Jacksonville Tops Miami as Florida’s Most Populous City

Miami may be Florida’s crown jewel for nightlife and beaches, but it’s not the state’s largest city—by a wide margin.

According to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Jacksonville holds the title of Florida’s most populated city with 1,009,833 residents. That’s more than double Miami’s population of 487,014, which comes in at second place.

Despite its smaller population, Miami still overshadows others in cultural and economic influence. However, the data highlights the growth of inland and northern Florida cities like Jacksonville, which continues to expand both in size and business opportunities.

Other Florida cities rounding out the top ten include:

• Tampa: 414,547

• Orlando: 334,854

• St. Petersburg: 267,102

• Port St. Lucie: 258,575

• Hialeah: 235,388

• Cape Coral: 233,025

• Fort Lauderdale: 190,641

Hialeah and Fort Lauderdale—both located in South Florida—also rank in the top ten, underscoring the region’s sustained population density. Meanwhile, Tampa, ranked as the most relaxing city in the U.S., takes third place overall.