Mapped: The Largest 15 U.S. Cities by GDP

Mapped: The Largest 15 U.S. Cities by GDP

The United States has the largest GDP in the world in nominal terms, and urban areas are a major contributor to the country’s economic might. In fact, metropolitan areas account for roughly 90% of U.S. economic output.

In this visual we’ve ranked the economic output of the top 15 U.S. cities from New York City to Minneapolis, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data covers 2021, which is the most recent release from BEA.

It’s important to note that the data considers entire surrounding metropolitan areas, so as an example, New York City includes neighboring population centers such as Newark, NJ, as well as Jersey City⁠—reaching a GDP of nearly $2 trillion.

Measuring a city’s economy at the metro level can provide a more accurate representation of its economic activity. This is because the metropolitan areas include not only the central city but also the surrounding suburban and rural areas that are economically connected to it.

America’s Economic Hubs

There are some obvious winners when it comes to the largest U.S. cities by GDP, including NYC, Los Angeles, Dallas, and San Francisco.

In the table below, we’ve listed each of the 384 metropolitan areas out of the dataset all the way down to last place, Sebring-Avon Park, Florida, alongside respective ranks and GDP:

Rank	City	GDP (in thousands)
#1	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$1,992,779,274
#2	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$1,124,682,354
#3	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$764,583,227
#4	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	$668,677,573
#5	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$607,628,505
#6	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$598,333,263
#7	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$537,066,232
#8	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$531,671,846
#9	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$479,966,484
#10	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$477,580,629
#11	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	$473,823,474
#12	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	$417,147,866
#13	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$410,418,579
#14	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$316,090,586
#15	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$296,969,112
#16	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$283,660,258
#17	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$267,973,544
#18	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	$253,399,051
#19	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$222,967,241
#20	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$213,183,465
#21	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$207,866,150
#22	Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	$193,773,558
#23	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$190,708,533
#24	St. Louis, MO-IL	$187,569,544
#25	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$186,570,323
#26	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$171,737,526
#27	Pittsburgh, PA	$168,021,049
#28	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$167,279,974
#29	Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$163,031,737
#30	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	$162,062,985
#31	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$160,542,566
#32	Columbus, OH	$154,509,800
#33	Kansas City, MO-KS	$154,328,892
#34	Cleveland-Elyria, OH	$147,637,827
#35	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$144,384,474
#36	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	$136,198,676
#37	Salt Lake City, UT	$118,494,536
#38	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$111,479,649
#39	Raleigh-Cary, NC	$108,288,115
#40	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	$107,067,798
#41	Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT	$106,507,622
#42	Jacksonville, FL	$101,367,263
#43	Richmond, VA	$99,388,754
#44	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	$98,751,750
#45	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$96,913,356
#46	Oklahoma City, OK	$86,662,243
#47	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$86,493,147
#48	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$82,866,115
#49	New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$81,829,573
