The map above shows Kentucky and Ohio side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Kentucky vs Ohio Geography
Land area: Kentucky has a land area of 39,485 square miles (102,267 km²), while Ohio has 40,859 square miles (105,824 km²). Kentucky and Ohio have about the same land area.
Total area: Kentucky: 40,406 square miles (104,651 km²) vs Ohio: 44,826 square miles (116,098 km²), including inland and coastal water. Ohio's total area is 1.1 times (11%) larger than Kentucky's.
Length: Kentucky is 257 miles (414 km) long from north to south; Ohio is 291 miles (468 km). Ohio's north-south length is 1.1 times (13%) longer than Kentucky's.
Width: Kentucky spans 418 miles (672 km) east to west; Ohio spans 317 miles (510 km). Kentucky's east-west width is 1.3 times (32%) wider than Ohio's.
Highest point: Kentucky's highest point is Black Mountain at 4,134 feet (1,260 m); Ohio's is Campbell Hill at 1,547 feet (472 m). Black Mountain is 2,587 feet higher than Campbell Hill.
Lowest point: Kentucky's lowest point is Mississippi River at 270 feet; Ohio's is Ohio River at 455 feet. Kentucky's lowest point is 185 feet lower.
Kentucky vs Ohio Population and History
Population: Kentucky has a population of 4,588,372 (2024), while Ohio has 11,883,304 (2024). Ohio's population is 2.6 times (159%) larger than Kentucky's.
Population density: Kentucky: 116.2 people per square mile vs Ohio: 290.8. Ohio's population density is 2.5 times (150%) higher than Kentucky's.
Biggest city: Kentucky's biggest city is Louisville with 640,796 people; Ohio's is Columbus with 933,263. Columbus' population is 1.5 times (46%) larger than Louisville's.
Largest metro area: Kentucky's largest metropolitan area is Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (2,302,815 people) vs Ohio's Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (2,302,815). Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area and Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area have about the same population.
History: Kentucky: Admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state. Ohio: Admitted to the Union on March 1, 1803, as the 17th state. In its current form, Kentucky is the older of the two by 11 years.
Kentucky vs Ohio Economy
GDP: Kentucky's GDP is $295.4 billion (2024) vs Ohio's $923.1 billion. Ohio's economic output is 3.1 times (212%) larger than Kentucky's.
GDP per capita: Kentucky: $64,375 per person vs Ohio: $77,684. Ohio's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (21%) higher than Kentucky's.
Average income: Kentucky: $58,256 vs Ohio: $64,464 average income per person (per capita personal income). Ohio's average income is 1.1 times (11%) higher than Kentucky's.
Kentucky vs Ohio Counties
Number of counties: Kentucky has 120 counties, while Ohio has 88. Kentucky's county count is 1.4 times (36%) higher than Ohio's.
Biggest county by area: Kentucky's largest county is Pike County at 786 square miles; Ohio's is Ashtabula County at 702 square miles. Pike County's land area is 1.1 times (12%) larger than Ashtabula County's.
Smallest county by area: Kentucky: Gallatin County (98 sq mi) vs Ohio: Lake County (229 sq mi). Lake County's land area is 2.3 times (133%) larger than Gallatin County's.
Most populous county: Kentucky: Jefferson County (793,881 people) vs Ohio: Franklin County (1,356,303 people). Franklin County's population is 1.7 times (71%) larger than Jefferson County's.
Least populous county: Kentucky: Robertson County (2,382 people) vs Ohio: Vinton County (12,545 people). Vinton County's population is 5.3 times (427%) larger than Robertson County's.
Richest county: Kentucky: Oldham County ($87,137 per capita income) vs Ohio: Delaware County ($96,573). Delaware County's income is 1.1 times (11%) richer than Oldham County's.
Poorest county: Kentucky: Elliott County ($31,817 per capita income) vs Ohio: Noble County ($34,940). Noble County's income is 1.1 times (10%) richer than Elliott County's.
Kentucky vs Ohio Taxes
State income tax: Kentucky has a top income tax rate of 3.5%, while Ohio has a top income tax rate of 2.75%. Kentucky's top rate is 0.75 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Kentucky: 0.71% effective rate vs Ohio: 1.22% of home value per year. Ohio's rate is 0.51 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Kentucky: 6% combined state and average local rate vs Ohio: 7.29%. Ohio's combined rate is 1.29 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Kentucky official website · Ohio official website
More Size Comparisons
All Kentucky size comparisons · All Ohio 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.