The map above shows North Carolina and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
North Carolina vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: North Carolina has a land area of 48,624 square miles (125,936 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). North Carolina's land area is 1.6 times (62%) larger than South Carolina's.
Total area: North Carolina: 53,819 square miles (139,390 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. North Carolina's total area is 1.7 times (68%) larger than South Carolina's.
Length: North Carolina is 258 miles (415 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). North Carolina's north-south length is 1.1 times (9%) longer than South Carolina's.
Width: North Carolina spans 487 miles (784 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). North Carolina's east-west width is 1.7 times (75%) wider than South Carolina's.
Highest point: North Carolina's highest point is Mount Mitchell at 6,674 feet (2,034 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Mount Mitchell is 3,177 feet higher than Sassafras Mountain.
Lowest point: North Carolina's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
North Carolina vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: North Carolina has a population of 11,046,024 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). North Carolina's population is 2.0 times (102%) larger than South Carolina's.
Population density: North Carolina: 227.2 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. North Carolina's population density is 1.2 times (25%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest city: North Carolina's biggest city is Charlotte with 943,476 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. Charlotte's population is 6.0 times (498%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: North Carolina's largest metropolitan area is Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (2,883,370 people) vs South Carolina's Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (2,883,370). Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area have about the same population.
History: North Carolina: Admitted to the Union on November 21, 1789, as the 12th state. South Carolina: Admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788, as the 8th state. In its current form, South Carolina is the older of the two by 1 years.
North Carolina vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: North Carolina's GDP is $844.2 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. North Carolina's economic output is 2.4 times (136%) larger than South Carolina's.
GDP per capita: North Carolina: $76,427 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. North Carolina's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (17%) higher than South Carolina's.
Average income: North Carolina: $65,634 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). North Carolina's average income is 1.1 times (8%) higher than South Carolina's.
North Carolina vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: North Carolina has 100 counties, while South Carolina has 46. North Carolina's county count is 2.2 times (117%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest county by area: North Carolina's largest county is Robeson County at 947 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. Horry County's land area is 1.2 times (20%) larger than Robeson County's.
Smallest county by area: North Carolina: Chowan County (173 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). McCormick County's land area is 2.1 times (108%) larger than Chowan County's.
Most populous county: North Carolina: Wake County (1,232,444 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Wake County's population is 2.2 times (116%) larger than Greenville County's.
Least populous county: North Carolina: Tyrrell County (3,517 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Allendale County's population is 2.1 times (115%) larger than Tyrrell County's.
Richest county: North Carolina: Chatham County ($91,638 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Chatham County and Charleston County have about the same income.
Poorest county: North Carolina: Warren County ($40,932 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Warren County and Marlboro County have about the same income.
North Carolina vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: North Carolina has a top income tax rate of 3.99%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%. South Carolina's top rate is 2.01 percentage points higher.
Property tax: North Carolina: 0.61% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. North Carolina's rate is 0.16 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: North Carolina: 7.1% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. South Carolina's combined rate is 0.39 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
North Carolina official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All North Carolina size comparisons · All South Carolina 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.