#50	Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$76,991,435
#51	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$73,995,509
#52	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	$73,876,512
#53	Birmingham-Hoover, AL	$70,874,148
#54	Rochester, NY	$69,341,714
#55	Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI	$68,401,313
#56	Urban Honolulu, HI	$67,383,319
#57	Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$61,171,285
#58	Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$60,814,699
#59	Tulsa, OK	$60,392,165
#60	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$58,332,732
#61	New Haven-Milford, CT	$57,541,201
#62	Madison, WI	$56,636,713
#63	Baton Rouge, LA	$56,199,218
#64	Worcester, MA-CT	$54,941,620
#65	Knoxville, TN	$52,343,257
#66	Greenville-Anderson, SC	$52,328,843
#67	Bakersfield, CA	$52,239,044
#68	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$50,960,155
#69	Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$50,704,392
#70	Tucson, AZ	$50,231,611
#71	Fresno, CA	$49,987,063
#72	Dayton-Kettering, OH	$49,548,210
#73	Albuquerque, NM	$49,480,431
#74	Columbia, SC	$48,214,448
#75	Syracuse, NY	$46,414,861
#76	Greensboro-High Point, NC	$45,574,221
#77	North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	$44,746,013
#78	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$43,867,213
#79	Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$43,633,044
#80	Boise City, ID	$43,601,402
#81	Colorado Springs, CO	$43,522,096
#82	Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$42,669,983
#83	Midland, TX	$42,035,915
#84	Akron, OH	$41,058,875
#85	Wichita, KS	$40,586,374
#86	Toledo, OH	$40,546,884
#87	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$39,813,620
#88	Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY	$39,375,465
#89	Portland-South Portland, ME	$39,089,209
#90	Winston-Salem, NC	$38,504,784
#91	El Paso, TX	$37,507,586
#92	Springfield, MA	$37,189,530
#93	Provo-Orem, UT	$36,866,060
#94	Stockton, CA	$36,790,065
#95	Reno, NV	$35,471,910
#96	Ogden-Clearfield, UT	$35,071,325
#97	Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$34,450,601
#98	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$34,425,793
#99	Huntsville, AL	$34,086,472
#100	Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$33,306,884
#101	Boulder, CO	$33,182,418
#102	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$33,144,404
#103	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$33,102,945
#104	Vallejo, CA	$33,100,194
#105	Lancaster, PA	$33,048,548
#106	Lexington-Fayette, KY	$32,851,535
#107	Manchester-Nashua, NH	$32,729,580
#108	Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$32,178,609
#109	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$31,718,339
#110	Jackson, MS	$30,785,111
#111	Salinas, CA	$30,712,263
#112	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$30,589,541
#113	Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$30,040,721
#114	Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$29,363,629
#115	Ann Arbor, MI	$28,604,834
#116	Anchorage, AK	$28,210,676
#117	Modesto, CA	$26,519,792
#118	Sioux Falls, SD	$26,063,548
#119	Savannah, GA	$25,681,434
#120	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$25,516,019
#121	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$25,508,724
#122	Salisbury, MD-DE	$25,194,103
#123	Fort Wayne, IN	$25,156,180
#124	Corpus Christi, TX	$24,937,471
#125	Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$24,603,801
#126	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$24,407,762
#127	Fort Collins, CO	$24,381,467
#128	Asheville, NC	$24,350,043
#129	Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	$24,309,017
#130	Fayetteville, NC	$24,254,218
#131	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	$24,153,731
#132	Naples-Marco Island, FL	$24,020,049
#133	Springfield, MO	$23,930,761
#134	Mobile, AL	$23,876,616
#135	Peoria, IL	$23,599,643
#136	York-Hanover, PA	$23,406,852
#137	Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA	$23,284,271
#138	Lafayette, LA	$22,650,406
#139	Lincoln, NE	$22,492,557
#140	Greeley, CO	$22,082,249
#141	Reading, PA	$22,055,785
#142	Green Bay, WI	$21,991,068
#143	Killeen-Temple, TX	$21,967,641
#144	Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC	$21,787,862
#145	Salem, OR	$21,487,178
#146	Evansville, IN-KY	$21,248,968
#147	Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$21,177,139
#148	Port St. Lucie, FL	$20,762,211
#149	Norwich-New London, CT	$20,743,047
