U.S. Census data shows that Philadelphia is still the sixth largest city in the United States with 1.55 million residents, despite losing more than 16,000 residents between 2022 and 2023.

However, population growth in San Antonio could change that someday, writes Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza for WHYY.

Philly’s population is smaller than Phoenix, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. However, it has more residents than Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and San Jose. 

San Antionio, which currently ranks seventh on the list, added 21,970 people between 2022 and 2023.

However, Philadelphia packs more people into its city limits, spanning roughly 135 square miles. San Antonio, on the other hand, is sprawled across 500 square miles. 

About 39 percent of the nation’s population lives in cities with 50,000 residents or more.

Historically, cities have drawn new residents from younger generations each year. However, it remains to be seen if Generation Z will migrate into cities the way the millennial generation has.

Another unknown is the long-term effects of remote and hybrid work.

Read more about Philadelphia’s falling population and status among the most populous U.S. cities in WHYY.

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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in May 2024.