The map above shows Maryland and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Maryland vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Maryland has a land area of 9,711 square miles (25,151 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). West Virginia's land area is 2.5 times (148%) larger than Maryland's.
Total area: Maryland: 12,406 square miles (32,131 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. West Virginia's total area is 2.0 times (95%) larger than Maryland's.
Length: Maryland is 231 miles (371 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). West Virginia's north-south length is 1.1 times (6%) longer than Maryland's.
Width: Maryland spans 243 miles (391 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). West Virginia's east-west width is 1.1 times (14%) wider than Maryland's.
Highest point: Maryland's highest point is Hoye-Crest at 3,362 feet (1,025 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 1,501 feet higher than Hoye-Crest.
Lowest point: Maryland's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Maryland's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
Maryland vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Maryland has a population of 6,263,220 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Maryland's population is 3.5 times (254%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Maryland: 645.0 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. Maryland's population density is 8.8 times (776%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: Maryland's biggest city is Baltimore with 568,271 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Baltimore's population is 12.2 times 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 West Virginia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area have about the same population.
History: Maryland: Admitted to the Union on April 28, 1788, as the 7th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Maryland is the older of the two by 75 years.
Maryland vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Maryland's GDP is $546.0 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Maryland's economic output is 5.1 times (413%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Maryland: $87,180 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Maryland's GDP per capita is 1.4 times (45%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Maryland: $79,259 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Maryland's average income is 1.4 times (43%) higher than West Virginia's.
Maryland vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Maryland has 24 counties, while West Virginia has 55. West Virginia's county count is 2.3 times (129%) higher than Maryland's.
Biggest county by area: Maryland's largest county is Frederick County at 661 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Randolph County's land area is 1.6 times (57%) larger than Frederick County's.
Smallest county by area: Maryland: Baltimore city (81 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Baltimore city and Hancock County have about the same land area.
Most populous county: Maryland: Montgomery County (1,082,273 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Montgomery County's population is 6.2 times (522%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Maryland: Kent County (19,557 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Kent County's population is 4.0 times (297%) larger than Wirt County's.
Richest county: Maryland: Montgomery County ($104,882 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Montgomery County's income is 1.5 times (49%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Maryland: Somerset County ($41,421 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Somerset County's income is 1.2 times (18%) richer than Webster County's.
Maryland vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Maryland has a top income tax rate of 6.5%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. Maryland's top rate is 1.68 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Maryland: 0.95% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Maryland's rate is 0.43 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Maryland: 6% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. West Virginia's combined rate is 0.6 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Maryland official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Maryland 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.