0.94M0.96M0.97M0.98M
20228.36M3.83M2.68M2.32M1.64M1.57M1.48M1.38M1.30M0.96M0.98M0.98M0.98M
20238.43M3.85M2.70M2.35M1.65M1.57M1.51M1.39M1.32M0.98M1.00M0.99M0.98M
20248.60M3.87M2.73M2.39M1.66M1.57M1.53M1.40M1.33M1.01M1.01M1.00M0.99M
20258.59M3.87M2.73M2.40M1.67M1.57M1.55M1.41M1.33M1.03M1.02M1.00M0.99M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in the US?

In 2025, New York ranks #1 with 8.59M, followed by Los Angeles (3.87M) and Chicago (2.73M). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, millions.

What is the largest city in the US?

New York City, with about 8.58 million residents in 2025 according to Census Bureau estimates of the city limits. Los Angeles is second at about 3.87 million.

What are the five largest cities in the US?

New York (8.58 million), Los Angeles (3.87 million), Chicago (2.73 million), Houston (2.40 million) and Phoenix (1.67 million) in 2025. Philadelphia (1.57 million) and San Antonio (1.55 million) follow.

Do these figures include metro areas?

No. They count people living inside each city's incorporated limits only. Metropolitan areas, which include surrounding suburbs and counties, are much larger and would give a different ranking.

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, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026. City limits only (not metro areas). You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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