A Tale of Three Giants
New York City maintains its historic position as America’s largest city with over 8.3 million residents, more than twice the size of Los Angeles (3.8 million). Chicago follows in third place with 2.6 million inhabitants, completing the trio of traditional American megacities.
🏙️ Most Populous U.S. Cities (2022)
| City | State | Population |
|---|---|---|
| New York | New York | 8,335,897 |
| Los Angeles | California | 3,822,238 |
| Chicago | Illinois | 2,665,039 |
| Houston | Texas | 2,302,878 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | 1,644,409 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 1,567,258 |
| San Antonio | Texas | 1,472,909 |
| San Diego | California | 1,381,162 |
| Dallas | Texas | 1,299,544 |
| Austin | Texas | 974,447 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | 971,319 |
| San Jose | California | 971,233 |
| Fort Worth | Texas | 956,709 |
| Columbus | Ohio | 907,971 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | 897,720 |
The Texas Phenomenon
One of the most striking patterns in this data is Texas’s outsized representation, with five cities among the top 15:
- Houston (2.3 million)
- San Antonio (1.47 million)
- Dallas (1.29 million)
- Austin (974,447)
- Fort Worth (956,709)
This concentration reflects Texas’s significant economic growth and its attraction as a major destination for both domestic and international migration.
California’s Urban Centers
California places three cities in the ranking:
- Los Angeles (3.82 million)
- San Diego (1.38 million)
- San Jose (971,233)
The presence of these cities highlights California’s role as a major population center, particularly along its coastal regions.
Regional Distribution
The geographical distribution of these cities tells an interesting story about American urbanization:
- Northeast: New York City and Philadelphia
- Midwest: Chicago and Columbus
- South: Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, and Charlotte
- West: Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose
The South’s dominance in this list reflects broader demographic trends of southward population movement in recent decades.
Population Thresholds
The data shows several notable population thresholds:
- Over 3 million: Only New York and Los Angeles
- 2-3 million: Chicago and Houston
- 1-2 million: Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, and Dallas
- Under 1 million: Austin, Jacksonville, San Jose, Fort Worth, Columbus, and Charlotte
This distribution demonstrates the significant population gaps between the largest cities and the rest of the list.
State Leadership
Looking at state representation:
- Texas: 5 cities
- California: 3 cities
- Other states: 1 city each (New York, Illinois, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina)
This clearly shows the demographic dominance of Texas and California in terms of major urban centers.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022
