The map above shows Missouri and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Missouri vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Missouri has a land area of 68,746 square miles (178,052 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Missouri's land area is 2.9 times (186%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Missouri: 69,707 square miles (180,540 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Missouri's total area is 2.9 times (188%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Missouri is 328 miles (529 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Missouri's north-south length is 1.3 times (34%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: Missouri spans 437 miles (703 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Missouri's east-west width is 1.6 times (58%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Missouri's highest point is Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,771 feet (540 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 3,092 feet higher than Taum Sauk Mountain.
Lowest point: Missouri's lowest point is St. Francis River at 230 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Missouri's lowest point is 10 feet lower.
Missouri vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Missouri has a population of 6,245,466 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Missouri's population is 3.5 times (253%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Missouri: 90.8 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. Missouri's population density is 1.2 times (23%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: Missouri's biggest city is Kansas City with 516,032 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Kansas City's population is 11.1 times larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Missouri's largest metropolitan area is St. Louis, MO-IL metro area (2,811,927 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 2.3 times (129%) larger than St. Louis, MO-IL metro area's.
History: Missouri: Admitted to the Union on August 10, 1821, as the 24th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Missouri is the older of the two by 42 years.
Missouri vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Missouri's GDP is $448.7 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Missouri's economic output is 4.2 times (321%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Missouri: $71,846 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Missouri's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (19%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Missouri: $64,920 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Missouri's average income is 1.2 times (17%) higher than West Virginia's.
Missouri vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Missouri has 115 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Missouri's county count is 2.1 times (109%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Missouri's largest county is Texas County at 1,177 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Texas County's land area is 1.1 times (13%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: Missouri: St. Louis city (62 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Hancock County's land area is 1.3 times (34%) larger than St. Louis city's.
Most populous county: Missouri: St. Louis County (992,929 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). St. Louis County's population is 5.7 times (471%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Missouri: Worth County (1,872 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 2.6 times (163%) larger than Worth County's.
Richest county: Missouri: St. Louis County ($104,775 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). St. Louis County's income is 1.5 times (49%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Missouri: Douglas County ($40,515 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Douglas County's income is 1.2 times (16%) richer than Webster County's.
Missouri vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Missouri has a top income tax rate of 4.7%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 0.12 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Missouri: 0.79% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Missouri's rate is 0.27 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Missouri: 8.44% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Missouri's combined rate is 1.84 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Missouri official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Missouri 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.