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Urbanicity research · vertical theory

Central Business Districts & the Vertical Push

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Definition & Theory Cities Skyscrapers Transport Method & Sources

Cities — the vertical stock

Top 100 cities by raw skyscraper count, with Dr. Frestes’s focus set of five (Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, Austin, Houston) pinned at the top for direct comparison. Click any column header to sort. Pinned rows are marked with a star.

★ Focus set: Chicago · Los Angeles · Nashville · Austin · Houston

Focus set

City State Skyscrapers ≥10 stories ≥500 ft Tallest (ft) 1st sky (yr) Vert. density CBD sq·mi Avg FAR Max FAR Pop. Metro pop. GDP $B Finance % Tech % Govt % Transit Walk Med. HH inc
Chicago IL 126 1,180 126 1,451 1885 9.78 4.9 8.50 16.00 2,700,000 9,460,000 709.2 20.3 12.8 13.2 72.4 77.2 72,208
Houston TX 88 469 38 1,002 1927 0.73 3.1 5.50 15.00 2,350,000 7,120,000 512.5 11.2 10.5 11.5 36.8 47.5 62,408
Los Angeles CA 37 518 32 1,100 1928 1.11 4.2 6.00 13.00 3,800,000 12,870,000 1,049.7 12.4 13.5 12.8 54.2 69.8 77,692
Austin TX 35 105 8 683 1975 0.39 2.0 5.00 10.00 964,254 2,350,000 193.5 9.5 27.5 23.5 15.4 42.0 108,542
Nashville TN 24 400 6 617 1957 0.05 2.1 4.50 10.00 710,982 2,010,000 153.2 9.7 11.7 19.7 11.7 30.0 76,546

