State rankings

Small Towns by State

Illinois has the highest Population < 5k (968), followed by Iowa (856) and Texas (847). Maine has the lowest (3).

Population50 states · 4 metricsUpdated Apr 30, 2024Original page
3 sources
44 of 51 states
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Population < 5k

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 44 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
224
Middle half 127 – 435
Average
317
44 states
Highest
968
Illinois
Lowest
3
Maine

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

50 states · # = rank by Population < 5k
#
1Illinois968103GalenaAlton
2Iowa85643PellaDecorah
3Texas847133Dripping SpringsGruene
4Pennsylvania820126VolantLatrobe
5Missouri80853KimmswickHannibal
6Minnesota70348Grand MaraisPark Rapids
7Ohio67082MarbleheadMarietta
8Kansas56229WamegoLindsborg
9Oklahoma51529Medicine ParkMedicine Park
10Wisconsin45257StockholmFish Creek
11Indiana44141Santa ClausWarsaw
12Arkansas43329JasperEureka Springs
13New York42877Shelter IslandSkaneateles
14North Carolina41051Blowing RockOcracoke Island
15Georgia39545HelenCartersville
16Michigan38062FrankenmuthHoughton
17Alabama35639EufaulaFairhope
18North Dakota3434GarrisonMedora
19Kentucky33937BardstownPaducah
20South Dakota2935CusterYankton
21Louisiana24524St. FrancisvillePonchatoula
22Tennessee24141GatlinburgParis
23South Carolina20623BeaufortNewberry
23West Virginia20613LewisburgThomas
25Colorado19920Crested ButteMancos
26Florida18555DeFuniak SpringsCrystal River
27Virginia16425LexingtonBristol
28Idaho16312KetchumWallace
29Oregon16023Depoe BayJacksonville
30Washington15932Port TownsendLa Conner
30Utah15927Green RiverKanab
32Alaska1388SitkaUnalaska
33New Jersey13278Cape MayLambertville
34Maryland11321St. MichaelsCumberland
35Montana10911WhitefishWhitefish
36Wyoming835BuffaloSheridan
37New Mexico7016TaosTaos
38California5353Los AlamosCarmel
39Delaware465Rehoboth BeachNew Castle
40Arizona3314BisbeeWinslow
41Vermont324ChesterMontpelier
42Connecticut91EssexEssex
43Nevada72Virginia CityCarson City
44Maine39Bar HarborKennebunkport
—Massachusetts——ProvincetownNantucket
—Mississippi——CorinthOxford
—Nebraska——ChadronNebraska City
—Hawaii——HaleiwaHilo
—New Hampshire——HanoverLittleton
—Rhode Island——Little ComptonBristol

What correlates with Population < 5k?

Pearson r against 2,106 other state metrics sharing at least 27 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Population < 5k tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Total TornadoesTornado Alley States
    r = +0.76 · very strong · n = 40
    Plot
  2. # of Active Post OfficesPost Offices by State
    r = +0.74 · very strong · n = 44
    Plot
  3. # of FarmsFarm Count by State
    r = +0.72 · very strong · n = 44
    Plot
  4. Avg Tornadoes per Year 2021-2023States Without Tornadoes
    r = +0.71 · very strong · n = 43
    Plot
  5. # of CountiesStates Without Counties
    r = +0.71 · very strong · n = 42
    Plot
  6. # of CountiesStates with the Most Counties
    r = +0.69 · strong · n = 44
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Population < 5k tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. Birthplace DiversityMost Diverse US StatesA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.62 · strong · n = 44
    Plot
  2. Debt-To-Income Ratio HighDebt by State
    r = −0.61 · strong · n = 44
    Plot
  3. Off Grid Via Kuhl Safety ScoreOff-Grid Living Legal States
    r = −0.60 · strong · n = 44
    Plot
  4. Avg Rent: 4 BdrmsAverage Rent by State
    r = −0.59 · strong · n = 44
    Plot
  5. Emergency Preparedness Rank WalletHubSafest States in the USA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.58 · strong · n = 44
    Plot
  6. Debt-To-Income Ratio LowDebt by State
    r = −0.58 · strong · n = 44
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Population < 5k?
Illinois has the highest Population < 5k, at 968, followed by Iowa (856) and Texas (847).
Which state has the lowest Population < 5k?
Maine has the lowest Population < 5k, at 3.
What is the median Population < 5k across US states?
The median is 224 across the 44 US states with data.
Where does this small towns by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: The best small town in every state - Business Insider; 50 of the Most Charming Small Towns in America - HDTV; City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022 - U.S. Census Bureau.