Top 10 Largest Cities in U.S. by Population

Does your inner Disney princess or savvy captain long for something more? Does that “something more” entail moving to a big city? From New York City’s five boroughs to San Diego’s coastal offerings and Chicago’s lurid history as a mob stronghold, the United States is loaded with many impressive cities that each have their own unique character and charm. Making the decision of which city to move to, especially if you are eyeing the biggest cities in the U.S., can be quite daunting when there are so many options available to an interested party. In an effort to remove as much stress from the planning stage of a move as possible, provided below is a list of the 10 largest cities in the U.S., listed in ascending order of their last cited population tallies within the World Population Review. You will also learn nicknames for the largest cities in the U.S., reasons to move to the biggest cities in the U.S., the median cost of real estate within the largest cities in the U.S. and even a few random factoids about each of the 10 biggest cities in the U.S.

#10: San Jose, California

Population

1,033,519. This also makes it the most populous city within the northern half of California.

Nickname

“The Capital of Silicon Valley”

Reasons to Move Here

Ranked among the top 10 largest cities in the U.S. by more than one organization, this sweeping California settlement has a rock-solid job market and some of the best schools around. As if its nickname were not a big enough clue, San Jose is also notable for the sheer number of tech companies that call this city home; Adobe, Apigee, Cisco, these are just a few of the big names that hang their hat in one of the largest cities in the U.S. Anyone with the sort of budget to afford living in San Jose is someone whom is bound to find an ideal spot to make a living and enjoy life.

Median Home Price

You can expect to pay a median cost of nearly $1 million for a home in San Jose.

Random Factoid about San Jose

San Jose has six sports teams of note, including the San Francisco 49ers of the NL. These include the Sharks, an NHL hockey team; the Earthquakes, a soccer team; the Barracudas, an AHL hockey team, the Giants, a California league baseball team; and the Spartans, an NCAA basketball team connected to the San Jose State University.

#9: Dallas, Texas

Population

1,379,735

Nickname

“The Big D”

Reasons to Move Here

As a “beta plus” settlement, Dallas is leading the way when it comes to startups, innovations and technology. Dallas has an enjoyable diverse populous, a great economy and an impressive job market. The fact that one city has a great public education system, sunny weather for most of its days, fair real estate costs and tons of amenities means that it draws in professionals in their 20s and 30s, retirees and even families.

Median Home Price

The median cost of a Dallas home is just over $400k.

Random Factoid about Dallas

Tex Avery, a cartoonist; Erykah Badu, a singer; Sharon Tate, an actress; and Luke, Owen and Andrew Wilson, a trio of actor brothers; are all from Dallas.

#8: San Diego, California

Population

1,453,775

Nickname

“America’s Finest City”

Reasons to Move Here

San Diego is quickly growing among the biggest cities in the U.S., especially among beach-goers, foodies and professionals in their 20s and 30s. This sun-drenched site has a ton of outdoor activities to do for fun and also has a passionate love for its sports teams. San Diego’s business sector is also doing quite well, dotted with dozens of new startups and high-end tech firms cutting their teeth within the city every day. The fact that San Diego’s workforce is so well-educated means that the city has the attention of companies in every state.

Median Home Price

The median cost of a San Diego home is just under $700k.

Random Factoid about San Diego

San Diego gets its name from Didacus of Alcalá, a 15th Century Spanish missionary of the Catholic Church who was among the first to convert people living in the Canary Islands. He became a saint in 1588.

#7: San Antonio, Texas

Population

1,565,929

Nickname

“Alamo City”

Reasons to Move Here

Do you have a love of the American west? San Antonio is practically the mecca to all things associated with the American Wild West. It happens to be home to the Alamo and is drenched with history. Like many of the biggest cities in the U.S., this city has a great job market and is a great place to raise a family; unlike many of the largest cities in the U.S., San Antonio also has a great number of Tex-Mex restaurants. This city is home to a large number of festivals and other ways to socialize and it has earned much praise or its cheap living, cheap real estate, great weather and excellent educational institutions.

Median Home Price

The median cost of a San Antonio home is just under $250k.

Random Factoid about San Antonio

San Antonio has belonged to many different nations since it began existence as part of the Spanish Empire in 1769. It would become part of the Mexican Empire in 1821, the United Mexican States in 1823, the Republic of Texas in 1836, the United States in 1846, the Confederate States of America in 1861 and then went back to joining the Union in 1865.