Top 100 by skyscraper count

Research focus · currently a research focus — data is being frequently updated.
# City State Skyscrapers ≥10 stories ≥500 ft Tallest (ft) 1st sky (yr) Vert. density CBD sq·mi Avg FAR Max FAR Pop. GDP $B Finance % Tech %
1 Hong Kong 550 3,941 315 1,588 1973 0.85 3.4 10.50 15.00 7,500,700 373.0 — —
2 Shenzhen 370 1,500 130 1,969 1996 2,500.00 12.4 10.50 15.00 17,560,000 422.0 — —
3 New York NY 315 1,370 290 1,776 1890 3.00 7.8 12.00 18.00 8,335,897 1,830.4 27.5 15.3
4 Dubai 250 900 130 2,717 1979 150.00 4.3 15.00 20.00 3,600,000 110.0 — —
5 Shanghai 200 1,500 124 2,073 1985 15,000.00 15.0 10.00 15.00 24,870,000 553.0 — —
6 Tokyo 190 2,460 63 2,080 1958 0.85 23.0 10.50 15.00 13,960,000 1,920.0 — —
7 Chicago IL 126 1,180 126 1,451 1885 9.78 4.9 8.50 16.00 2,700,000 709.2 20.3 12.8
8 Chongqing 125 1,500 50 1,414 2000 250.00 15.0 5.00 10.00 32,054,159 450.0 — —
9 Guangzhou 120 1,500 50 1,739 1990 2,500.00 15.0 8.00 12.00 18,676,605 445.0 — —
10 Kuala Lumpur 115 564 28 2,228 1985 0.15 3.9 10.50 15.00 1,982,112 150.0 — —
11 Houston TX 88 469 38 1,002 1927 0.73 3.1 5.50 15.00 2,350,000 512.5 11.2 10.5
12 Seattle WA 65 257 19 937 1914 3.07 2.9 7.00 14.00 733,919 467.9 9.7 30.7
13 Miami FL 60 627 70 868 1925 17.42 4.3 6.00 12.00 442,241 417.3 15.7 10.5
14 Atlanta GA 56 332 21 1,023 1892 2.49 3.2 5.00 12.00 523,738 432.5 15.5 14.5
15 Boston MA 56 248 18 790 1915 8.35 3.4 8.00 10.00 654,423 494.8 17.5 20.3
16 Las Vegas NV 49 193 24 1,149 1956 1.42 3.5 6.50 15.00 656,274 136.2 8.5 7.5
17 San Francisco CA 48 513 26 1,070 1925 10.94 4.5 9.00 14.00 815,201 574.6 21.3 39.3
18 Denver CO 45 187 13 738 1911 1.22 2.1 5.50 10.00 715,522 242.7 11.5 16.5
19 Dallas TX 43 362 30 921 1909 0.82 3.9 6.00 12.00 1,345,000 620.6 15.8 13.8
20 Jersey City NJ 42 181 15 713 1985 12.31 2.2 8.00 15.00 292,449 18,500,000,000.0 25.8 18.8
21 Philadelphia PA 41 293 15 974 1932 2.19 3.2 6.50 12.00 1,576,251 490.1 12.7 9.8
22 Phoenix AZ 40 619 5 483 1960 0.08 2.5 3.50 8.00 1,700,000 284.3 9.8 12.7
23 Honolulu HI 37 281 5 438 1964 1.50 1.5 5.50 10.00 350,964 72.9 10.5 7.5
24 Los Angeles CA 37 518 32 1,100 1928 1.11 4.2 6.00 13.00 3,800,000 1,049.7 12.4 13.5
25 San Diego CA 36 147 7 500 1927 0.45 2.3 5.00 10.00 1,422,000 259.3 9.5 16.5
26 Austin TX 35 105 8 683 1975 0.39 2.0 5.00 10.00 964,254 193.5 9.5 27.5
27 New Orleans LA 34 297 7 697 1909 1.00 2.6 4.00 8.00 390,144 94.1 8.4 6.4
28 Portland OR 32 380 4 546 1913 0.22 1.9 6.00 12.00 641,589 193.7 9.5 18.5
29 Kansas City MO 32 341 4 624 1931 1.00 1.7 5.50 20.00 516,037 145.7 11.3 10.3
30 Indianapolis IN 31 444 5 811 1895 1.00 1.9 5.50 20.00 876,384 156.1 10.5 10.5
31 Jacksonville FL 30 464 3 617 1942 1.00 1.5 5.50 15.00 954,614 97.6 12.3 9.3
