AkashicCommunities · Population densityThe most densely populated places in AmericamedianD+26.9
The community’s vote, 2008–2024
2008D+31.52012D+30.42016D+34.32020D+35.22024D+27.6
The most densely populated places in America
Of the 100 counties most defined by per sq mi, 12 voted Republican and 88 Democratic in 2024 — a median of D+26.9, and as a group they shifted −5.5 points toward Republicans from 2020 to 2024.
Median 2024 margin
D+26.9
top 100 counties
2024 split
12 R · 88 D
of the top counties
Shift since 2020
−5.5 pts
toward R
Link to the vote
r = +0.49
moderate · D
Median income
$87,264
42% college
Does per sq mi move the vote?
Every U.S. county, plotted by how much of the community lives there against its 2024 presidential margin — the demographic dial on one axis, the political one on the other.
how per sq mi tracks the vote
Across every county, the more per sq mi a county is, the more Democratic it votes — a moderate relationship (r = +0.49).
| Per sq mi range | Counties | Median margin |
|---|---|---|
| 0.9/mi² – 1.5/mi² | 110 | R+65.5 |
| 1.5/mi² – 2.4/mi² | 80 | R+61.5 |
| 2.4/mi² – 3.9/mi² | 113 | R+63.5 |
| 3.9/mi² – 6.3/mi² | 129 | R+57.8 |
| 6.3/mi² – 10/mi² | 157 | R+56.4 |
| 10/mi² – 17/mi² | 214 | R+49.1 |
| 17/mi² – 27/mi² | 338 | R+47.8 |
| 27/mi² – 45/mi² | 422 | R+45.4 |
| 45/mi² – 73/mi² | 427 | R+45.0 |
| 73/mi² – 118/mi² | 355 | R+43.4 |
| 118/mi² – 193/mi² | 228 | R+31.3 |
| 193/mi² – 314/mi² | 158 | R+27.5 |
| 314/mi² – 511/mi² | 139 | R+14.9 |
| 511/mi² – 832/mi² | 91 | R+5.3 |
| 832/mi² – 1,355/mi² | 65 | D+7.0 |
| 1,355/mi² – 2,208/mi² | 117 | D+25.4 |
Where per sq mi concentrates
Every county shaded by per sq mi — deep where the community clusters, pale at the other end.
0.9/mi²Per sq mi2,208/mi²+
The leaderboard
Ranked most to least by per sq mi. Filter by region or state, switch the column lens, cap the list, and sort on any figure.
Region
State
Columns
Top
| # | 2008–24 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York County, NY | 71,783/mi² | D D+64.2 | −10.3 | 654,372 | |
| 2 | Kings County, NY | 37,919/mi² | D D+43.3 | −11.5 | 847,934 | |
| 3 | Bronx County, NY | 33,289/mi² | D D+45.1 | −22.5 | 362,890 | |
| 4 | Queens County, NY | 21,371/mi² | D D+24.2 | −21.0 | 712,191 | |
| 5 | San Francisco County, CA | 17,778/mi² | D D+64.8 | −7.7 | 402,964 | |
| 6 | Hudson County, NJ | 15,548/mi² | D D+28.1 | −18.5 | 231,181 | |
| 7 | Suffolk County, MA | 13,467/mi² | D D+52.1 | −10.8 | 299,193 | |
| 8 | Philadelphia County, PA | 11,763/mi² | D D+58.8 | −4.7 | 721,441 | |
| 9 | District of Columbia, DC | 11,150/mi² | D D+83.8 | −2.9 | 325,869 | |
| 10 | Alexandria city, VA | 10,535/mi² | D D+57.1 | −5.5 | 80,904 | |
| 11 | Arlington County, VA | 9,087/mi² | D D+58.1 | −5.5 | 129,561 | |
| 12 | Richmond County, NY | 8,608/mi² | R R+29.5 | −14.5 | 199,620 | |
| 13 | Falls Church city, VA | 7,355/mi² | D D+61.6 | −2.6 | 9,062 | |
| 14 | Baltimore city, MD | 7,086/mi² | D D+72.4 | −4.2 | 230,754 | |
| 15 | Essex County, NJ | 6,844/mi² | D D+44.9 | −10.8 | 313,283 | |
| 16 | Union County, NJ | 5,635/mi² | D D+24.2 | −11.6 | 240,632 | |
| 17 | Manassas Park city, VA | 5,599/mi² | D D+19.9 | −13.2 | 5,997 | |
| 18 | Cook County, IL | 5,484/mi² | D D+41.6 | −8.7 | 2,079,239 | |
| 19 | Nassau County, NY | 4,884/mi² | R R+4.2 | −13.7 | 712,299 | |
| 20 | Denver County, CO | 4,695/mi² | D D+56.1 | −5.3 | 363,519 | |
| 21 | St. Louis city, MO | 4,676/mi² | D D+64.6 | −1.3 | 116,271 | |
| 22 | Charlottesville city, VA | 4,455/mi² | D D+68.3 | −4.4 | 23,434 | |
| 23 | Manassas city, VA | 4,385/mi² | D D+14.8 | −9.4 | 16,100 | |
| 24 | Norfolk city, VA | 4,383/mi² | D D+41.3 | −4.3 | 86,009 | |
| 25 | Bergen County, NJ | 4,134/mi² | D D+3.4 | −13.1 | 459,077 | |
| 26 | Fairfax city, VA | 4,036/mi² | D D+33.1 | −5.2 | 13,567 | |
| 27 | Orange County, CA | 3,993/mi² | D D+2.7 | −6.4 | 1,390,965 | |
| 28 | Milwaukee County, WI | 3,836/mi² | D D+38.4 | −1.4 | 464,107 | |
| 29 | Richmond city, VA | 3,829/mi² | D D+65.9 | −2.1 | 108,731 | |
| 30 | Ramsey County, MN | 3,565/mi² | D D+43.1 | −2.2 | 278,020 | |
| 31 | Pinellas County, FL | 3,519/mi² | R R+5.2 | −5.4 | 517,074 | |
| 32 | Delaware County, PA | 3,151/mi² | D D+23.7 | −3.1 | 328,172 | |
| 33 | Winchester city, VA | 3,034/mi² | D D+9.7 | −1.8 | 11,894 | |
| 34 | Lexington city, VA | 3,010/mi² | D D+26.4 | −5.6 | 2,895 | |
| 35 | Dallas County, TX | 3,002/mi² | D D+22.2 | −9.4 | 849,872 | |
| 36 | Harrisonburg city, VA | 2,971/mi² | D D+25.2 | −6.5 | 17,332 | |
| 37 | Fairfax County, VA | 2,936/mi² | D D+34.7 | −7.2 | 589,427 | |
| 38 | Portsmouth city, VA | 2,919/mi² | D D+38.5 | −2.3 | 41,353 | |
| 39 | Wayne County, MI | 2,897/mi² | D D+29.0 | −9.2 | 856,690 | |
| 40 | DeKalb County, GA | 2,859/mi² | D D+64.8 | −2.6 | 366,008 | |
| 41 | DuPage County, IL | 2,837/mi² | D D+13.1 | −4.8 | 456,882 | |
| 42 | Harris County, TX | 2,834/mi² | D D+5.5 | −7.7 | 1,557,484 | |
| 43 | Middlesex County, NJ | 2,817/mi² | D D+8.0 | −14.2 | 365,187 | |
| 44 | Passaic County, NJ | 2,800/mi² | R R+2.9 | −19.6 | 202,767 | |
| 45 | Fredericksburg city, VA | 2,750/mi² | D D+31.5 | −3.3 | 13,578 | |
| 46 | Cuyahoga County, OH | 2,725/mi² | D D+31.4 | −2.7 | 576,520 | |
| 47 | Hampton city, VA | 2,671/mi² | D D+39.8 | −2.4 | 62,823 | |
| 48 | Newport News city, VA | 2,670/mi² | D D+28.7 | −4.2 | 75,909 | |
| 49 | Tarrant County, TX | 2,504/mi² | R R+5.1 | −5.3 | 823,312 | |
| 50 | Franklin County, OH | 2,504/mi² | D D+28.4 | −3.0 | 598,225 | |
| 51 | Marion County, IN | 2,464/mi² | D D+27.6 | −1.5 | 352,540 | |
| 52 | Colonial Heights city, VA | 2,447/mi² | R R+32.4 | +0.8 | 8,964 | |
| 53 | Los Angeles County, CA | 2,416/mi² | D D+32.9 | −11.0 | 3,728,427 | |
| 54 | Camden County, NJ | 2,381/mi² | D D+27.4 | −6.3 | 246,954 | |
| 55 | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT | 2,348/mi² | D D+19.6 | −7.5 | 153,964 | |
| 56 | Westchester County, NY | 2,321/mi² | D D+26.1 | −10.1 | 457,838 | |
| 57 | Roanoke city, VA | 2,314/mi² | D D+23.5 | −2.3 | 42,314 | |
| 58 | Broomfield County, CO | 2,312/mi² | D D+28.5 | +1.1 | 46,848 | |
| 59 | Hennepin County, MN | 2,292/mi² | D D+42.4 | −0.8 | 720,166 | |
| 60 | Cobb County, GA | 2,282/mi² | D D+14.9 | +0.6 | 401,369 | |
| 61 | Gwinnett County, GA | 2,273/mi² | D D+16.5 | −1.7 | 420,681 | |
| 62 | Alameda County, CA | 2,237/mi² | D D+53.6 | −8.6 | 669,800 | |
| 63 | Hopewell city, VA | 2,208/mi² | D D+13.7 | −0.9 | 9,026 | |
| 64 | Mecklenburg County, NC | 2,205/mi² | D D+32.7 | −2.4 | 577,527 | |
