Urban ecosystems are often characterized as hostile environments for tree growth due to high level of human interference. For this study, 320 established healthy open-crown trees were sampled according to community population gradients (approximately 0, 500, 5,000, and 50,000 people) and by land uses (city parks, residential, and commercial sites) in 5 Midwestern states. The first objective was to examine variation in age, height, diameter, growth rates, and condition rating. The second objective was to examine variation in number of competitors within 20 m and 9 m, and assess their relationship to growth according to community populations and land uses. The third objective was to evaluate the relationship of biotic and abiotic factors to tree growth. Tree growth rate was defined as the mean annual ring width averaged over the last 10 years (mm year−1). Number of competitors within 20 m and the location of anthropogenic features were noted for each sample tree. Six biotic factors and seven abiotic factors were recorded for all sampled trees; for the Iowa-2 samples four additional abiotic variables were included. According to community population gradient, rural parks had higher mean age, and lower mean growth rates compared to all communities. According to land use, both mean age and mean growth rates were higher for city parks compared to commercial sites; residential sites had intermediate age, size, and growth rate characteristics. According to community population gradient, mean number of competitors (20 m) was higher in rural parks, associated with lower growth rates. According to land use, city parks and residential sites had more competitors, with no relationship to growth rates. Trees that had no competitors within 9 m had higher mean growth rates compared to those with more than one competitor. Combined biotic factors were related to tree growth rates for all species and silver maple in all studied areas, while abiotic factors were related to growth in the Iowa-2 samples. In conclusion, both community population gradient and land use were related to tree characteristics. Number of competitors and number of biotic and abiotic factors were also related to tree growth.