The map above shows Pennsylvania and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Pennsylvania vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Pennsylvania has a land area of 44,742 square miles (115,882 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Pennsylvania's land area is 1.9 times (86%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Pennsylvania: 46,054 square miles (119,279 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Pennsylvania's total area is 1.9 times (90%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Pennsylvania is 284 miles (458 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Pennsylvania's north-south length is 1.2 times (16%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: Pennsylvania spans 307 miles (495 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Pennsylvania's east-west width is 1.1 times (11%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Pennsylvania's highest point is Mount Davis at 3,210 feet (978 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 1,653 feet higher than Mount Davis.
Lowest point: Pennsylvania's lowest point is Delaware River at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Pennsylvania's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
Pennsylvania vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Pennsylvania has a population of 13,078,751 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Pennsylvania's population is 7.4 times (639%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Pennsylvania: 292.3 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. Pennsylvania's population density is 4.0 times (297%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: Pennsylvania's biggest city is Philadelphia with 1,573,916 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Philadelphia's population is 33.9 times 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 West Virginia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area have about the same population.
History: Pennsylvania: Admitted to the Union on December 12, 1787, as the 2nd state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Pennsylvania is the older of the two by 76 years.
Pennsylvania vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Pennsylvania's GDP is $1,007.9 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Pennsylvania's economic output is 9.5 times (846%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Pennsylvania: $77,062 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Pennsylvania's GDP per capita is 1.3 times (28%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Pennsylvania: $70,678 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Pennsylvania's average income is 1.3 times (28%) higher than West Virginia's.
Pennsylvania vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Pennsylvania has 67 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Pennsylvania's county count is 1.2 times (22%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Pennsylvania's largest county is Lycoming County at 1,229 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Lycoming County's land area is 1.2 times (18%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: Pennsylvania: Montour County (130 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Montour County's land area is 1.6 times (58%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County (1,573,916 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Philadelphia County's population is 9.1 times (805%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Pennsylvania: Cameron County (4,348 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 1.1 times (13%) larger than Cameron County's.
Richest county: Pennsylvania: Chester County ($110,883 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Chester County's income is 1.6 times (57%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Pennsylvania: Forest County ($30,234 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Webster County's income is 1.2 times (16%) richer than Forest County's.
Pennsylvania vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Pennsylvania has a top income tax rate of 3.07%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 1.75 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Pennsylvania: 1.16% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Pennsylvania's rate is 0.64 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Pennsylvania: 6.34% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. West Virginia's combined rate is 0.26 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Pennsylvania official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Pennsylvania 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.