Biggest US Cities: the Largest City in Every State by Population

Updated

2026-04-27T21:36:55.791Z

The 2020 US Census determined the largest city in every state.
New York City is the biggest US city, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.
Some states’ most populous cities only have tens of thousands of residents.

What factors influence city population growth?

Which cities have seen the most growth recently?

What challenges do small populous cities face?

How do city populations affect local economies?

How does the census impact city funding?

Conducted every 10 years, the United States census counts every person living in the US and collects statistics such as age, sex, and household makeup.

A city’s population, along with other demographic data, is a key factor in determining its allocations for federal and state funding.

According to 2020 census data, some states’ most populous cities only have tens of thousands of residents, while others, like New York City, have more than 8 million.

Take a look at the largest city in every state.