| 65 | Orleans Parish, LA | 2,194/mi² | D D+67.0 | −1.1 | 159,130 | |
| 66 | Montgomery County, MD | 2,162/mi² | D D+52.8 | −6.9 | 519,221 | |
| 67 | Clayton County, GA | 2,110/mi² | D D+69.2 | −1.7 | 111,729 | |
| 68 | Bristol County, RI | 2,095/mi² | D D+26.4 | −2.9 | 28,117 | |
| 69 | Jefferson County, KY | 2,056/mi² | D D+16.5 | −3.6 | 354,094 | |
| 70 | Hamilton County, OH | 2,049/mi² | D D+14.9 | −1.0 | 410,085 | |
| 71 | Fulton County, GA | 2,044/mi² | D D+44.9 | −1.6 | 535,238 | |
| 72 | Middlesex County, MA | 2,003/mi² | D D+39.2 | −5.7 | 814,832 | |
| 73 | Prince George's County, MD | 1,989/mi² | D D+74.8 | −5.8 | 404,009 | |
| 74 | Rockland County, NY | 1,968/mi² | R R+11.8 | −13.5 | 150,072 | |
| 75 | St. Louis County, MO | 1,960/mi² | D D+23.4 | −0.6 | 502,738 | |
| 76 | Virginia Beach city, VA | 1,865/mi² | D D+2.6 | −2.8 | 228,771 | |
| 77 | Multnomah County, OR | 1,860/mi² | D D+61.6 | +0.3 | 414,250 | |
| 78 | Norfolk County, MA | 1,843/mi² | D D+28.5 | −7.5 | 386,447 | |
| 79 | Macomb County, MI | 1,835/mi² | R R+13.7 | −5.6 | 509,152 | |
| 80 | Douglas County, NE | 1,809/mi² | D D+10.1 | −1.2 | 275,145 | |
| 81 | Montgomery County, PA | 1,797/mi² | D D+22.8 | −3.5 | 520,906 | |
| 82 | Williamsburg city, VA | 1,775/mi² | D D+44.3 | +3.2 | 7,894 | |
| 83 | Salem city, VA | 1,767/mi² | R R+19.2 | +0.3 | 13,207 | |
| 84 | Radford city, VA | 1,724/mi² | D D+0.5 | −8.5 | 6,583 | |
| 85 | Mercer County, NJ | 1,719/mi² | D D+33.9 | −6.5 | 163,270 | |
| 86 | Allegheny County, PA | 1,696/mi² | D D+20.3 | −0.1 | 720,504 | |
| 87 | Suffolk County, NY | 1,680/mi² | R R+9.9 | −9.9 | 762,849 | |
| 88 | Bexar County, TX | 1,667/mi² | D D+9.7 | −8.4 | 758,323 | |
| 89 | Honolulu County, HI | 1,666/mi² | D D+21.7 | −5.2 | 340,921 | |
| 90 | San Mateo County, CA | 1,655/mi² | D D+50.3 | −7.4 | 330,510 | |
| 91 | Sacramento County, CA | 1,651/mi² | D D+19.7 | −5.5 | 656,626 | |
| 92 | Essex County, MA | 1,651/mi² | D D+20.2 | −8.6 | 401,851 | |
| 93 | Broward County, FL | 1,644/mi² | D D+17.0 | −12.8 | 874,539 | |
| 94 | Orange County, FL | 1,630/mi² | D D+13.6 | −9.5 | 607,199 | |
| 95 | Lynchburg city, VA | 1,626/mi² | R R+7.9 | −10.5 | 37,023 | |
| 96 | Contra Costa County, CA | 1,625/mi² | D D+37.9 | −7.4 | 528,904 | |
| 97 | Providence County, RI | 1,624/mi² | D D+14.4 | −8.5 | 269,989 | |
| 98 | Lake County, IL | 1,610/mi² | D D+20.7 | −3.3 | 310,913 | |
| 99 | Salt Lake County, UT | 1,589/mi² | D D+10.2 | −0.7 | 509,637 | |
| 100 | Seminole County, FL | 1,556/mi² | R R+3.6 | −6.3 | 253,727 |
Source. Demographics — U.S. Census American Community Survey 2024 5-year (ancestry B04006, language C16001, income B19013/B19001, education S1501, poverty S1701); adherence — 2020 U.S. Religion Census (ASARB); density — Census TIGER land area · counties and cities ≥ 5,000 population, ranked by per sq mi; the medians are taken across the 100 top counties; the correlation is over all 3,143 eligible counties. Presidential results are two-party margins (MIT Election Lab); city results are precinct-derived for 2008–2024. A place can be demographically homogeneous and politically split — which is exactly what these tables are built to show. Real returns — nothing estimated.