A social media trend has influencers and commenters up in arms over the “major” cities in the country, as well as how the top of that list should be ranked.
WASHINGTON — What makes a city “major” in the U.S.? The answer may depend on who you ask.
A social media trend has influencers and commenters up in arms over the “major” cities in the country, as well as how the top of that list should be ranked.
However, there’s a lot of conflicting research, and even more conflicting opinions on what constitutes a major city (or whether that ranking should matter). Here’s what we know about major cities in the U.S.
Does city size matter?
The most obvious metric to judge U.S. cities by is their size. And for that metric, there are two clear winners. World Population Review lists New York City with just under 8 million inhabitants, while Los Angeles has a population of 3.7 million.
Just about everybody on TikTok seems to agree that these two are at the top of the list for the country’s major cities, but No. 3 and No. 4 are where the breakdown occurs.
For the No. 3 spot, Chicago has a population of 2.6 million people, just above Houston’s 2.3 million in fourth place. However, Chicago’s population has declined slightly since 2020, according to census records, while Houston is growing alongside Phoenix and San Antonio, which rank No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
Is happiness the best metric?
But population isn’t the only way to measure whether a city counts as a “major” population center.
A recent YouGov survey exploring which states and cities are viewed favorably by Americans gives some insight into which areas could be considered “major cities.”
The poll found that Nashville, Tennessee, is America’s favorite city (for comparison, it ranks 21st by population size). With a net favorability of +44, Nashville is head and shoulders above the rest.
But jostling for second place, with a net favorability of +39, are San Diego, Colorado Springs and Virginia Beach.
Additionally, a recent WalletHub survey found that Fremont, California, is the happiest city in the U.S., based on 29 factors, including the city’s depression rate, income growth and the amount of leisure time enjoyed by residents.
That survey found San Jose and Irvine, both also in California, ranked second and third for happiness.
Where’s the best place to live in the U.S.?
Having a thriving metropolis or a smiling community doesn’t mean much if you don’t live there.
A study by Badeloft USA — which produces luxury housing accessories, including toilets, tubs and counters — examined 40 of the nation’s largest cities to identify the most active real estate markets.
By that metric, Washington, D.C. is apparently at the top of the “major” city list, with people searching for homes in the D.C. area around 1.5 million times. That’s a 461.3:1 ratio to the approximately 3,300 homes on the market in the nation’s capital.
Following D.C. on that list are San Diego and Fresno in California. In fact, four of the top five spots on Badeloft’s ranking for most competitive housing markets are in California. That’s not too surprising considering California’s well-known housing shortage.
But for the best bang for your buck? WalletHub suggests looking outside the West Coast for the best cities to buy a home. In a study that compares various aspects, including affordability, quality of life, real estate taxes, and crime rates, the financial research group found that Florida may be the best place to buy a home.
Palm Bay was ranked at the top of WalletHub’s list of the best places to live, followed closely by Boise, Idaho. Third place went to another Florida city, Tampa, and Surprise, Arizona, rounded out the top four.
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