32 San Jose CA 30 471 3 365 1934 1.50 1.8 4.50 10.00 983,489 574.6 10.3 38.7
33 Minneapolis MN 30 153 12 775 1929 2.62 3.0 6.00 12.00 429,954 294.7 14.6 14.6
34 Pittsburgh PA 30 145 10 841 1910 2.62 1.6 5.50 10.00 302,407 162.4 13.5 12.5
35 Baltimore MD 29 363 3 529 1911 1.50 2.5 5.00 10.00 585,708 223.5 11.5 10.5
36 St. Louis MO 29 254 3 593 1913 0.47 1.8 4.00 10.00 286,369 184.5 12.2 9.2
37 Charlotte NC 28 118 10 871 1971 0.40 2.7 5.00 12.00 874,579 202.8 23.8 12.8
38 Washington DC 28 250 1 555 1885 0.50 3.5 8.50 12.00 712,816 165,000,000,000.0 0.3 0.4
39 Detroit MI 27 126 9 727 1909 0.91 2.8 4.50 12.00 645,705 279.4 8.9 9.8
40 Cincinnati OH 27 261 4 665 1913 0.35 1.6 6.50 10.00 301,394 153.9 12.5 10.5
41 Sacramento CA 26 344 3 423 1925 1.50 1.4 4.50 10.00 524,943 156.3 8.5 10.5
42 San Antonio TX 26 599 4 750 1929 1.00 1.8 5.50 20.00 1,590,000 134.9 8.7 8.9
43 Cleveland OH 25 114 6 947 1922 1.47 2.1 4.50 10.00 381,009 148.6 12.7 8.7
44 Oklahoma City OK 25 394 3 500 1952 1.00 1.4 5.50 10.00 687,725 85.6 8.8 7.8
45 Nashville TN 24 400 6 617 1957 0.05 2.1 4.50 10.00 710,982 153.2 9.7 11.7
46 Salt Lake City UT 24 213 1 422 1992 1.00 1.5 5.50 10.00 200,133 87.6 12.6 15.6
47 Oakland CA 24 315 1 404 1914 1.50 1.4 4.50 12.00 440,646 28,500,000,000.0 10.5 17.5
48 Richmond VA 22 226 2 449 1976 1.50 1.2 5.20 10.00 226,610 89.4 14.7 10.7
49 Columbus OH 22 450 3 555 1941 1.50 1.8 5.50 10.00 898,553 148.2 13.8 11.8
50 Virginia Beach VA 21 321 2 508 1969 1.00 0.9 2.50 10.00 457,658 110.8 7.8 8.8
51 Tampa FL 20 282 5 579 1970 1.00 1.8 4.00 10.00 352,957 204.8 11.5 12.5
52 Arlington TX 19 300 2 390 1974 1.50 0.5 3.50 10.00 398,854 28,500,000,000.0 7.3 15.3
53 Bakersfield CA 19 302 2 352 1975 1.00 0.7 2.80 10.00 403,455 49.8 5.5 4.5
54 Wichita KS 19 296 2 385 1979 1.00 0.9 5.00 10.00 389,938 40.2 7.9 7.9
55 Tulsa OK 18 305 2 667 1917 1.00 1.2 4.20 15.00 413,066 64.7 9.2 7.2
56 Anaheim CA 18 280 1 345 1971 1.50 0.8 2.50 10.00 346,824 28,500,000,000.0 8.2 13.2
57 Aurora CO 18 289 2 310 1966 1.00 3.5 2.50 10.00 369,111 28,500,000,000.0 7.2 9.1
58 Orlando FL 18 263 1 428 1983 1.00 1.7 5.50 10.00 307,573 163.4 9.6 11.6
59 Tysons VA 18 34 4 615 1962 0.55 4.3 5.50 10.00 25,000 22.5 12.5 28.5
60 Lexington KY 17 270 2 410 1967 1.00 0.8 3.50 10.00 322,570 35.2 8.5 8.5
61 Greensboro NC 17 260 2 330 1987 1.00 0.7 4.20 10.00 299,035 45.3 9.6 8.6
62 Corpus Christi TX 17 268 2 325 1973 1.00 0.6 2.50 10.00 317,863 28.4 6.4 5.4
63 St. Paul MN 17 264 2 471 1972 1.50 1.1 5.50 15.00 308,096 245,000,000,000.0 11.2 12.2
64 Henderson NV 17 261 2 280 1970 1.00 0.4 2.10 10.00 302,070 18,500,000,000.0 7.3 8.3
65 Irvine CA 17 263 1 323 1971 1.50 1.3 2.50 5.00 307,670 28,500,000,000.0 14.5 26.5
66 Stockton CA 17 265 2 256 1979 1.50 0.5 2.50 10.00 310,496 29.7 5.8 5.8