#150	Visalia, CA	$20,580,771
#151	Montgomery, AL	$20,250,047
#152	Canton-Massillon, OH	$20,167,014
#153	Tallahassee, FL	$20,148,962
#154	Cedar Rapids, IA	$19,793,178
#155	San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$19,639,637
#156	Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$19,271,838
#157	Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	$18,899,397
#158	Eugene-Springfield, OR	$18,848,436
#159	Gainesville, FL	$18,353,884
#160	Roanoke, VA	$18,297,657
#161	Wilmington, NC	$18,203,444
#162	Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$18,076,112
#163	Spartanburg, SC	$17,914,096
#164	Kennewick-Richland, WA	$17,836,850
#165	Fargo, ND-MN	$17,706,417
#166	Flint, MI	$17,234,628
#167	Longview, TX	$17,134,932
#168	South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$17,031,977
#169	Rockford, IL	$17,005,386
#170	Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$16,787,117
#171	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$16,470,842
#172	Columbus, GA-AL	$16,456,091
#173	Lubbock, TX	$16,402,001
#174	Amarillo, TX	$16,313,319
#175	Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$16,245,024
#176	Appleton, WI	$16,202,188
#177	Bellingham, WA	$16,036,428
#178	Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	$15,946,455
#179	Duluth, MN-WI	$15,905,385
#180	College Station-Bryan, TX	$15,896,707
#181	Lake Charles, LA	$15,791,901
#182	Charlottesville, VA	$15,762,678
#183	Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$15,669,774
#184	Rochester, MN	$15,644,852
#185	Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$15,313,041
#186	Barnstable Town, MA	$15,150,695
#187	Bloomington, IL	$15,140,725
#188	Waco, TX	$15,125,143
#189	Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$15,104,427
#190	Utica-Rome, NY	$14,678,570
#191	Clarksville, TN-KY	$14,546,292
#192	Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$14,373,182
#193	Laredo, TX	$13,581,543
#194	Gainesville, GA	$13,561,088
#195	Charleston, WV	$13,553,478
#196	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	$13,225,538
#197	Champaign-Urbana, IL	$13,219,093
#198	Topeka, KS	$13,204,822
#199	Springfield, IL	$13,019,072
#200	Tyler, TX	$13,002,122
#201	Tuscaloosa, AL	$12,913,789
#202	Ocala, FL	$12,907,979
#203	Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	$12,755,632
#204	Bend, OR	$12,618,710
#205	Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	$12,537,390
#206	Erie, PA	$12,509,399
#207	Napa, CA	$12,387,136
#208	Binghamton, NY	$12,314,327
#209	St. Cloud, MN	$12,202,920
#210	Columbia, MO	$12,077,178
#211	Iowa City, IA	$11,989,228
#212	Yakima, WA	$11,864,827
#213	Macon-Bibb County, GA	$11,818,017
#214	Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$11,586,606
#215	Billings, MT	$11,570,641
#216	Athens-Clarke County, GA	$11,562,554
#217	Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC	$11,497,194
#218	Lynchburg, VA	$11,430,306
#219	Odessa, TX	$11,399,343
#220	Wausau-Weston, WI	$11,250,695
#221	Wheeling, WV-OH	$11,239,365
#222	Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$11,197,979
#223	Florence, SC	$11,018,873
#224	Medford, OR	$10,949,122
#225	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$10,920,156
#226	Greenville, NC	$10,841,765
#227	Merced, CA	$10,465,518
#228	Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI	$10,356,019
#229	Eau Claire, WI	$10,308,773
#230	Panama City, FL	$10,269,545
#231	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$10,111,866
#232	Chico, CA	$10,006,052
#233	Dover, DE	$9,984,324
#234	Idaho Falls, ID	$9,915,330
#235	El Centro, CA	$9,912,905
#236	Jacksonville, NC	$9,900,984
#237	Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	$9,891,548
#238	Jackson, TN	$9,779,929
#239	State College, PA	$9,750,456
#240	Harrisonburg, VA	$9,499,442
#241	Redding, CA	$9,419,468
#242	Saginaw, MI	$9,363,549
#243	Houma-Thibodaux, LA	$9,350,744
#244	La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	$9,294,924
#245	Johnson City, TN	$9,219,695
#246	Racine, WI	$9,100,374
#247	Warner Robins, GA	$8,993,124
#248	Yuma, AZ	$8,977,170
#249	Lima, OH	$8,962,374
#250	Jefferson City, MO	$8,956,976
#251	Abilene, TX	$8,848,793
#252	Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	$8,796,885
#253	Monroe, LA	$8,699,152
#254	Kingston, NY	$8,622,165
#255	Morgantown, WV	$8,597,534
#256	California-Lexington Park, MD	$8,554,244
#257	Janesville-Beloit, WI	$8,530,214
#258	Terre Haute, IN	$8,502,107
#259	East Stroudsburg, PA	$8,493,417
#260	Niles, MI	$8,455,695
#261	Flagstaff, AZ	$8,444,850
