The map above shows Maryland and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Maryland vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: Maryland has a land area of 9,711 square miles (25,151 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). South Carolina's land area is 3.1 times (210%) larger than Maryland's.
Total area: Maryland: 12,406 square miles (32,131 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Carolina's total area is 2.6 times (158%) larger than Maryland's.
Length: Maryland is 231 miles (371 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). Maryland and South Carolina have about the same north-south length.
Width: Maryland spans 243 miles (391 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). South Carolina's east-west width is 1.1 times (15%) wider than Maryland's.
Highest point: Maryland's highest point is Hoye-Crest at 3,362 feet (1,025 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Sassafras Mountain is 135 feet higher than Hoye-Crest.
Lowest point: Maryland's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Maryland vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: Maryland has a population of 6,263,220 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). Maryland's population is 1.1 times (14%) larger than South Carolina's.
Population density: Maryland: 645.0 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. Maryland's population density is 3.5 times (254%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest city: Maryland's biggest city is Baltimore with 568,271 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. Baltimore's population is 3.6 times (260%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Maryland's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 people) vs South Carolina's Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (2,883,370). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 2.2 times (123%) larger than Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area's.
History: Maryland: Admitted to the Union on April 28, 1788, as the 7th state. South Carolina: Admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788, as the 8th state.
Maryland vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: Maryland's GDP is $546.0 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. Maryland's economic output is 1.5 times (53%) larger than South Carolina's.
GDP per capita: Maryland: $87,180 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. Maryland's GDP per capita is 1.3 times (34%) higher than South Carolina's.
Average income: Maryland: $79,259 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). Maryland's average income is 1.3 times (30%) higher than South Carolina's.
Maryland vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: Maryland has 24 counties, while South Carolina has 46. South Carolina's county count is 1.9 times (92%) higher than Maryland's.
Biggest county by area: Maryland's largest county is Frederick County at 661 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. Horry County's land area is 1.7 times (72%) larger than Frederick County's.
Smallest county by area: Maryland: Baltimore city (81 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). McCormick County's land area is 4.4 times (344%) larger than Baltimore city's.
Most populous county: Maryland: Montgomery County (1,082,273 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Montgomery County's population is 1.9 times (90%) larger than Greenville County's.
Least populous county: Maryland: Kent County (19,557 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Kent County's population is 2.6 times (159%) larger than Allendale County's.
Richest county: Maryland: Montgomery County ($104,882 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Montgomery County's income is 1.2 times (16%) richer than Charleston County's.
Poorest county: Maryland: Somerset County ($41,421 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Somerset County and Marlboro County have about the same income.
Maryland vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: Maryland has a top income tax rate of 6.5%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%. Maryland's top rate is 0.5 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Maryland: 0.95% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. Maryland's rate is 0.5 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Maryland: 6% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. South Carolina's combined rate is 1.49 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Maryland official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All Maryland size comparisons · All South Carolina 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.