#6: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Population

1,576,596

Nickname

“The City of Brotherly Love”

Reasons to Move Here

While Philadelphia is loaded with tons and tons of historically significant spots, it also features an amazing artistic community, lots of music halls and more than enough cool eateries to please even the most fastidious of foodies. Philadelphia is also a major job center within Pennsylvania and is the home base of several major companies, including Aramark, CIGNA Comcast. Philadelphia is also a major draw for collegiates and grad students thanks to the presence of several prestigious halls of higher education, including Drexel and Temple Universities.

Median Home Price

The median price of a Philadelphia home is just under $230k.

Random Factoid about Philadelphia

Pat Oliveri, the alleged father of the city’s iconic cheesesteak; Amar Bose, founder of the company known for its audio engineering; Kevin Bacon, an actor; Lousa May Alcott, a novelist; and Grace Kelly, an actress and Princess of Monaco; were all born in Philadelphia.

#5: Phoenix, Arizona

Population

1,711,356

Nicknames

“The Salt River Valley” and “The Valley of the Sun.”

Reasons to Move Here

Phoenix is unique among this list of the biggest cities in the U.S. because it has a very robust landscape that strongly encourages outdoor living, especially with the many desert mountains and hiking trails found throughout the city. As Phoenix is part of the American Southwest, it offers its residents sunny weather throughout the year. Anyone with a passion for golf will find plenty of courses to try out. Between the low cost of living, many amenities and a variety of recreational activities, Phoenix draws many families, young professionals and retirees.

Median Home Price

The median price for a Phoenix home is just over $282k.

Random Factoid about Phoenix

Prior to the events of World War II and the advancement of air conditioning technology, Phoenix’s economy was dependent upon its “five Cs:” cattle, citrus, climate, copper and cotton.

#4: Houston, Texas

Population

2,359,480

Nicknames

“Bayou City, “The Big Heart,” “Culinary Capital of the South,” “H Town,” “Magnolia City” and “Space City.”

Reasons to Move Here

Houston offers a reliable job market, wide-ranging economy and many different neighborhoods, making it a prime candidate for families and young professionals. In the recent past, Houston was regarded by Forbes as the place where your paycheck took you the farthest. Houston also has lots of things to do, is cheap to live or buy real estate within, great schools and sunny weather for most of its calendar days.

Median Home Price

The median cost of a Houston home is just under $310k.

Random Factoid about Houston

Considering that the site’s call sign is Houston, the LBJ Space Center serves as Mission Control for NASA space flights and its establishment in 1967 earned Houston its “Space City” nickname.

#3: Chicago, Illinois

Population

2,679,044

Nickname

“The Windy City”

Reasons to Move Here

Chicago is right next to Lake Michigan, has stellar restaurants and museums, is pretty cheap to buy a home within and is the only Midwestern entry in this list of the largest cities in the U.S. Chicago also boasts an iconic level of architecture and a jaw-droppingly gorgeous skyline. While Chicago is also infamous for its bitingly cold, windy winters, all of the benefits previously mentioned tends to make it a sacrifice worth making to live here.

Median Home Price

The median cost of a Chicago home is just over $340k.

Random Factoid about Chicago

This city’s name is taken from a “Checagou,” a French misunderstanding of an indigenous word for a variety of wild garlic known to grow in abundance within the area.

#2: Los Angeles, California

Population

4,057,841

Nicknames

“The Big Orange,” “City of Angels,” “La La Land” and “Tinseltown.”

Reasons to Move Here

When it comes to the biggest cities in the U.S., Los Angeles is the best place to go for anyone seeking celebrities or a chance to express their artistic or wild sides. Los Angeles is a truly cosmopolitan place that serves as a major component of the global entertainment industry. That having been said, Los Angeles is also a great place for anyone with an appreciation for nature due to its many beaches, forests and hiking trails. If you hate nasty weather, want plenty of job offers and chances to meet truly interesting people, Los Angeles may be just the home for you.

Median Home Price

The median price for Los Angeles home is nearly $990k.

Random Factoid about Los Angeles

As of 2028, Los Angeles will have hosted the Summer Olympic Games three times; it also hosted them in 1932 and 1984.

#1: New York City, New York

Population

8,601,186

Nicknames

“The Big Apple” and “The City that Never Sleeps”

Reasons to Move Here

New York City is where you can find some of the most well-known neighborhoods, eateries and museums in the country. Beyond its status as top dog among the largest cities in the U.S., NYC is a major sector for culture and finance. While the cost of real estate in this city can be scary, the sheer number of things to do and jobs to take tends to balance things out so that even the other biggest cities in the U.S. can be jealous.

Median Home Price

The median price for a New York City home is $850k.

Random Factoid about New York City

New York City is home to the most recognized dialect of American English, which is sometimes known by the names “New Yorkese” or “Brooklynese” and is distinct for pronouncing words like “girl” and “park” as “goil” and “pahk.”