#262	Winchester, VA-WV	$8,419,006
#263	Bowling Green, KY	$8,368,247
#264	Las Cruces, NM	$8,339,710
#265	St. George, UT	$8,338,042
#266	Joplin, MO	$8,319,062
#267	San Angelo, TX	$8,284,455
#268	Bloomington, IN	$8,272,024
#269	Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA	$8,271,597
#270	Bismarck, ND	$8,243,740
#271	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$8,112,478
#272	Yuba City, CA	$8,104,050
#273	Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL	$8,063,835
#274	Dalton, GA	$7,950,074
#275	Decatur, IL	$7,856,804
#276	Dubuque, IA	$7,840,579
#277	Manhattan, KS	$7,818,079
#278	Bangor, ME	$7,813,558
#279	Rocky Mount, NC	$7,799,020
#280	Sheboygan, WI	$7,747,640
#281	Pittsfield, MA	$7,682,977
#282	Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$7,659,302
#283	Jackson, MI	$7,651,976
#284	Santa Fe, NM	$7,636,186
#285	Dothan, AL	$7,636,116
#286	Ames, IA	$7,583,257
#287	Rapid City, SD	$7,565,027
#288	Battle Creek, MI	$7,528,043
#289	Glens Falls, NY	$7,446,782
#290	Grand Junction, CO	$7,444,077
#291	Burlington, NC	$7,440,110
#292	Pueblo, CO	$7,436,671
#293	Logan, UT-ID	$7,425,275
#294	Wenatchee, WA	$7,403,597
#295	Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ	$7,376,321
#296	Auburn-Opelika, AL	$7,335,523
#297	Decatur, AL	$7,282,688
#298	Kankakee, IL	$7,282,382
#299	Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$7,258,824
#300	Columbus, IN	$7,205,692
#301	Hattiesburg, MS	$7,181,156
#302	Wichita Falls, TX	$7,096,972
#303	Ithaca, NY	$7,044,555
#304	Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	$7,037,905
#305	Alexandria, LA	$7,037,021
#306	Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	$6,972,539
#307	Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH	$6,966,489
#308	Lebanon, PA	$6,911,784
#309	Punta Gorda, FL	$6,911,071
#310	Madera, CA	$6,907,890
#311	Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA	$6,846,649
#312	Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY	$6,819,777
#313	Muskegon, MI	$6,795,782
#314	Missoula, MT	$6,780,085
#315	Altoona, PA	$6,736,868
#316	Monroe, MI	$6,716,820
#317	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$6,700,369
#318	Cheyenne, WY	$6,608,922
#319	Williamsport, PA	$6,562,069
#320	Valdosta, GA	$6,529,753
#321	Jonesboro, AR	$6,494,679
#322	Fairbanks, AK	$6,477,984
#323	Albany, GA	$6,462,473
#324	New Bern, NC	$6,436,366
#325	Owensboro, KY	$6,434,476
#326	Ocean City, NJ	$6,279,126
#327	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$6,226,443
#328	Morristown, TN	$6,218,224
#329	Carbondale-Marion, IL	$6,206,570
#330	Mankato, MN	$6,157,026
#331	Texarkana, TX-AR	$6,086,205
#332	Longview, WA	$6,047,768
#333	Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	$5,989,958
#334	Casper, WY	$5,887,565
#335	Twin Falls, ID	$5,878,885
#336	Staunton, VA	$5,865,980
#337	Sherman-Denison, TX	$5,852,474
#338	Midland, MI	$5,836,461
#339	Fond du Lac, WI	$5,817,790
#340	Goldsboro, NC	$5,761,092
#341	Farmington, NM	$5,698,394
#342	Lawton, OK	$5,636,670
#343	Lewiston-Auburn, ME	$5,614,156
#344	Albany-Lebanon, OR	$5,608,491
#345	Lawrence, KS	$5,586,561
#346	Sumter, SC	$5,539,578
#347	The Villages, FL	$5,507,387
#348	Cleveland, TN	$5,423,969
#349	Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	$5,399,087
#350	Mansfield, OH	$5,251,489
#351	Homosassa Springs, FL	$5,247,686
#352	Corvallis, OR	$5,242,566
#353	Johnstown, PA	$5,197,201
#354	Springfield, OH	$5,162,330
#355	Brunswick, GA	$5,136,201
#356	Anniston-Oxford, AL	$5,108,424
#357	Victoria, TX	$5,082,222
#358	Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA	$4,916,778
#359	Hammond, LA	$4,897,538
#360	Grand Island, NE	$4,871,762
#361	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$4,838,122
#362	Beckley, WV	$4,563,061
#363	Rome, GA	$4,539,453
#364	Michigan City-La Porte, IN	$4,521,182
#365	Kokomo, IN	$4,488,369
#366	Muncie, IN	$4,486,204
#367	Hinesville, GA	$4,427,847
#368	Gettysburg, PA	$4,310,644
#369	Elmira, NY	$4,230,830
#370	Carson City, NV	$4,225,603
#371	Bay City, MI	$4,158,772
#372	Great Falls, MT	$4,150,622
#373	Cumberland, MD-WV	$4,025,355
#374	Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	$4,000,337
#375	Pine Bluff, AR	$3,996,508
#376	Hot Springs, AR	$3,907,112
#377	Pocatello, ID	$3,732,010
#378	Grants Pass, OR	$3,666,285
#379	Danville, IL	$3,645,245
#380	Walla Walla, WA	$3,642,288
#381	Lewiston, ID-WA	$3,274,461
#382	Gadsden, AL	$3,175,372
#383	Enid, OK	$2,926,730
#384	Sebring-Avon Park, FL	$2,894,022
	All U.S. Metro Areas	$20,943,239,585

