Everyone living in a major city tends to think their city is the most crowded — and most hectic. Well, now there’s actual data to prove which cities win the unenviable distinction of being the most and the least crowded in the US. Rent.com analyzed the population density (number of people per square mile) of the largest cities in the US and determined, once and for all, which cities in the US are the most and least crowded, using population.
Photo: View Apart/Shutterstock
The 10 Most and Least Crowded Cities in the US
To qualify for the list, cities had to cover at least 10 square miles and have at least 50,000 residents. While the usual suspects certainly appear, like New York and Boston, there are also some surprises like Berkley, California, and Jersey City, New Jersey.
These are the top 10 most crowded cities in the country by population density (people per square mile):
- New York City, New York: 27,547
- San Francisco, California: 18,808
- Jersey City, New Jersey: 17,720
- Boston, Massachusetts: 14,345
- Miami, Florida: 13,046
- Santa Ana, California: 12,186
- Chicago, Illinois: 11,835
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 11,812
- Newark, New Jersey: 11,658
- Berkeley, California: 11,592
The cities with the lowest population density (people per square mile) might not have as much name recognition, but they should probably be on your radar for your next vacation — or even to relocate.
- Anchorage, Alaska: 169
- Buckeye, Arizona: 212
- Suffolk, Virginia: 230
- Carson City, Nevada: 386
- Goodyear, Arizona: 453
- Casa Grande, Arizona: 535
- Augusta, Georgia: 654
- Norman, Oklahoma: 698
- Port Arthur, Texas: 706
- North Port, Florida: 710
