In a nation grappling with healthcare access challenges, the distribution of primary care physicians (PCPs) remains a critical factor in determining the quality, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness of care. From preventive screenings and chronic disease management to pediatric care and geriatric coordination, primary care providers form the backbone of the American healthcare system. Yet their availability varies dramatically across the country.
To better understand where Americans have the greatest access to primary care, we compiled the most recent data (from 2021 to 2024) to rank the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas by primary care physician density. These rankings measure the number of practicing primary care physicians—defined here as family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatric physicians—per 100,000 residents.
Whether you’re a physician exploring job opportunities, a health system executive planning expansion, or a policymaker focused on access to care, this list offers valuable insight into the best-supplied cities in the nation.
Why Primary Care Physician Density Matters
Primary care isn’t just the front line of medicine—it’s a key driver of population health. Communities with higher PCP density tend to have:
- Lower mortality rates
- Better chronic disease management
- Higher patient satisfaction
- Reduced healthcare costs
In contrast, areas with lower PCP access may struggle with emergency room overuse, longer wait times, and poorer health outcomes, especially in underserved or rural regions.
As of 2024, the U.S. faces a projected shortfall of between 17,800 and 48,000 primary care physicians by 2035, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). That looming shortage makes understanding geographic disparities all the more urgent.
The Top 50 Metro Areas for Primary Care Physician Density
Here’s the ranked list of the top 50 metropolitan areas in the U.S. by primary care physician (PCP) density, expressed as the number of PCPs per 100,000 population:
| Rank | Metropolitan Area | PCPs per 100k Residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, D.C. | 515.6 |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | 386.0 |
| 3 | Providence, RI | 264.6 |
| 4 | New York, NY | 235.7 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | 234.1 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | 212.0 |
| 7 | Columbia, MO | 218.5 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI (incl. Ann Arbor) | 207.4 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | 206.0 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | 192.9 |
| … | … | … |
| 50 | Las Vegas, NV (est.) | ~125.0 |
(View the full ranked list at the end of this article)
Key Observations from the Rankings
1. Washington, D.C. Leads the Nation—By Far
With an astounding 515.6 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents, the nation’s capital stands well above the rest. While D.C. is a smaller, single-jurisdiction city rather than a sprawling metro, it serves as a hub for academic medicine, federal healthcare agencies, and nonprofit healthcare policy institutions, contributing to its exceptional supply of PCPs.
2. Mid-Sized College Towns Punch Above Their Weight
Cities like Rochester, MN (home to the Mayo Clinic), Columbia, MO, Iowa City, IA, and Ann Arbor, MI all boast high physician-to-population ratios despite modest population sizes. This is largely due to their prominent academic medical centers and residency training programs, which attract and retain a high concentration of doctors.
3. Northeast Corridor Dominates the Top 20
Major East Coast cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Providence, and Hartford all rank highly. These cities benefit from dense healthcare infrastructure, longstanding academic medical institutions, and a more robust tradition of internal medicine practice compared to some Sunbelt metros.
4. Sunbelt Metros Lag Behind
Fast-growing cities like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Miami land toward the bottom of the top 50—and many others didn’t make the cut at all. While these areas are booming in population, they often struggle to keep up with the healthcare workforce demand, especially in primary care. Physician shortages in these metros are projected to intensify without policy and infrastructure changes.
5. Pacific Northwest and Mountain West Are Underrepresented
Notably absent from the top 50 are metros like Boise, ID, Salt Lake City, UT, and Spokane, WA. Though these regions are seeing significant population growth, primary care supply has not kept pace, a warning sign for public health officials and healthcare systems in the West.
Implications for Healthcare Access, Recruitment & Policy
The geographic distribution of primary care physicians carries substantial implications for a wide range of stakeholders:
For Physicians & Job Seekers
Physicians evaluating job opportunities may be drawn to high-density areas due to professional networks, academic affiliations, and patient volume. However, lower-density areas often offer greater autonomy, stronger demand, and generous loan repayment incentives—especially in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
For Health Systems & Recruiters
Understanding physician density is crucial for strategic expansion, service line planning, and workforce development. Systems in lower-density markets may face higher competition for providers, while those in denser metros may need to differentiate on culture, compensation, or career development to stand out.
For Policymakers & Public Health Leaders
Policymakers must focus on incentive programs, residency expansion, and telehealth investments to address shortages. Tools like the National Health Service Corps, state loan repayment programs, and GME cap reform play key roles in shifting provider distribution to underserved areas.
Methodology & Data Sources
The rankings were based on data from several leading sources:
- County Health Rankings (2021) from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- State Workforce Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
- Local physician workforce reports for high-density cities like Rochester, MN and Columbia, MO
- American Medical Association (AMA) and HRSA reports on primary care access
Only physicians with MD or DO credentials in core primary care specialties (family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics) were included. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants were excluded from these calculations but are important contributors to care delivery, especially in underserved areas.
Final Thoughts
While the overall U.S. physician supply remains a national concern, this data reveals that access to primary care is fundamentally a local issue. Metropolitan areas with robust healthcare ecosystems, teaching hospitals, and established public health infrastructure fare far better in providing timely, effective primary care. Meanwhile, rapidly growing or geographically isolated areas face steeper challenges in recruitment and retention.
Understanding where PCPs are—and aren’t—is critical to closing care gaps, improving outcomes, and shaping the future of American healthcare.
Full List: Top 50 U.S. Metros by Primary Care Physician Density (2024)
(Physicians per 100,000 residents)
- Washington, D.C. – 515.6
- Rochester, MN – 386.0
- Providence, RI – 264.6
- New York, NY – 235.7
- Boston, MA – 234.1
- Hartford, CT – 212.0
- Columbia, MO – 218.5
- Detroit, MI – 207.4
- Philadelphia, PA – 206.0
- Chicago, IL – 192.9
- Baltimore, MD – 191.9
- Portland, ME – 187.4
- Burlington, VT – 184.0
- Cleveland, OH – 182.5
- Charleston, WV – 177.0
- Ann Arbor, MI – 175.0
- Newark, NJ – 175.5
- St. Louis, MO – 175.4
- Honolulu, HI – 164.0
- Fargo, ND – 162.8
- Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN – 162.1
- Wilmington, DE – 157.4
- Iowa City, IA – 159 (approx.)
- Omaha, NE – 153.3
- Manchester, NH – 153.2
- Madison, WI – 152.8
- Portland, OR – 150.9
- Seattle, WA – 149.4
- New Orleans, LA – 148.6
- Albuquerque, NM – 148.2
- Anchorage, AK – 147.2
- San Francisco, CA – 146.0
- Richmond, VA – 143.8
- Kansas City, MO–KS – 142.3
- Oklahoma City, OK – 133.4
- Raleigh–Durham, NC – 132.7
- Miami–Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 131.1
- Sioux Falls, SD – 131.0
- Little Rock, AR – 130.5
- Nashville, TN – 129.7
- Denver, CO – 128.1
- Columbia, SC – 127.5
- Louisville, KY – 126.7
- Indianapolis, IN – 126.6
- Phoenix, AZ – 124.0
- Birmingham, AL – 122.5
- Atlanta, GA – 122.3
- Jackson, MS – 120.7
- Cheyenne, WY – 120.4
- Las Vegas, NV (est.) – ~125.0