15 Most Liberal Cities in the US

We talk about each city’s population, its history of political choices, and why it’s considered liberal. For example, many of these cities have a high number of residents who voted for the Democratic Party in recent elections and have local governments led by Democrats. We look at cities big and small, from New York City with millions of people to smaller places like Berkeley and Boulder.

We also explain how we chose these cities. To make our list, we looked at how people voted in the 2020 presidential and 2022 midterm elections, checked how many people in each city are registered with the Democratic Party, and noted whether the mayor is a Democrat or a Republican as of January 1, 2024. We only considered cities that have at least 100,000 residents.

This article gives a good look at which places in the US are the most welcoming to liberal ideas and people who are Democrats.

15 Most Liberal Cities in the US (2024)

1. Berkeley
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Cambridge
4. San Francisco
5. Boston
6. Los Angeles
7. Oakland
8. Denver
9. Boulder
10. Philadelphia
11. Seattle 
12. Chicago
13. Ann Arbor
14. Austin
15. New York City

1. Berkeley

The most liberal city in the US is Berkeley. Located just north of Oakland in the San Francisco Bay area, Berkeley is home to just under 125,000 residents. Berkeley has a long history of political activism and progressive politics as the epicenter of the hippie movement in the '60s. It's also home to UC Berkeley, which is considered one of the most liberal college campuses in the US. As a result, Berkeley is in the heart of one of the most liberal counties in America, and 93% of residents voted Democrat in the last presidential election.

2. Washington D.C.

The 2nd most liberal city in the US and the first one on the East Coast is Washington, D.C., the nation’s proud capital. Located in the District of Columbia, this area is home to roughly 670,000 people and is often viewed as its state as opposed to a traditional city. At 92.1%, Washington D.C. held the second-highest percentage of Democratic voters of any city for the 2020 Presidential Election. Additionally, both the local mayor and attorney general are Democrats, making this the single-most liberal city in the United States. 

3. Cambridge

Cambridge is another one of the most liberal cities in the US. Cambridge is a suburb in Middlesex County within the greater Boston Area and has a population of 118,403 residents. Cambridge's surroundings are also quite liberal, and Massachusetts is the most liberal state in America. 

Cambridge is known for being the home of several notable Universities, including Harvard and MIT. As a result, it's a fairly young, affluent community with a median age of 29.6 and a median household income of $109,358.

Cambridge residents have voted Democratic in the past 23 presidential elections, going all the way back to Al Smith in the 1928 election. Plus, 92% of Cambridge residents voted Democrat in the 2020 presidential election.

4. San Francisco

San Francisco is also one of the most liberal cities in the USA. Located on the nation’s west coast, this city has long been considered a haven for democrats and liberal thinkers. The term “San Francisco values” was even coined by members of the Republican Party as a dig at the city’s flagrantly Liberal lifestyle. But, clearly, this hasn’t phased its citizens, as roughly 85.3% of the surrounding population voted Democrat in the 2020 Presidential Election. 

5. Boston

Boston is universally considered one of the most progressive cities in America. Located on the east coast, in Massachusetts, this city is governed through a strong mayor and city council system, both of which predominantly align with the Democratic Party. The city is home to a proud voting population of roughly 654,000 people, and 82% of the area’s voters consider themselves part of the Democratic Party. This keeps Boston an essential part of the nation’s most liberal cities. 

6. Los Angeles

Los Angeles is another one of the most liberal cities in America. Located in the southern region of California, this city is home to roughly 3.85 Million people, and nearly 82% of the area’s large population identify as Democratic voters. This puts Los Angeles among the most populated liberal cities on this list, making it perfect for voters who prefer a city with numerous like-minded individuals. 

7. Oakland

Oakland, California, is also one of the most liberal cities in the US. Situated right below Berkeley in Alameda County, Oakland has a population of around 440,000 residents. Although not as well known for its progressivism as San Francisco and Berkeley, it's still part of one of the most liberal areas in the country, and Democrats dominate the local government. Since Bill Clinton, Oakland residents have chosen the liberal candidate in each presidential race, and nearly 80% of residents voted Democrat in the last election.

8. Denver

It’s no surprise to find Denver among the most liberal cities in the US. Officially speaking, the city’s mayor and council members are all considered non-partisan. However, council members can be affiliated with a political party, and most tend to align themselves Democratically. The local voting population is also predominantly liberal, with 79.6% of local voters aligning with the Democratic Party. 

9. Boulder

Boulder is also one of the most liberal cities in America. It's a city in northern Colorado that is home to over 104,000 residents. While the rural parts of Colorado tend to be more conservative, larger cities like Boulder and Denver tend to be more liberal. Boulder is also home to the University of Colorado and a large music and arts scene that attracts many liberals. As a result, 77.2% of Boulder County residents voted Democrat in the last presidential election.

10. Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a liberal city with a big impact. Located near the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border, this city is home to a voting population of about 1.6 million, and roughly 75% of local voters consider themselves democrats. The city is also home to both a Democratic mayor and city council members who are predominantly Democrats. Overall, Philadelphia is an excellent choice for liberals across the United States.

11. Seattle

Seattle is another dynamic area for liberals and progressives in the United States. Located along Washington state’s western coast, this area is home to a voting population of about 734,000 people, roughly 74.9% of whom identify as liberals. The city is governed by a mayor and city council, all of whom are considered non-partisan officials. Even so, the city is generally known for its liberal ideology and alignment, making it a welcoming environment for like-minded Democrats.

12. Chicago

Chicago is one of the most liberal cities in the Midwest. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, this city boasts a voting population of roughly 2.7 Million, making it the third-largest city on this list. Roughly 74.3% of the area’s voters identify as liberals, and the city’s elected officials are also openly affiliated with the Democratic Party. All of this is to be expected, as the city’s home state of Illinois is generally considered one of the most progressive in the nation. 

13. Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is another one of the most liberal cities in the country. Located in Southeast Michigan, Ann Arbor is the 5th largest city in the state with a population of 123,851. Although Michigan is a swing state, Ann Arbor is a liberal stronghold against the more conservative, rural areas in Western and Northern Michigan. It's home to the University of Michigan, which is one of the city's largest employers. Tech is also a big part of the economy, an industry that tends to attract liberal residents. As a result, 72.4% of Ann Arbor residents voted Democrat in the past presidential election, compared to 25.9% that voted Republican.

14. Austin

Though the South is typically known for conservatism, Austin defies this stereotype. This city is located in Texas’s southcentral region and provides a liberal oasis in a predominantly conservative environment. There are about 964,000 voters in this area – about 71.6% of whom identify as Democrats. Though local city council members are officially considered non-partisan, they are generally affiliated with the Democratic Party, as is the local mayor. With a slogan like “Keep Austin Weird,” it’s no wonder this city attracts voters with a more open-minded outlook. 

15. New York City

New York City is another one of the most liberal cities in America. It’s also the largest city in the U.S. Though NYC’s percentage of Democratic voters is only 62%, its total population is roughly 8.5 million. This means that it is home to roughly 5.27 Million Democratic voters – the most of any other city in the nation. Coupled with its Democratic mayor, this makes New York City one of the most liberal places to live in the United States. 

Most Liberal Cities in America Comparison

Most Liberal Cities Takeaways

In conclusion, the cities we talked about in this article are important places for liberal ideas and actions in the United States. Each city has its own special culture and history that makes it a great place for progressive thoughts to grow. From the historic activism in Berkeley to the busy political life in Washington D.C., and the lively scenes in Austin, these cities show how popular and important liberal values are across the country. If you're looking for a place where these ideas are welcomed, these 15 cities are some of the best places to consider living, working, and being active in the community.

Most Liberal Cities in America Methodology

To determine the most liberal cities in the US we looked at election results for the 2020 presidential and 2022 midterm elections. We also looked at voter registration records in each city, and whether the local Mayor is affiliated with the Democratic or Republican party as of Jan 1, 2024.

Additionally, we only considered cities with populations of at least 100,000 people for this ranking.