The map above shows Montana and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Montana vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Montana has a land area of 145,550 square miles (376,973 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Montana's land area is 6.1 times (505%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Montana: 147,043 square miles (380,840 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Montana's total area is 6.1 times (507%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Montana is 319 miles (514 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Montana's north-south length is 1.3 times (30%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: Montana spans 607 miles (976 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Montana's east-west width is 2.2 times (120%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Montana's highest point is Granite Peak at 12,767 feet (3,891 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Granite Peak is 7,904 feet higher than Spruce Knob.
Lowest point: Montana's lowest point is Kootenai River at 1,805 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. West Virginia's lowest point is 1,565 feet lower.
Montana vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Montana has a population of 1,137,233 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). West Virginia's population is 1.6 times (56%) larger than Montana's.
Population density: Montana: 7.8 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. West Virginia's population density is 9.4 times (844%) higher than Montana's.
Biggest city: Montana's biggest city is Billings with 121,483 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Billings' population is 2.6 times (161%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Montana's largest metropolitan area is Billings, MT metro area (192,531 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 33.4 times larger than Billings, MT metro area's.
History: Montana: Admitted to the Union on November 8, 1889, as the 41st state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, West Virginia is the older of the two by 26 years.
Montana vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Montana's GDP is $78.4 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. West Virginia's economic output is 1.4 times (36%) larger than Montana's.
GDP per capita: Montana: $68,975 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Montana's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (15%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Montana: $69,240 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Montana's average income is 1.3 times (25%) higher than West Virginia's.
Montana vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Montana has 56 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Montana and West Virginia have about the same county count.
Biggest county by area: Montana's largest county is Beaverhead County at 5,543 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Beaverhead County's land area is 5.3 times (433%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: Montana: Silver Bow County (718 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Silver Bow County's land area is 8.7 times (769%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Montana: Yellowstone County (171,583 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Yellowstone County and Kanawha County have about the same population.
Least populous county: Montana: Petroleum County (525 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 9.4 times (838%) larger than Petroleum County's.
Richest county: Montana: Gallatin County ($94,573 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Gallatin County's income is 1.3 times (34%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Montana: Blaine County ($37,554 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Blaine County's income is 1.1 times (7%) richer than Webster County's.
Montana vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Montana has a top income tax rate of 5.65%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. Montana's top rate is 0.83 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Montana: 0.69% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Montana's rate is 0.17 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Montana: 0% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. West Virginia's combined rate is 6.6 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Montana official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Montana 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.