Study Finds New York (Yes, New York) Top US City For ‘Christian Engagement’
NEW YORK — Attempting to determine which American city is the “most Christian” is no easy task. The outcome of a new study came with some surprises.
Is it a city located in the Bible Belt?
No.
Is it a Midwestern or Southern city?
Again, no.
The survey, out in time for Easter, has determined that the urban center with the highest religious engagement for Christians, using a variety of metrics and factors, is New York.
Yes, New York.
The study conducted by My Cross, a maker of religious jewelry, ranked America’s largest cities based on religious engagement — highlighting factors such as Christian identification, daily prayer rates, number of churches, nonprofit organizations and religious events. The urban centers were selected for their population size and regional representation, with final scores placed on a scale from one to 100.
New York City, known for being a world capital in art, culture and media, topped the list with a perfect score of 100 — earning the highest distinction due what the survey called “its significant religious infrastructure.”
Inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. (Unsplash photo)
Some Christians have interpreted “Babylon” in the Book of Revelation as a symbolic representation of a corrupt, worldly system, represented by modern-day New York City. Instead, the Big Apple boasts nearly 9,000 Christian nonprofit organizations — the most in the country — and ranks second in church density nationwide.
While 57% of residents identify as Christian, according to Pew Research Center, New York's religious organizations and resources make it the country's religious capital, the study found.
New York, with a population of 8.2 million, is also home to several famous Christian houses of worship spanning a variety of denominations, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity Church, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Grace Church and St. Paul’s Chapel. Brooklyn, meanwhile, is famously known as the “borough of churches.”
“The physical presence of faith institutions often diverges dramatically from the personal practice patterns of residents,” a MyCross spokesperson said. “We're seeing that the most visible markers of religiosity — buildings and organizations — don't necessarily correlate with individual spiritual habits. This disconnect reveals how faith in America operates on parallel tracks: the institutional and the personal, each with its own unique footprint and impact. Future research must account for both dimensions to truly capture religious vitality across communities.”
Los Angeles ranked second, with a score of 91, noted for its large number of Christian nonprofit organizations. Despite having the lowest percentage of Christian-identifying residents among the top cities, the City of Angels — an appropriate nickname given these findings — supports a robust religious community with 168 religious events held each year.
Third was Philadelphia, with a score of 85. With 62% of residents identifying as Christian, the city also maintains a strong religious presence with 18 churches and three times the number of religious events as New York.
Meanwhile, Dallas ranked fourth with a score of 80, with 63% of its residents identifying as Christian— the highest among the top four cities. Dallas also hosts nearly 6,000 Christian nonprofit organizations, more than double Philadelphia’s total, and has high levels of daily prayer, with 48% of residents practicing regularly.
Washington, D.C., with a score of 75, placed fifth on the list. The nation’s capital has the highest church density after New York (including a staggering 67 churches per 100 square miles). It is also home to over 4,600 Christian nonprofit organizations and maintains a Christian population of 56%.
Rounding out the top 10, from sixth to 10th, are Chicago; Houston; Atlanta; Riverside, Calif., and Miami.
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged.