Some of us were talking a few weeks ago about how important schools are to buyers in the Seattle area relative to other cities and what percentage of families here have children. I decided to pull that data as well as some additional population and home ownership data on each of the 100 largest cities in the United States from the US Census Bureau’s American FactFinder for 2010 Census data.
Here’s where Seattle falls when you sort the top 100 cities by various measures:
- Population: #23
- Square Miles: #62
- Density: #15
- Household Size: #100
- % with Children: #97
- Home Ownership Rate: #69
I have to say, I expected it to be low, but I was surprised to see Seattle all the way at the bottom when it comes to household size, especially when we’re so high up the list when it comes to density. I guess Seattle’s anti-social tendencies even extend to our own families…
With just under half of homes in Seattle being owner-occupied, it’s not surprising that our home prices are higher compared to median household incomes compared to say, Scottsdale Arizona, where 68% of homes are owner-occupied.
This is a good reminder that it’s much more informative to compare a city’s housing prices to its own local fundamentals and historic trends than it is to compare one city to another, where the local demographics and economics may be quite different.
Hit the full post for the entire table of all top 100 largest cities.
Click on any column header to sort by that column.
| City | State | Pop. | Sq. Mi. | Density | Households | HH Size | w/ Kids | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | NY | 8,175,133 | 302.6 | 27,016 | 3,109,784 | 2.57 | 26.7% | 31.0% |
| Los Angeles | CA | 3,792,621 | 468.7 | 8,092 | 1,318,168 | 2.81 | 29.4% | 38.2% |
| Chicago | IL | 2,695,598 | 227.6 | 11,844 | 1,045,560 | 2.52 | 25.2% | 44.9% |
| Houston | TX | 2,099,451 | 599.6 | 3,501 | 782,643 | 2.64 | 30.2% | 45.4% |
| Philadelphia | PA | 1,526,006 | 134.1 | 11,380 | 599,736 | 2.45 | 24.9% | 54.1% |
| Phoenix | AZ | 1,445,632 | 516.7 | 2,798 | 514,806 | 2.77 | 33.6% | 57.6% |
| San Antonio | TX | 1,327,407 | 460.9 | 2,880 | 479,642 | 2.71 | 32.1% | 56.5% |
| San Diego | CA | 1,307,402 | 325.2 | 4,020 | 483,092 | 2.60 | 27.5% | 48.3% |
| Dallas | TX | 1,197,816 | 340.5 | 3,518 | 458,057 | 2.57 | 29.1% | 44.1% |
| San Jose | CA | 945,942 | 176.5 | 5,359 | 301,366 | 3.09 | 36.2% | 58.5% |
| Jacksonville | FL | 821,784 | 747.0 | 1,100 | 323,106 | 2.48 | 29.2% | 61.7% |
| Indianapolis | IN | 820,445 | 361.4 | 2,270 | 332,199 | 2.42 | 28.2% | 55.8% |
| San Francisco | CA | 805,235 | 46.9 | 17,169 | 345,811 | 2.26 | 16.0% | 35.8% |
| Austin | TX | 790,390 | 297.9 | 2,653 | 324,892 | 2.37 | 26.0% | 45.1% |
| Columbus | OH | 787,033 | 217.2 | 3,624 | 331,602 | 2.31 | 26.0% | 47.0% |
| Fort Worth | TX | 741,206 | 339.8 | 2,181 | 262,652 | 2.77 | 36.5% | 59.2% |
| Charlotte | NC | 731,424 | 297.7 | 2,457 | 289,860 | 2.48 | 31.1% | 57.4% |
| Detroit | MI | 713,777 | 138.8 | 5,142 | 269,445 | 2.59 | 27.6% | 51.1% |
| El Paso | TX | 649,121 | 255.2 | 2,544 | 216,894 | 2.95 | 37.6% | 60.4% |
| Memphis | TN | 646,889 | 315.1 | 2,053 | 250,344 | 2.52 | 27.8% | 51.9% |
| Baltimore | MD | 620,961 | 80.9 | 7,676 | 249,903 | 2.38 | 22.3% | 47.7% |
| Boston | MA | 617,594 | 48.3 | 12,787 | 252,699 | 2.26 | 20.4% | 33.9% |
| Seattle | WA | 608,660 | 83.9 | 7,255 | 283,510 | 2.06 | 18.1% | 48.1% |
| Washington | DC | 601,723 | 61.0 | 9,864 | 266,707 | 2.11 | 17.2% | 42.0% |
| Nashville | TN | 601,222 | 475.1 | 1,265 | 249,002 | 2.31 | 24.9% | 55.4% |
| Denver | CO | 600,158 | 153.3 | 3,915 | 263,107 | 2.22 | 22.3% | 50.0% |
| Louisville | KY | 597,337 | 325.2 | 1,837 | 246,438 | 2.37 | 27.0% | 61.6% |
| Milwaukee | WI | 594,833 | 96.1 | 6,190 | 230,221 | 2.50 | 29.6% | 43.6% |
| Portland | OR | 583,776 | 134.3 | 4,347 | 248,546 | 2.28 | 22.7% | 53.7% |
| Las Vegas | NV | 583,756 | 135.8 | 4,299 | 211,689 | 2.71 | 31.3% | 56.5% |
| Oklahoma City | OK | 579,999 | 606.4 | 956 | 230,233 | 2.47 | 29.4% | 59.7% |
| Albuquerque | NM | 545,852 | 187.7 | 2,908 | 224,330 | 2.40 | 28.1% | 60.3% |
| Tucson | AZ | 520,116 | 226.7 | 2,294 | 205,390 | 2.43 | 26.6% | 51.9% |
| Fresno | CA | 494,665 | 112.0 | 4,417 | 158,349 | 3.07 | 38.0% | 49.1% |
| Sacramento | CA | 466,488 | 97.9 | 4,765 | 174,624 | 2.62 | 29.0% | 49.4% |
| Long Beach | CA | 462,257 | 50.3 | 9,190 | 163,531 | 2.78 | 31.1% | 41.6% |
| Kansas City | MO | 459,787 | 315.0 | 1,460 | 192,406 | 2.34 | 26.4% | 56.2% |
| Mesa | AZ | 439,041 | 136.5 | 3,216 | 165,374 | 2.63 | 30.2% | 63.2% |
| Virginia Beach | VA | 437,994 | 249.0 | 1,759 | 165,089 | 2.60 | 32.3% | 65.3% |
| Atlanta | GA | 420,003 | 133.2 | 3,153 | 185,142 | 2.11 | 19.2% | 44.9% |
| Colorado Springs | CO | 416,427 | 194.5 | 2,141 | 167,788 | 2.44 | 30.5% | 60.1% |
| Omaha | NE | 408,958 | 127.1 | 3,218 | 162,627 | 2.45 | 28.3% | 58.3% |
| Raleigh | NC | 403,892 | 142.9 | 2,826 | 162,999 | 2.36 | 29.0% | 53.5% |
| Miami | FL | 399,457 | 35.9 | 11,127 | 158,317 | 2.47 | 22.7% | 32.3% |
| Cleveland | OH | 396,815 | 77.7 | 5,107 | 167,490 | 2.29 | 25.2% | 44.1% |
| Tulsa | OK | 391,906 | 196.8 | 1,991 | 163,975 | 2.34 | 27.0% | 53.5% |
| Oakland | CA | 390,724 | 55.8 | 7,002 | 153,791 | 2.49 | 25.1% | 41.1% |
| Minneapolis | MN | 382,578 | 54.0 | 7,085 | 163,540 | 2.23 | 21.4% | 49.2% |
| Wichita | KS | 382,368 | 159.3 | 2,400 | 151,818 | 2.48 | 30.2% | 61.3% |
| Arlington | TX | 365,438 | 95.9 | 3,811 | 133,072 | 2.72 | 35.8% | 57.4% |
| Bakersfield | CA | 347,483 | 142.2 | 2,444 | 111,132 | 3.10 | 41.6% | 59.7% |
| New Orleans | LA | 343,829 | 169.4 | 2,030 | 142,158 | 2.33 | 22.7% | 47.8% |
| Honolulu | HI | 337,256 | 60.5 | 5,574 | 129,408 | 2.51 | 20.4% | 43.8% |
| Anaheim | CA | 336,265 | 49.8 | 6,752 | 98,294 | 3.38 | 38.9% | 48.5% |
| Tampa | FL | 335,709 | 113.4 | 2,960 | 135,955 | 2.38 | 26.2% | 51.7% |
| Aurora | CO | 325,078 | 154.7 | 2,101 | 121,901 | 2.65 | 33.5% | 59.9% |
| Santa Ana | CA | 324,528 | 27.3 | 11,887 | 73,174 | 4.37 | 46.5% | 47.5% |
| Saint Louis | MO | 319,294 | 61.9 | 5,158 | 142,057 | 2.16 | 20.9% | 45.4% |
| Pittsburgh | PA | 305,704 | 55.4 | 5,518 | 136,217 | 2.07 | 17.8% | 47.6% |
| Corpus Christi | TX | 305,215 | 160.6 | 1,900 | 112,795 | 2.66 | 30.5% | 59.3% |
| Riverside | CA | 303,871 | 81.1 | 3,747 | 91,932 | 3.18 | 36.5% | 55.7% |
