There’s a trend on TikTok where people share what they think are the four major cities in the United States. After scrolling through a bunch of videos, there seems to be a general consensus that New York City and Los Angeles are always included, which is pretty fair. NYC is the heart of the financial world, and LA is the center of the entertainment industry.
Where things get interesting is with the third and fourth spots. That’s where people start naming cities like Miami, DC, Houston, and even New Orleans.
Now, I live in Philly, and I can confidently say that Philly isn’t in the top four, but it’s definitely in the top ten. So, let’s go through the top contenders.
Miami
Miami is a popular choice, and I get it. It’s huge in entertainment, business, and travel. But for me, Miami doesn’t quite make the list. It feels more like a party or spring break destination than a true major city that drives the country forward.
I think the reason people often include Miami (and sometimes Vegas) is because international travelers are more familiar with them. To many people outside the U.S., Miami and Vegas feel like the face of America with the bright lights, beaches, and nightlife. But that doesn’t necessarily make them the most important cities in terms of influence or industry.
Houston
Now, Houston is a serious contender. It’s the energy capital of the U.S., home to many oil and gas giants that literally fuel the country. Unlike Miami or Vegas, Houston serves a very specific and critical purpose. So yes, I’d put Houston in the mix for sure.
Chicago
Chicago is another strong option. It’s got the history, the culture, and it’s the powerhouse of the Midwest. It has a bit of everything such as finance, business, architecture, and great food, but I can’t quite pinpoint one industry that defines it the way NYC or SF are defined by theirs.
That said, I’ve been to Chicago and it’s absolutely stunning. It just misses my top four, but it’s easily in my top five.
San Francisco
Now for my number three pick: San Francisco. I was just there recently, and it’s clear this city leads the world in tech and innovation. Everything from self-driving cars to AI breakthroughs starts there. Just like NYC is the hub of finance, San Francisco is the hub of tech, and honestly, tech runs the world now.
Washington, D.C.
And for my fourth city, which is often underrated, I’m going with Washington, D.C. No doubt about it, DC is the center of politics not just in the U.S., but globally. It’s a unique city that influences everything from energy to finance through policy and governance. If NYC leads finance, SF leads tech, and Houston leads energy, then DC leads policy, and that’s a major reason it belongs in the top four.
So, to wrap it up, my list of the four major U.S. cities looks like this:
New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Each of these cities leads in its own field: finance, entertainment, tech, and politics. And that’s my list!