Houston vs. El Paso: Most Populous vs. Largest by Area in Texas
Two Ways to Be "Largest"
The claim "Houston is the largest city in Texas" is half-true — it depends on the metric:
| Metric | #1 City | Figure (2023 est.) | Runner-Up |
|---|
| Population (city proper) | Houston | 2,302,878 | San Antonio (1,470,000) |
| Land Area | El Paso | 648.7 sq mi (1,680 km²) | Houston (640.4 sq mi) |
| Metro Population | Dallas-Fort Worth | 7.9M | Houston-The Woodlands (7.3M) |
Why the Confusion?
- Houston annexed aggressively (1940s–90s), nearly matching El Paso's area.
- El Paso's area includes vast Franklin Mountains State Park & military land (Fort Bliss) — low density.
- Houston's density (3,600/sq mi) > El Paso (2,700/sq mi).
Other Texas "Largest" Claims
- San Antonio: 2nd population, 2nd area (505 sq mi).
- Dallas: 3rd population, 9th area (340 sq mi).
- Austin: 4th population, 27th area (326 sq mi) — densest major city.
- Fort Worth: 5th population, 16th area (350 sq mi).
So: Houston = most populous city; El Paso = largest by land area. Precision matters.
Wanderlust World