The map above shows Michigan and Pennsylvania side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Michigan vs Pennsylvania Geography
Land area: Michigan has a land area of 56,611 square miles (146,622 km²), while Pennsylvania has 44,742 square miles (115,882 km²). Michigan's land area is 1.3 times (27%) larger than Pennsylvania's.
Total area: Michigan: 96,713 square miles (250,486 km²) vs Pennsylvania: 46,054 square miles (119,279 km²), including inland and coastal water. Michigan's total area is 2.1 times (110%) larger than Pennsylvania's.
Length: Michigan is 489 miles (786 km) long from north to south; Pennsylvania is 284 miles (458 km). Michigan's north-south length is 1.7 times (72%) longer than Pennsylvania's.
Width: Michigan spans 453 miles (728 km) east to west; Pennsylvania spans 307 miles (495 km). Michigan's east-west width is 1.5 times (48%) wider than Pennsylvania's.
Highest point: Michigan's highest point is Mount Arvon at 2,014 feet (614 m); Pennsylvania's is Mount Davis at 3,210 feet (978 m). Mount Davis is 1,196 feet higher than Mount Arvon.
Lowest point: Michigan's lowest point is Lake Erie at 571 feet; Pennsylvania's is Delaware River at 0 feet. Pennsylvania's lowest point is 571 feet lower.
Michigan vs Pennsylvania Population and History
Population: Michigan has a population of 10,140,459 (2024), while Pennsylvania has 13,078,751 (2024). Pennsylvania's population is 1.3 times (29%) larger than Michigan's.
Population density: Michigan: 179.1 people per square mile vs Pennsylvania: 292.3. Pennsylvania's population density is 1.6 times (63%) higher than Michigan's.
Biggest city: Michigan's biggest city is Detroit with 645,705 people; Pennsylvania's is Philadelphia with 1,573,916. Philadelphia's population is 2.4 times (144%) larger than Detroit's.
Largest metro area: Michigan's largest metropolitan area is Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area (4,400,578 people) vs Pennsylvania's Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (6,330,422). Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area's population is 1.4 times (44%) larger than Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area's.
History: Michigan: Admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state. Pennsylvania: Admitted to the Union on December 12, 1787, as the 2nd state. In its current form, Pennsylvania is the older of the two by 50 years.
Michigan vs Pennsylvania Economy
GDP: Michigan's GDP is $702.5 billion (2024) vs Pennsylvania's $1,007.9 billion. Pennsylvania's economic output is 1.4 times (43%) larger than Michigan's.
GDP per capita: Michigan: $69,274 per person vs Pennsylvania: $77,062. Pennsylvania's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (11%) higher than Michigan's.
Average income: Michigan: $63,690 vs Pennsylvania: $70,678 average income per person (per capita personal income). Pennsylvania's average income is 1.1 times (11%) higher than Michigan's.
Michigan vs Pennsylvania Counties
Number of counties: Michigan has 83 counties, while Pennsylvania has 67. Michigan's county count is 1.2 times (24%) higher than Pennsylvania's.
Biggest county by area: Michigan's largest county is Marquette County at 1,809 square miles; Pennsylvania's is Lycoming County at 1,229 square miles. Marquette County's land area is 1.5 times (47%) larger than Lycoming County's.
Smallest county by area: Michigan: Benzie County (320 sq mi) vs Pennsylvania: Montour County (130 sq mi). Benzie County's land area is 2.5 times (145%) larger than Montour County's.
Most populous county: Michigan: Wayne County (1,771,063 people) vs Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County (1,573,916 people). Wayne County's population is 1.1 times (13%) larger than Philadelphia County's.
Least populous county: Michigan: Keweenaw County (2,161 people) vs Pennsylvania: Cameron County (4,348 people). Cameron County's population is 2.0 times (101%) larger than Keweenaw County's.
Richest county: Michigan: Oakland County ($93,579 per capita income) vs Pennsylvania: Chester County ($110,883). Chester County's income is 1.2 times (18%) richer than Oakland County's.
Poorest county: Michigan: Lake County ($39,505 per capita income) vs Pennsylvania: Forest County ($30,234). Lake County's income is 1.3 times (31%) richer than Forest County's.
Michigan vs Pennsylvania Taxes
State income tax: Michigan has a top income tax rate of 4.25%, while Pennsylvania has a top income tax rate of 3.07%. Michigan's top rate is 1.18 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Michigan: 1.18% effective rate vs Pennsylvania: 1.16% of home value per year. Michigan's rate is 0.02 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Michigan: 6% combined state and average local rate vs Pennsylvania: 6.34%. Pennsylvania's combined rate is 0.34 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Michigan official website · Pennsylvania official website
More Size Comparisons
All Michigan size comparisons · All Pennsylvania 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.