Jewish communities have a long and significant presence across North America, shaping cultural, commercial, and religious life in both the United States and Canada. With Hannukah beginning next week, we wanted to look at where Jewish populations are concentrated — not only nationally, but also within metro regions where community density is highest.
Using our religious affiliation data (noting that counts based on synagogue attendance likely underrepresent culturally Jewish residents), we mapped Jewish population share across North America, zooming into areas where the population is most concentrated: New York City and South Florida.
Our first map shows the percent of population identifying as Jewish across North America. The results are striking — the Jewish population is highly concentrated in just a handful of regions rather than evenly distributed across the continent. The total estimated Jewish Population in the United States is 1.73M, with 343K in Canada.
Both countries share a key pattern: Jewish communities are overwhelmingly urban. Dense metro regions hold the majority of the population, while rural areas show low representation.
The second map zooms into the New York region — the largest Jewish population center in the world outside Israel. NYC isn’t just the largest — it is the hub, the cultural anchor, and the economic engine of Jewish life in the U.S., with deep historical roots and continuous population growth driven by community networks, religious infrastructure, and urban opportunity. Nearly 43% of the entire U.S. Jewish population lives in the metropolitan area alone. Neighboring metros such as Monticello and Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh also rank among the highest nationally by percentage.
The third map highlights South Florida, which remains one of the most prominent Jewish population centers in North America — historically tied to migration from Northeast states, particularly New York and New Jersey. The Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach area is home to 73,441 Jewish residents (1.13% of the population). South Florida continues to grow as a retirement destination and cultural hub, reinforcing its position as a major Jewish community cluster.
When looking at a list of the top metro areas by percentage Jewish, it’s notable that three of the top five metros are in the Northeast, and Canada’s largest concentrations are nearly entirely in Toronto and Montreal, which together account for 81% of Canada’s Jewish population.
Top Metro Areas by Percent Jewish
- Monticello, NY — 5.6%
- New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ — 3.7%
- Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh, NY — 3.7%
- Toronto, ON — 2.6%
- Montreal, PQ — 1.9%
- Trenton–Princeton, NJ — 1.5%
- Amherst Town–Northampton, MA — 1.4%
- Bridgeport–Stamford–Danbury, CT — 1.4%
- Winnipeg, MB — 1.1%
- Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FL — 1.1%
When you look at the demographics and the top metro areas by total Jewish population, the major metropolitan areas jump out. The top eight metros alone comprise over 1.3 million Jewish residents, reinforcing how urban clustering defines North American Jewish geography.
Top Metro Areas by Total Jewish Population
| Rank | Metro | Jewish Population | % Jewish |
| 1 | New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ | 739,500 | 3.69% |
| 2 | Toronto, ON | 186,747 | 2.62% |
| 3 | Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA | 94,737 | 0.73% |
| 4 | Montreal, PQ | 88,740 | 1.91% |
| 5 | Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FL | 73,441 | 1.13% |
| 6 | Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MD | 64,092 | 1.01% |
| 7 | Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV | 57,790 | 0.89% |
| 8 | Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN | 52,930 | 0.56% |
Understanding where Jewish communities are located has value far beyond demographics. These insights help retailers assess demand for kosher products and specialty goods, especially during the high holidays. It is also critical for nonprofits and synagogues as they plan outreach and resource allocation. Finally, real estate developers identify where cultural facilities thrive, and planners support community services, education, and aging populations. The concentration of Jewish life around major metros highlights where cultural infrastructure is already strong — and where emerging growth pockets may represent opportunity.