East Coast Cities 2024

The East Coast of the United States borders the Atlantic Ocean from the state of Maine to Florida. There are 14 states on the East Coast that have a shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The East Coast is similar but different from the “East,” which is the term for all 26 states East of the Mississippi River, including East Coast states and the District of Columbia.

Cities situated on the East Coast can be port cities or beach towns, each with their own history and culture. Some East Coast cities are known for being the homes of the first European settlers, such as Jamestown, Virginia and Plymouth, Massachusetts.

There are many populous cities on the East Coast. Some of the most populous are:

• New York City (8.6 million)
• Philadelphia (1.6 million)
• Charlotte (859,000)
• Jacksonville (821,784)
• Washington D.C. (703,000)

New York City is the most populous city on the East Coast and in the United States. Its metro area has a population of over 21 million people. New York City is also one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S. Home to Broadway, Central Park, Times Square, and Wall Street, New York is one of the biggest financial and cultural centers on the East Coast.

Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, is argued to be not a city or state, but rather a territory. It is, however, regarded as a city and is one of the more populous and significant cities on the East Coast. As the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. is home to many federal agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives and more.

Some well-known East Coast cities known for their beaches include Miami Beach, Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. The characteristics of these beach towns vary greatly up and down the coast.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the ten best cities to live in on the East Coast are:

1. Washington, D.C.
2. Portland, ME
3. Melbourne, FL
4. Boston, MA
5. Jacksonville, FL
6. Manchester, NH
7. Charleston, SC
8. Hartford, CT
9. Lancaster, PA
10. Richmond, VA

According to this list, the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., is the best East Coast city to live in. Washington has a strong job market, a median income of $69,210, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%. The median home price is $367,767 and its high schools rank among the best in the country.