67 Fort Worth TX 17 449 3 567 1942 1.00 2.0 5.20 15.00 895,008 195,000,000,000.0 8.6 9.6
68 Riverside CA 17 266 2 315 1979 1.50 0.8 2.50 10.00 314,998 216.5 7.5 7.5
69 Santa Ana CA 17 265 2 302 1974 2.00 0.7 3.50 10.00 310,227 18,500,000,000.0 9.8 12.8
70 Raleigh NC 16 335 2 538 1932 1.00 1.3 5.20 20.00 497,642 104.6 10.4 22.4
71 Toledo OH 16 247 1 411 1981 1.00 0.9 4.20 10.00 270,871 42.1 7.3 7.3
72 Chula Vista CA 16 249 2 265 1992 1.50 0.4 2.50 10.00 275,487 12,500,000,000.0 7.5 13.5
73 Durham NC 16 251 2 538 1979 1.00 0.7 4.20 10.00 278,993 104.6 9.3 25.3
74 Buffalo NY 16 251 2 529 1912 1.50 1.4 4.50 10.00 278,349 76.8 9.5 7.5
75 North Las Vegas NV 16 243 2 286 1996 1.00 0.3 2.50 10.00 262,527 12,500,000,000.0 6.6 6.6
76 Fort Wayne IN 16 244 1 339 1994 1.00 0.8 2.50 10.00 263,886 30.5 8.8 7.8
77 Gilbert AZ 16 246 2 258 1995 1.50 0.3 2.10 5.00 267,918 18,500,000,000.0 8.8 13.8
78 Chandler AZ 16 249 2 310 1984 1.50 0.6 2.50 5.00 275,987 18,500,000,000.0 9.5 18.5
79 Newark NJ 16 252 2 465 1989 2.00 1.2 10.20 20.00 281,917 45,600,000,000.0 17.5 11.5
80 Lincoln NE 16 253 2 289 1988 1.00 0.8 2.50 10.00 283,839 21.4 8.7 9.7
81 Plano TX 16 254 1 292 1998 1.50 0.6 2.50 10.00 285,494 28,500,000,000.0 15.5 23.5
82 Anchorage AK 16 255 1 296 1992 0.50 0.9 2.50 10.00 288,000 31.4 8.5 7.5
83 Chesapeake VA 15 237 2 275 1996 0.50 0.4 3.20 10.00 249,422 12,500,000,000.0 7.5 9.5
84 Irving TX 15 232 1 358 1976 1.00 1.2 5.50 10.00 239,798 18,500,000,000.0 12.6 18.6
85 Baton Rouge LA 15 226 1 450 1987 1.00 0.9 5.50 10.00 227,470 55.7 7.3 7.3
86 Norfolk VA 15 234 1 388 1989 1.50 1.1 3.50 8.00 242,742 32,000,000,000.0 8.5 9.5
87 Scottsdale AZ 15 233 2 334 1985 1.00 1.3 3.50 10.00 241,361 18,500,000,000.0 15.7 20.7
88 Laredo TX 15 240 1 282 1995 1.00 0.5 2.50 10.00 255,205 16.4 7.9 4.9
89 Winston-Salem NC 15 237 2 460 1991 1.00 0.8 4.20 10.00 249,545 34.2 16.2 9.2
90 Lubbock TX 15 241 0 274 1986 1.00 0.6 2.50 10.00 257,141 18.9 7.7 7.7
91 Spokane WA 15 227 1 288 1978 1.00 0.9 2.50 10.00 228,989 32.5 8.4 10.4
92 Reno NV 15 240 2 347 1976 1.00 1.1 3.50 10.00 255,601 31.6 8.3 10.3
93 Madison WI 15 241 1 354 1988 1.00 0.9 4.50 10.00 258,366 52.7 9.6 15.6
94 Glendale AZ 15 237 2 332 1976 1.50 0.5 2.80 5.00 248,325 15,800,000,000.0 8.4 11.4
95 Garland TX 15 236 2 340 1990 1.50 0.5 2.80 10.00 246,018 18,500,000,000.0 7.2 11.2
96 Frisco TX 14 218 2 345 1980 1.00 0.8 2.50 10.00 210,719 18,500,000,000.0 14.8 22.8
97 Huntington Beach CA 14 212 2 285 1980 1.50 0.6 2.50 5.00 198,711 18,500,000,000.0 10.3 15.3
98 Tacoma WA 14 222 1 338 1982 1.50 0.8 4.20 10.00 219,346 88,200,000,000.0 7.5 9.5
99 Moreno Valley CA 14 217 2 250 1994 1.50 0.3 2.20 5.00 208,634 8,900,000,000.0 5.2 7.2
100 Akron OH 14 207 1 330 1991 1.00 0.9 4.50 10.00 190,469 42.8 7.8 7.8