| Cincinnati | OH | 296,943 | 77.9 | 3,812 | 133,420 | 2.12 | 22.2% | 38.9% |
| Lexington | KY | 295,803 | 283.6 | 1,043 | 123,043 | 2.30 | 25.7% | 55.9% |
| Anchorage | AK | 291,826 | 1,704.7 | 171 | 107,332 | 2.64 | 33.2% | 59.9% |
| Stockton | CA | 291,707 | 61.7 | 4,728 | 90,605 | 3.16 | 39.0% | 51.6% |
| Toledo | OH | 287,208 | 80.7 | 3,559 | 119,730 | 2.33 | 26.6% | 55.5% |
| Saint Paul | MN | 285,068 | 52.0 | 5,482 | 111,001 | 2.47 | 27.7% | 51.3% |
| Newark | NJ | 277,140 | 24.2 | 11,452 | 94,542 | 2.76 | 33.7% | 22.1% |
| Greensboro | NC | 269,666 | 126.5 | 2,132 | 111,731 | 2.31 | 27.2% | 52.5% |
| Buffalo | NY | 261,310 | 40.4 | 6,468 | 112,536 | 2.24 | 24.7% | 40.7% |
| Plano | TX | 259,841 | 71.6 | 3,629 | 99,131 | 2.61 | 35.8% | 63.0% |
| Lincoln | NE | 258,379 | 89.1 | 2,900 | 103,546 | 2.36 | 27.7% | 58.6% |
| Henderson | NV | 257,729 | 107.7 | 2,393 | 101,314 | 2.53 | 28.0% | 65.8% |
| Fort Wayne | IN | 253,691 | 110.6 | 2,294 | 101,585 | 2.44 | 30.1% | 63.3% |
| Jersey City | NJ | 247,597 | 14.8 | 16,730 | 96,859 | 2.53 | 27.3% | 29.5% |
| Saint Petersburg | FL | 244,769 | 61.7 | 3,967 | 108,815 | 2.19 | 21.4% | 60.7% |
| Chula Vista | CA | 243,916 | 49.6 | 4,918 | 75,515 | 3.21 | 42.0% | 58.1% |
| Norfolk | VA | 242,803 | 54.1 | 4,488 | 86,485 | 2.43 | 27.0% | 45.4% |
| Orlando | FL | 238,300 | 102.4 | 2,327 | 102,521 | 2.29 | 25.1% | 39.5% |
| Chandler | AZ | 236,123 | 64.4 | 3,667 | 86,924 | 2.71 | 36.7% | 66.3% |
| Laredo | TX | 236,091 | 88.9 | 2,656 | 63,545 | 3.66 | 48.8% | 63.7% |
| Madison | WI | 233,209 | 76.8 | 3,037 | 102,516 | 2.17 | 20.8% | 49.3% |
| Winston-Salem | NC | 229,617 | 132.4 | 1,734 | 92,337 | 2.38 | 28.5% | 56.3% |
| Lubbock | TX | 229,573 | 122.4 | 1,876 | 88,506 | 2.48 | 27.4% | 54.6% |
| Baton Rouge | LA | 229,493 | 76.9 | 2,984 | 91,474 | 2.40 | 24.1% | 49.3% |
| Durham | NC | 228,330 | 107.4 | 2,126 | 93,441 | 2.34 | 27.5% | 49.8% |
| Garland | TX | 226,876 | 57.1 | 3,973 | 75,696 | 2.99 | 36.9% | 65.2% |
| Glendale | AZ | 226,721 | 60.0 | 3,779 | 79,114 | 2.82 | 34.5% | 58.6% |
| Reno | NV | 225,221 | 103.0 | 2,187 | 90,924 | 2.43 | 27.0% | 48.0% |
| Hialeah | FL | 224,669 | 21.5 | 10,450 | 71,205 | 3.13 | 30.5% | 50.6% |
| Chesapeake | VA | 222,209 | 340.8 | 652 | 79,574 | 2.75 | 35.3% | 73.0% |
| Scottsdale | AZ | 217,385 | 183.9 | 1,182 | 101,273 | 2.14 | 20.1% | 68.1% |
| North Las Vegas | NV | 216,961 | 101.3 | 2,142 | 66,499 | 3.23 | 42.3% | 62.4% |
| Irving | TX | 216,290 | 67.0 | 3,228 | 82,538 | 2.61 | 33.4% | 38.4% |
| Fremont | CA | 214,089 | 77.5 | 2,762 | 71,004 | 2.99 | 40.7% | 62.6% |
| Irvine | CA | 212,375 | 66.1 | 3,213 | 78,978 | 2.61 | 32.4% | 50.2% |
| Birmingham | AL | 212,237 | 146.1 | 1,453 | 89,382 | 2.27 | 21.6% | 49.3% |
| Rochester | NY | 210,565 | 35.8 | 5,882 | 87,027 | 2.30 | 26.3% | 37.7% |
| San Bernardino | CA | 209,924 | 59.2 | 3,546 | 59,283 | 3.42 | 42.1% | 50.3% |
| Spokane | WA | 208,916 | 59.2 | 3,529 | 87,271 | 2.31 | 26.3% | 57.6% |
Note: I am aware that the household size number does not equal the population divided by the number of households. All three of those numbers are exactly what the Census Bureau’s data reported for each city in 2010. I’m not sure why they don’t line up.