As the graphic above makes obvious, NYC’s GDP towers over the rest. The Big Apple is the nerve center for a number of high-impact industries, including finance and media.

Moving down the ranking, LA has a $1.1 trillion economy, followed by Chicago, with a GDP of just over $760 billion.

The Fastest Growing Cities

Although many of the top ranking cities are not surprising, there are a number of up-and-coming cities in the list. A report from the Kenan Institute, at the University of North Carolina’s Business School, reveals the fastest growing cities in the U.S. in terms of GDP growth year-over-year. Here’s a look at the top 10:

Rank	City	State	GDP Growth (2022)
#1	San Francisco/Bay Area	California	4.8%
#2	Austin	Texas	4.3%
#3	Seattle	Washington	3.5%
#4	Raleigh/Durham	North Carolina	3.4%
#5	Dallas	Texas	3.1%
#6	Denver	Colorado	3.0%
#7	Salt Lake City	Utah	2.8%
#8	Charlotte	North Carolina	2.5%
#9	New Orleans	Louisiana	2.4%
#10	Orlando	Florida	2.4%

San Francisco, Seattle, and Dallas appear on both the overall GDP size and growth lists. Dallas’ economy is driven in large part by a growing healthcare industry. The city also continues to attract talent being home to large companies AT&T, CBRE Group, and Texas Instruments.

North Carolina is home to two of the fastest growing metropolitan areas, Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte. These cities may be ones to watch as they are becoming hubs of tech, research, and manufacturing. In fact, North Carolina was recently ranked as the most attractive U.S. state to do business in and both cities are among the fastest growing in terms of population.

The economic center of gravity within the U.S. could be shifting away from the traditional centers of power towards booming cities in the South and West of the United States. The Kenan Institute found that the recovery of hospitality and leisure sectors has helped destinations in these regions like New Orleans and Orlando. Additionally, the shift towards high-tech industry jobs, remote work, and cheaper housing have made these cities very attractive.

Of course, the sunny climate in these cities is an attractive selling point as well.