The map above shows Kansas and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Kansas vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Kansas has a land area of 81,759 square miles (211,754 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Kansas' land area is 3.4 times (240%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Kansas: 82,278 square miles (213,100 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Kansas' total area is 3.4 times (240%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Kansas is 207 miles (334 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). West Virginia's north-south length is 1.2 times (18%) longer than Kansas'.
Width: Kansas spans 401 miles (645 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Kansas' east-west width is 1.5 times (45%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Kansas's highest point is Mount Sunflower at 4,040 feet (1,231 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 823 feet higher than Mount Sunflower.
Lowest point: Kansas's lowest point is Verdigris River at 679 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. West Virginia's lowest point is 439 feet lower.
Kansas vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Kansas has a population of 2,970,606 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Kansas' population is 1.7 times (68%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Kansas: 36.3 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. West Virginia's population density is 2.0 times (103%) higher than Kansas'.
Biggest city: Kansas's biggest city is Wichita with 400,991 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Wichita's population is 8.6 times (763%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Kansas's largest metropolitan area is Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (2,253,579 people) vs West Virginia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 2.9 times (186%) larger than Kansas City, MO-KS metro area's.
History: Kansas: Admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861, as the 34th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Kansas is the older of the two by 2 years.
Kansas vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Kansas's GDP is $230.5 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Kansas' economic output is 2.2 times (116%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Kansas: $77,601 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Kansas' GDP per capita is 1.3 times (29%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Kansas: $65,856 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Kansas' average income is 1.2 times (19%) higher than West Virginia's.
Kansas vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Kansas has 105 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Kansas' county count is 1.9 times (91%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Kansas's largest county is Butler County at 1,430 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Butler County's land area is 1.4 times (38%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: Kansas: Wyandotte County (152 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Wyandotte County's land area is 1.8 times (84%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Kansas: Johnson County (632,276 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Johnson County's population is 3.6 times (264%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Kansas: Greeley County (1,152 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 4.3 times (327%) larger than Greeley County's.
Richest county: Kansas: Greeley County ($134,780 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Greeley County's income is 1.9 times (91%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Kansas: Wyandotte County ($42,878 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Wyandotte County's income is 1.2 times (22%) richer than Webster County's.
Kansas vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Kansas has a top income tax rate of 5.58%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. Kansas's top rate is 0.76 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Kansas: 1.25% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Kansas's rate is 0.73 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Kansas: 8.71% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Kansas's combined rate is 2.11 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Kansas official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Kansas size comparisons · All West Virginia 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.