The map above shows Pennsylvania and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Pennsylvania vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: Pennsylvania has a land area of 44,742 square miles (115,882 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). Pennsylvania's land area is 1.5 times (49%) larger than South Carolina's.
Total area: Pennsylvania: 46,054 square miles (119,279 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. Pennsylvania's total area is 1.4 times (44%) larger than South Carolina's.
Length: Pennsylvania is 284 miles (458 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). Pennsylvania's north-south length is 1.2 times (20%) longer than South Carolina's.
Width: Pennsylvania spans 307 miles (495 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). Pennsylvania's east-west width is 1.1 times (10%) wider than South Carolina's.
Highest point: Pennsylvania's highest point is Mount Davis at 3,210 feet (978 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Sassafras Mountain is 287 feet higher than Mount Davis.
Lowest point: Pennsylvania's lowest point is Delaware River at 0 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Pennsylvania vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: Pennsylvania has a population of 13,078,751 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). Pennsylvania's population is 2.4 times (139%) larger than South Carolina's.
Population density: Pennsylvania: 292.3 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. Pennsylvania's population density is 1.6 times (60%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest city: Pennsylvania's biggest city is Philadelphia with 1,573,916 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. Philadelphia's population is 10.0 times (898%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Pennsylvania's largest metropolitan area is Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (6,330,422 people) vs South Carolina's Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (2,883,370). Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area's population is 2.2 times (120%) larger than Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area's.
History: Pennsylvania: Admitted to the Union on December 12, 1787, as the 2nd state. South Carolina: Admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788, as the 8th state. In its current form, Pennsylvania is the older of the two by 1 years.
Pennsylvania vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: Pennsylvania's GDP is $1,007.9 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. Pennsylvania's economic output is 2.8 times (182%) larger than South Carolina's.
GDP per capita: Pennsylvania: $77,062 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. Pennsylvania's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (18%) higher than South Carolina's.
Average income: Pennsylvania: $70,678 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). Pennsylvania's average income is 1.2 times (16%) higher than South Carolina's.
Pennsylvania vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: Pennsylvania has 67 counties, while South Carolina has 46. Pennsylvania's county count is 1.5 times (46%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest county by area: Pennsylvania's largest county is Lycoming County at 1,229 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. Lycoming County's land area is 1.1 times (8%) larger than Horry County's.
Smallest county by area: Pennsylvania: Montour County (130 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). McCormick County's land area is 2.8 times (175%) larger than Montour County's.
Most populous county: Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County (1,573,916 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Philadelphia County's population is 2.8 times (176%) larger than Greenville County's.
Least populous county: Pennsylvania: Cameron County (4,348 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Allendale County's population is 1.7 times (74%) larger than Cameron County's.
Richest county: Pennsylvania: Chester County ($110,883 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Chester County's income is 1.2 times (22%) richer than Charleston County's.
Poorest county: Pennsylvania: Forest County ($30,234 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Marlboro County's income is 1.4 times (37%) richer than Forest County's.
Pennsylvania vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: Pennsylvania has a top income tax rate of 3.07%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%. South Carolina's top rate is 2.93 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Pennsylvania: 1.16% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. Pennsylvania's rate is 0.71 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Pennsylvania: 6.34% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. South Carolina's combined rate is 1.15 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Pennsylvania official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All Pennsylvania 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.