Only three of America’s largest cities—all in the South—are more predominantly Christian than the nation as a whole, new research shows.
In Dallas, Atlanta, and Houston, people are more likely to consider themselves Christians than in the rest of the United States, Pew Research reports. Dallas is the most heavily Christian at 78 percent, followed by Atlanta (76 percent) and Houston (73 percent).
In 12 of the nation’s 17 largest metropolitan areas, however, the Christian population falls below the national average of 71 percent. Pew’s analysis didn’t include smaller cities.
Matching the national average are Chicago and Riverside, California, each 71 percent Christian. But in San Francisco, fewer than half call themselves Christian, and more than a third claim no religious affiliation.
Other cities where fewer than 6 in 10 residents identify as Christians are Seattle (52 percent), Boston (57 percent), and New York City (59 percent).
Those who say they have no religious affiliation range from a low of 18 percent in Dallas to a high of 37 percent in Seattle. Nationwide, the average is 23 percent.
