The map above shows Nebraska and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Nebraska vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Nebraska has a land area of 76,815 square miles (198,950 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Nebraska's land area is 3.2 times (220%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Nebraska: 77,347 square miles (200,329 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Nebraska's total area is 3.2 times (219%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Nebraska is 497 miles (800 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Nebraska's north-south length is 2.0 times (103%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: Nebraska spans 464 miles (747 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Nebraska's east-west width is 1.7 times (68%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Nebraska's highest point is Panorama Point at 5,428 feet (1,654 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Panorama Point is 565 feet higher than Spruce Knob.
Lowest point: Nebraska's lowest point is Missouri River at 840 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. West Virginia's lowest point is 600 feet lower.
Nebraska vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Nebraska has a population of 2,005,465 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Nebraska's population is 1.1 times (13%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Nebraska: 26.1 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. West Virginia's population density is 2.8 times (182%) higher than Nebraska's.
Biggest city: Nebraska's biggest city is Omaha with 489,265 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Omaha's population is 10.5 times larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Nebraska's largest metropolitan area is Omaha, NE-IA metro area (1,001,010 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 6.4 times (543%) larger than Omaha, NE-IA metro area's.
History: Nebraska: Admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867, as the 37th 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 4 years.
Nebraska vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Nebraska's GDP is $189.2 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Nebraska's economic output is 1.8 times (78%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Nebraska: $94,363 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Nebraska's GDP per capita is 1.6 times (57%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Nebraska: $72,701 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Nebraska's average income is 1.3 times (31%) higher than West Virginia's.
Nebraska vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Nebraska has 93 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Nebraska's county count is 1.7 times (69%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Nebraska's largest county is Cherry County at 5,960 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Cherry County's land area is 5.7 times (473%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: Nebraska: Sarpy County (238 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Sarpy County's land area is 2.9 times (188%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Nebraska: Douglas County (601,158 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Douglas County's population is 3.5 times (246%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Nebraska: McPherson County (376 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 13.1 times larger than McPherson County's.
Richest county: Nebraska: Pierce County ($112,729 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Pierce County's income is 1.6 times (60%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Nebraska: Johnson County ($45,756 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Johnson County's income is 1.3 times (31%) richer than Webster County's.
Nebraska vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Nebraska has a top income tax rate of 4.55%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 0.27 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Nebraska: 1.42% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Nebraska's rate is 0.9 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Nebraska: 6.98% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Nebraska's combined rate is 0.38 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Nebraska official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Nebraska 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.