Successful businesses can be found in all corners of the country.
The companies that made it to the Fortune 500 list this year are headquartered across 226 cities in 37 states—from small towns in Ohio to big cities like Los Angeles. But only one city can come out on top as home to the most Fortune 500 businesses.
New York City is home to 41 Fortune 500 companies this year, and the financial capital is home to some of the biggest names in banking, from JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup to Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
Houston came in second this year, with 21 of the country’s biggest businesses by revenue—with a particular concentration in industries like energy, petroleum, and gas. Chicago took third place with 15 Fortune 500 companies, including McDonald’s and United Airlines Holdings, and Atlanta followed close behind with 14 companies including Coca-Cola and Home Depot.
This year’s list of the top five cities looks a lot like last year’s, with some notable changes. In 2023, New York City was No. 1 with 44 top companies, and Houston came in second. But last year Atlanta came in third with 15 companies, Chicago came in fourth with 13, and Dallas came in fifth with 11.
Dethroning New York City will be no easy feat, with a 20-company gap between first and second place. So while some businesses may be drawn to Texas cities because of a lower cost of living and taxes, New York City will almost certainly take the top spot for years to come.
You can check out the complete Fortune 500 ranking for 2024 here.
