The map above shows Delaware and District of Columbia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Delaware vs District of Columbia Geography
Land area: Delaware has a land area of 1,949 square miles (5,047 km²), while District of Columbia has 61 square miles (158 km²). Delaware's land area is 31.9 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Total area: Delaware: 2,489 square miles (6,446 km²) vs District of Columbia: 68 square miles (177 km²), including inland and coastal water. Delaware's total area is 36.4 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Length: Delaware is 98 miles (158 km) long from north to south; District of Columbia is 13 miles (22 km). Delaware's north-south length is 7.5 times (654%) longer than District of Columbia's.
Width: Delaware spans 96 miles (155 km) east to west; District of Columbia spans 12 miles (19 km). Delaware's east-west width is 8.0 times (700%) wider than District of Columbia's.
Highest point: Delaware's highest point is Ebright Azimuth at 450 feet (137 m); District of Columbia's is Fort Reno at 429 feet (131 m). Ebright Azimuth is 21 feet higher than Fort Reno.
Lowest point: Delaware's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; District of Columbia's is Potomac River at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Delaware vs District of Columbia Population and History
Population: Delaware has a population of 1,051,917 (2024), while District of Columbia has 702,250 (2024). Delaware's population is 1.5 times (50%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Population density: Delaware: 539.9 people per square mile vs District of Columbia: 11,493.5. District of Columbia's population density is 21.3 times higher than Delaware's.
Biggest city: Delaware's biggest city is Wilmington with 73,176 people; District of Columbia's is Washington with 702,250. Washington's population is 9.6 times (860%) larger than Wilmington's.
Largest metro area: Delaware's largest metropolitan area is Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (6,330,422 people) vs District of Columbia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area have about the same population.
History: Delaware: Admitted to the Union on December 7, 1787, as the 1st state. District of Columbia: The federal district, established by the Residence Act on July 16, 1790; not a state. In its current form, Delaware is the older of the two by 3 years.
Delaware vs District of Columbia Economy
GDP: Delaware's GDP is $111.0 billion (2024) vs District of Columbia's $184.3 billion. District of Columbia's economic output is 1.7 times (66%) larger than Delaware's.
GDP per capita: Delaware: $105,495 per person vs District of Columbia: $262,439. District of Columbia's GDP per capita is 2.5 times (149%) higher than Delaware's.
Average income: Delaware: $68,061 vs District of Columbia: $111,185 average income per person (per capita personal income). District of Columbia's average income is 1.6 times (63%) higher than Delaware's.
Delaware vs District of Columbia Counties
Number of counties: Delaware has 3 counties, while District of Columbia has 1. Delaware's county count is 3.0 times (200%) higher than District of Columbia's.
Biggest county by area: Delaware's largest county is Sussex County at 936 square miles; District of Columbia's is District of Columbia at 61 square miles. Sussex County's land area is 15.3 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Smallest county by area: Delaware: New Castle County (426 sq mi) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (61 sq mi). New Castle County's land area is 7.0 times (598%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Most populous county: Delaware: New Castle County (588,093 people) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people). District of Columbia's population is 1.2 times (19%) larger than New Castle County's.
Least populous county: Delaware: Kent County (192,690 people) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people). District of Columbia's population is 3.6 times (264%) larger than Kent County's.
Richest county: Delaware: Sussex County ($73,647 per capita income) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185). District of Columbia's income is 1.5 times (51%) richer than Sussex County's.
Poorest county: Delaware: Kent County ($55,474 per capita income) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185). District of Columbia's income is 2.0 times (100%) richer than Kent County's.
Delaware vs District of Columbia Taxes
State income tax: Delaware has a top income tax rate of 6.6%, while District of Columbia has a top income tax rate of 10.75%. District of Columbia's top rate is 4.15 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Delaware: 0.47% effective rate vs District of Columbia: 0.63% of home value per year. District of Columbia's rate is 0.16 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Delaware: 0% combined state and average local rate vs District of Columbia: 6%. District of Columbia's combined rate is 6 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Delaware official website · District of Columbia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Delaware size comparisons · All District of Columbia size comparisons
Area, elevation and boundary figures come from official national statistics and US Census Bureau and Natural Earth boundary data; US state population, economic, county and tax figures come from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation. Figures are rounded and for general reference.