Bigger metro areas.
Where are the largest metro populations? Among these 58 metros, New York, NY-NJ-PA ranks first at 19.94m (ACS 2024).
Metros are Census metropolitan statistical areas, not city limits. ACS 2024 one-year figures are annual survey estimates with margins of error, not live salaries, asking rents or monthly job reports.
Where are the largest metro populations?
Ranked by metro population, ACS 2024. Rank 1 is the highest value.
Residents of the metropolitan statistical area, including its surrounding communities. Metro population differs from city-proper population. Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 one-year estimates (via Census Reporter).
| # | Metro area | Household income | Period | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New YorkNY-NJ-PA | $99,852 | 19.94m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 2 | Los AngelesCA | $96,405 | 12.93m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 3 | ChicagoIL-IN-WI | $90,770 | 9.41m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 4 | Dallas-Fort WorthTX | $92,733 | 8.34m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 5 | HoustonTX | $81,417 | 7.80m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 6 | MiamiFL | $80,625 | 6.46m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 7 | WashingtonDC-VA-MD-WV | $126,244 | 6.44m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 8 | AtlantaGA | $92,344 | 6.41m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 9 | PhiladelphiaPA-NJ-DE-MD | $90,850 | 6.33m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 10 | PhoenixAZ | $90,133 | 5.19m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 11 | BostonMA-NH | $117,825 | 5.03m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 12 | Riverside-San BernardinoCA | $91,013 | 4.74m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 13 | San FranciscoCA | $135,590 | 4.65m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 14 | DetroitMI | $76,403 | 4.40m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 15 | SeattleWA | $112,388 | 4.15m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 16 | Minneapolis-St. PaulMN-WI | $97,928 | 3.76m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 17 | Tampa-St. PetersburgFL | $78,275 | 3.42m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 18 | San DiegoCA | $109,132 | 3.30m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 19 | DenverCO | $108,046 | 3.05m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 20 | OrlandoFL | $81,044 | 2.94m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 21 | CharlotteNC-SC | $85,938 | 2.88m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 22 | BaltimoreMD | $98,666 | 2.86m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 23 | St. LouisMO-IL | $81,679 | 2.81m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 24 | San AntonioTX | $78,112 | 2.76m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 25 | AustinTX | $99,897 | 2.55m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 26 | PortlandOR-WA | $98,994 | 2.54m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 27 | SacramentoCA | $98,775 | 2.46m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 28 | PittsburghPA | $77,214 | 2.43m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 29 | Las VegasNV | $80,028 | 2.40m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 30 | CincinnatiOH-KY-IN | $81,489 | 2.30m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 31 | Kansas CityMO-KS | $83,785 | 2.25m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 32 | ColumbusOH | $82,938 | 2.23m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 33 | IndianapolisIN | $80,239 | 2.17m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 34 | ClevelandOH | $72,532 | 2.17m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 35 | NashvilleTN | $88,800 | 2.15m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 36 | San JoseCA | $164,801 | 2.00m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 37 | Virginia Beach-NorfolkVA-NC | $82,402 | 1.80m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 38 | JacksonvilleFL | $82,053 | 1.76m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 39 | ProvidenceRI-MA | $82,870 | 1.70m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 40 | MilwaukeeWI | $77,919 | 1.57m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 41 | RaleighNC | $102,144 | 1.56m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 42 | Oklahoma CityOK | $72,930 | 1.50m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 43 | LouisvilleKY-IN | $74,305 | 1.40m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 44 | RichmondVA | $83,460 | 1.37m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 45 | MemphisTN-MS-AR | $68,124 | 1.34m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 46 | Salt Lake CityUT | $100,548 | 1.30m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 47 | BirminghamAL | $74,954 | 1.19m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 48 | FresnoCA | $74,983 | 1.19m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 49 | Grand RapidsMI | $81,541 | 1.18m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 50 | HartfordCT | $94,419 | 1.17m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 51 | BuffaloNY | $72,300 | 1.16m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 52 | TucsonAZ | $72,067 | 1.08m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 53 | TulsaOK | $69,658 | 1.06m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 54 | RochesterNY | $76,453 | 1.06m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 55 | OmahaNE-IA | $84,524 | 1.00m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 56 | HonoluluHI | $105,205 | 1.00m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 57 | GreenvilleSC | $75,881 | 1.00m | 2024 | ↗ |
| 58 | New OrleansLA | $62,373 | 0.97m | 2024 | ↗ |
How to read these rankings
Which city is best for me?
Start with the decision you are making. Compare income and employment for work, rent for an ongoing housing bill, and monthly climate for the seasons you prefer. Use the comparison workspace to see what you gain and give up.
Does a high income mean life is cheaper?
No. Household income is not an individual job offer, and rent is only one expense. A personal budget also needs taxes, transport, childcare, healthcare and other costs. We do not label our housing measures a complete cost-of-living score.
Is this the city or its surrounding metro?
These are metro-level comparisons. Your neighborhood can have very different rent, schools, transport and commute times. Metro averages are a starting point for deciding where to look more closely.
Where are safety, schools and things to do?
Those need additional, comparable local sources. They are not included in these rankings yet. We show the specific measures we have rather than filling the gaps with a general “quality of life” score.