The density of the population in the U.S., measured as the number of people per square mile, affects the way goods and people are transported. The newly released 2010 Census data show that, on a state by state basis, the District of Columbia has the most dense population, followed by New Jersey and Rhode Island. In the western states, the population is generally less dense, with the exceptions being California, Hawaii, and Washington. Every state except Michigan experienced increased population density from the 2000 Census to the 2010 Census.

U.S. Population Density by State, 2010 (people per square mile)
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Note: Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, was excluded from this analysis.

Supporting Information

U.S. Population, Population Density, and Rank by State, 2010
StatePopulationPopulation Density
(People per Square Mile)
Population Density Rank
District of Columbia601,7239,856.51
New Jersey8,791,8941,195.52
Rhode Island1,052,5671,018.13
Massachusetts6,547,629839.44
Connecticut3,574,097738.15
Maryland5,773,552594.86
Delaware897,934460.87
New York19,378,102411.28
Florida18,801,310350.69
Pennsylvania12,702,379283.910
Ohio11,536,504282.311
California37,253,956239.112
Illinois12,830,632231.113
Hawaii1,360,301211.814
Virginia8,001,024202.615
North Carolina9,535,483196.116
Indiana6,483,802181.017
Michigan9,883,640174.818
Georgia9,687,653168.419
Tennessee6,346,105153.920
South Carolina4,625,364153.921
New Hampshire1,316,470147.022
Kentucky4,339,367109.923
Wisconsin5,686,986105.024
Louisiana4,533,372104.925
Washington6,724,540101.226
Texas25,145,56196.327
Alabama4,779,73694.428
Missouri5,988,92787.129
West Virginia1,852,99477.130
Vermont625,74167.931
Minnesota5,303,92566.632
Mississippi2,967,29763.233
Arizona6,392,01756.334
Arkansas2,915,91856.035
Oklahoma3,751,35154.736
Iowa3,046,35554.537
Colorado5,029,19648.538
Maine1,328,36143.139
Oregon3,831,07439.940
Kansas2,853,11834.941
Utah2,763,88533.642
Nevada2,700,55124.643
Nebraska1,826,34123.844
Idaho1,567,58219.045
New Mexico2,059,17917.046
South Dakota814,18010.747
North Dakota672,5919.748
Montana989,4156.849
Wyoming563,6265.850
Alaska710,2311.251
United States308,745,53887.4 

Note: Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, was excluded from this analysis.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

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