Discover the 10 Most Populous States

The United States is a growing country. The estimated population of people in the U.S. was roughly 334,475,103 at the time of this writing. However, like in other countries, people are not evenly distributed throughout the land. Instead, many more humans live in some states than others. Today, we’re going to look at the 10 most populous states in the U.S.

See where most people live and what could draw them to that area!

The Most Populous States in the United States

The U.S. has 50 states. Some of them are located near coastal areas, have active industries, and experience great weather. Other states are too remote or mountainous to attract and keep a large population. The most populous states in the U.S. tend to have a mix of a large amount of territory, booming industries, and some unique qualities.

These 10 states may not all be the biggest, but they have a blend of factors that make them desirable places to live. All the data concerning the population of the following states was sourced in the April 2020 census and may have changed.

10. Michigan

The state of Michigan has a population of 10,077,331, and the largest city in that state is Detroit. The city of Detroit is known as Motor City, a place where three of the major auto manufacturers in the U.S. produce vehicles. Michigan is known for more than Detroit, though.

Michigan has vast natural areas that stretch hundreds of miles, with rich forests and many lakes. In fact, the state borders three of the Great Lakes! Also, the state borders Canada as well.

9. North Carolina

North Carolina may not come to mind when thinking of the most populous states in the U.S. The state is not home to a sprawling metropolitan area. Yet, the state does have many features that draw people to the area.

The beaches in the state are a major tourist attraction and the reasonable job and housing markets are attractive. All told, Charlotte has a population of about 879,000 people. The city is home to major companies like Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Truist Financial, major financial institutions. This area will probably continue to flourish.

8. Georgia

Georgia is an interesting case because it’s not the largest state, but it still has a booming population of 10,711,908. The population increased by 10.57% since April 2010 census. The majority of states do not see such an increase. The draw of jobs and affordable housing in a major city center, like Atlanta, can be seen as two motivating factors for the population increase.

7. Ohio

The state of Ohio truly lives up to its tourist slogan, “the heart of it all.” The state connects the Northeast with the Midwest. Also, the state is near Lake Erie and Canada as well. The highways in Ohio provide transportation for people and vast amounts of cargo alike. People will find major cities in the state as well, including Cleveland and Columbus, the most populated city in the state of almost 12 million.

6. Illinois

Illinois is one of the most populated states in the U.S. However, the state experienced a net loss of population between the 2010 census and the 2020 census. The biggest reason for the loss of population is that people are leaving the state for better jobs and housing. Still, Illinois has a population of 12.8 million, and Chicago has a population of about 2.69 million alone.

5. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is known as the Keystone State. The state is interesting because it has major cities, like Philadelphia, along with large rural areas like those found in Lancaster County. Still, the state has a high population because of its size, location in the U.S. that helps it act as a business hub, and the increasing numbers of international migrants that settle in its borders.

4. New York

New York has a population of over 20 million people, and the state continues to experience reasonable growth. Roughly 8.4 million people out of the state’s population live in the New York City metropolitan area. People flock to this state because NYC is a massive business and cultural center, one of the biggest in the entire country!

3. Florida

Florida is one of the states undergoing a massive population increase. The population grew almost 15 percent from 2010 to 2020 according to the last census. Overall, the population in the state is over 21 million, but Florida lacks a gigantic metropolitan area like New York City. Instead, many of the largest cities are distributed up and down the coast of Florida with populations under 1 million. That includes Jacksonville, the largest city in the state!

2. Texas

Texas had the largest population increase by percentage and the total number of people of any state from 2010 to 2020. An increase of 15.91 percent, representing 3,999,000 people, was recorded during this time. The state has land to spare, coastal areas, and a thriving business climate. Cities like Houston continue to grow because businesses are moving their operations from more expensive states. The relatively low cost of living in the state also helps bring in more people.

1. California

California is the most populous state in the United States. This state is home to 39,538,223 people as of 2020. The state has the right combination of cities, jobs, and territory, to maintain a high population.

However, the state’s population dropped by about 600,000 people between January 2020 and July 2022. Between an exodus of residents and the impacts of COVID-19 during that time, people were seen leaving in droves. Yet, the state is still projected to reach 42 million residents by 2030.

The 10 most populous states in the U.S. contain over half of the country’s total population! Other states are less hospitable to people and businesses and lack the benefits of the most populated areas. Still, population gains in places like Florida and Texas could give rise to new city centers in the future.  

Summary of the 10 Most Populous States

Here is a list of the 10 Most Populous States: