State capitals by population
Phoenix is the most populous state capital, with about 1.67 million people in 2025, followed by Austin and Columbus. Montpelier, Vermont, is the smallest, with about 7,800. Only 17 capitals are their state's largest city.
The 50 state capitals by population, July 1, 2025
| Rank | Capital | State | Population | Largest city in the state? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix | Arizona | 1,665,481 | Yes |
| 2 | Austin | Texas | 1,002,632 | No: Houston |
| 3 | Columbus | Ohio | 938,396 | Yes |
| 4 | Indianapolis | Indiana | 901,116 | Yes |
| 5 | Denver | Colorado | 740,613 | Yes |
| 6 | Nashville | Tennessee | 721,074 | Yes |
| 7 | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 719,849 | Yes |
| 8 | Boston | Massachusetts | 672,973 | Yes |
| 9 | Sacramento | California | 536,449 | No: Los Angeles |
| 10 | Atlanta | Georgia | 529,110 | Yes |
| 11 | Raleigh | North Carolina | 506,306 | No: Charlotte |
| 12 | Saint Paul | Minnesota | 306,684 | No: Minneapolis |
| 13 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 301,522 | No: Omaha |
| 14 | Madison | Wisconsin | 286,233 | No: Milwaukee |
| 15 | Boise | Idaho | 238,429 | Yes |
| 16 | Richmond | Virginia | 237,257 | No: Virginia Beach |
| 17 | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | 222,795 | No: New Orleans |
| 18 | Salt Lake City | Utah | 218,428 | Yes |
| 19 | Des Moines | Iowa | 212,086 | Yes |
| 20 | Little Rock | Arkansas | 206,427 | Yes |
| 21 | Tallahassee | Florida | 204,902 | No: Jacksonville |
| 22 | Providence | Rhode Island | 195,310 | Yes |
| 23 | Montgomery | Alabama | 195,300 | No: Huntsville |
| 24 | Salem | Oregon | 181,779 | No: Portland |
| 25 | Columbia | South Carolina | 147,035 | No: Charleston |
| 26 | Jackson | Mississippi | 141,196 | Yes |
| 27 | Topeka | Kansas | 125,795 | No: Wichita |
| 28 | Hartford | Connecticut | 121,981 | No: Bridgeport |
| 29 | Lansing | Michigan | 113,884 | No: Detroit |
| 30 | Springfield | Illinois | 112,989 | No: Chicago |
| 31 | Albany | New York | 101,698 | No: New York |
| 32 | Trenton | New Jersey | 91,506 | No: Newark |
| 33 | Santa Fe | New Mexico | 89,837 | No: Albuquerque |
| 34 | Bismarck | North Dakota | 77,963 | No: Fargo |
| 35 | Cheyenne | Wyoming | 66,507 | Yes |
| 36 | Carson City | Nevada | 58,571 | No: Las Vegas |
| 37 | Olympia | Washington | 56,724 | No: Seattle |
| 38 | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | 50,522 | No: Philadelphia |
| 39 | Charleston | West Virginia | 46,117 | Yes |
| 40 | Concord | New Hampshire | 44,597 | No: Manchester |
| 41 | Jefferson City | Missouri | 42,489 | No: Kansas City |
| 42 | Annapolis | Maryland | 40,634 | No: Baltimore |
| 43 | Dover | Delaware | 40,592 | No: Wilmington |
| 44 | Helena | Montana | 35,138 | No: Billings |
| 45 | Juneau | Alaska | 31,609 | No: Anchorage |
| 46 | Frankfort | Kentucky | 28,657 | No: Louisville |
| 47 | Augusta | Maine | 19,155 | No: Portland |
| 48 | Pierre | South Dakota | 13,848 | No: Sioux Falls |
| 49 | Montpelier | Vermont | 7,823 | No: Burlington |
| — | Honolulu | Hawaii | Not available | Yes |
City populations, not metropolitan areas. Honolulu has no comparable city figure because Hawaii has no incorporated cities.
Big-city capitals and small-town capitals
Capitals come in every size. Eleven have more than half a million residents, led by Phoenix, Austin, Columbus and Indianapolis, all among the largest cities in the country. At the other end, eleven capitals have fewer than 50,000 people, including Juneau, Frankfort, Helena, Pierre and Montpelier, the smallest at about 7,800.
Why so many capitals are small
In 33 states the capital is not the largest city. Some were chosen for a central location, some as a compromise between rival towns, and some before the state’s biggest cities had grown. Each state’s capital page tells how its capital was chosen and lists the cities that held the title before.
About the numbers
Populations are Census Bureau estimates for July 1, 2025, for the incorporated city itself, not the metropolitan area. Honolulu is a special case: Hawaii has no incorporated cities, and Honolulu is part of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, so it has no comparable city figure and is listed without one.
Questions people ask
- What is the largest state capital?
- Phoenix, Arizona, with about 1.67 million people. Austin, Texas, is second with about 1 million.
- What is the smallest state capital?
- Montpelier, Vermont, with about 7,800 people, followed by Pierre, South Dakota, and Augusta, Maine.
- How many state capitals have more than half a million people?
- Eleven, led by Phoenix, Austin, Columbus, Indianapolis, Denver and Nashville.
Sources
- US Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates; 2010 state area measurements