NYC ranks No. 1 as most ‘Instagrammable’ city in US: study

Gotham’s got the most glam on the ‘gram. 

While NYC might not have a picture-perfect reputation — owing to the high cost of living, low chance of finding love and other not-so-shining features (we’re looking at you, rat population) — it has just been crowned the “most Instagrammable” city in the US, per new data. 

Say Cheese, Big Apple! 

The boroughs rank as America’s No. 1 “urban photo backdrop,” besting big, beautiful hubs like Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas and San Francisco, according to a report via Rivers Wall Art, an art and design imprint. 

Before bestowing the top accolade upon New York City, researchers analyzed over 895 million Instagram posts featuring location-specific hashtags for 25 of the most populated cities nationwide.

The hashtags examined included the name of the city (such as “#NewYorkCity”), its three-letter abbreviation (“#NYC”), its state (“#NewYork”), the state’s initials (“#NY”), its name and the country’s initials (“#NewYorkCityUSA”), as well as the city’s name, state and county letters (“#NewYorkCityNewYorkUSA”). 

The amount of posts for each city was then counted and compiled into a ranked list. 

And the city that doesn’t sleep has put the rest to bed, boasting over 183 million Instagram posts. 

“The most populated city in the country and arguably the most famous city in the world, [NYC] is a cultural icon,” wrote study authors. 

“From the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to the Empire State Building,” raved the specialists, “the Big Apple has some of the world’s most notable and visited attractions, which brought a staggering 61.8 million travelers to the city last year.”

“The two most popular hashtags are #NYC and #NewYorkCity, which have been used over 145.3 million times and over 35.9 million times, respectively.”

Securing the second place slot, Los Angeles, California, has amassed an impressive 141.3 million Instagram posts thanks to its celebrity-speckled hills and the crowd-drawing Hollywood Sign. 

Chicago, Illinois, landed in third place with 60.2 million posts. The Windy City reigns as a hotspot for snapshots owing to its skyscraper-lined skyline, the shores of Lake Michigan and its proximity to the legendary “Home Alone” house — a picturesque focal point in the ‘90s-era blockbuster. 

It’s a top three roster rooted in buzz-worthy beauty. 

“In the current climate of social media, how attractive a city looks can play a big part in its status, globally, driving tourism and interest back into the city,” said Tony Gilbert, creative director of Rivers Wall Art, in a statement. 

“A city’s backdrop also serves as the perfect option for artwork in the home,” he added. “Even if you don’t live in the Big Apple, for example, you can still always see it through artwork.”

Here are the top 10 most Instagrammable cities in the US. 

• 1. New York City — 183,869,262 Instagram posts
• 2. Los Angeles — 141,271,982 Instagram posts
• 3. Chicago, Illinois — 60,196,138 Instagram posts
• 4. Las Vegas, Nevada — 54,038,732 Instagram posts
• 5. San Francisco, California — 45,895,134 Instagram posts
• 6. Washington, D.C. — 45,470,821 Instagram posts
• 7. San Diego, California —39,451,127 Instagram posts
• 8. Seattle, Washington — 37,597,785 Instagram posts
• 9. Austin, Texas — 34,022,105 Instagram posts
• 10. Houston, Texas — 33,942,790 Instagram posts