Highest Elevation Cities in the US
The following table ranks the highest elevation “real” cities in the US. Santa Fe is the only city on the list with a population of less than 100,000, but since it is a state capital and well known cultural destination, it warrants inclusion. The top five cities on the list all clear the “mile high” threshold.
| Rank | City Name | State | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Approx. Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | New Mexico | 7,199 | 2,194 | ~90,000 |
| 2 | Colorado Springs | Colorado | 6,035 | 1,839 | ~485,000 |
| 3 | Centennial | Colorado | 5,830 | 1,777 | ~105,000 |
| 4 | Albuquerque | New Mexico | 5,312 | 1,619 | ~560,000 |
| 5 | Denver | Colorado | 5,280 | 1,610 | ~745,000 |
| 6 | Provo | Utah | 4,551 | 1,387 | ~115,000 |
| 7 | Reno | Nevada | 4,505 | 1,373 | ~275,000 |
| 8 | West Jordan | Utah | 4,373 | 1,333 | ~115,000 |
| 9 | West Valley City | Utah | 4,304 | 1,312 | ~140,000 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City | Utah | 4,226 | 1,288 | ~205,000 |
| 11 | El Paso | Texas | 3,740 | 1,140 | ~680,000 |
| 12 | Amarillo | Texas | 3,605 | 1,099 | ~200,000 |
- Colorado: Colorado claims two of the top five spots on the list. The close proximity of Colorado Springs (#2), Centennial (#3), and Denver (#5) highlights how population density follows the base of the Rockies.
New Mexico: Albuquerque (#4) and Santa Fe (#1) owe their immense elevation to the Colorado Plateau and the Rio Grande Rift. Because they sit in a high-desert environment, their thin air comes with dramatic temperature swings between day and night, often shifting by more than 30°F in a single day.
The following table ranks the highest elevation cities and towns in the US, regardless of population. These are all much smaller municipalities at much higher elevations. It’s not surprising that there aren’t many major cities tucked 10,000 feet up in the Rockies. Unsurprisingly, the list is dominated by Colorado.
| Rank | Community | State | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Legal Status / Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alma | Colorado | 10,578 | 3,224 | Incorporated Town / ~300 |
| 2 | Montezuma | Colorado | 10,312 | 3,143 | Incorporated Town / ~75 |
| 3 | Leadville | Colorado | 10,152 | 3,094 | Statutory City / ~2,600 |
| 4 | Blue River | Colorado | 10,020 | 3,054 | Statutory Town / ~900 |
| 5 | Fairplay | Colorado | 9,953 | 3,034 | Incorporated Town / ~750 |
| 6 | Brian Head | Utah | 9,800 | 2,987 | Incorporated Town / ~80 |
| 7 | Victor | Colorado | 9,708 | 2,959 | Statutory City / ~400 |
| 8 | Ophir | Colorado | 9,695 | 2,955 | Statutory Town / ~180 |
| 9 | Breckenridge | Colorado | 9,600 | 2,926 | Incorporated Town / ~5,000 |
| 10 | Mountain Village | Colorado | 9,545 | 2,909 | Home Rule Town / ~1,400 |