The map above shows Alabama and Michigan side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs Michigan Geography
Land area: Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while Michigan has 56,611 square miles (146,622 km²). Michigan's land area is 1.1 times (12%) larger than Alabama's.
Total area: Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs Michigan: 96,713 square miles (250,486 km²), including inland and coastal water. Michigan's total area is 1.8 times (84%) larger than Alabama's.
Length: Alabama is 331 miles (532 km) long from north to south; Michigan is 489 miles (786 km). Michigan's north-south length is 1.5 times (48%) longer than Alabama's.
Width: Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; Michigan spans 453 miles (728 km). Michigan's east-west width is 2.1 times (114%) wider than Alabama's.
Highest point: Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); Michigan's is Mount Arvon at 2,014 feet (614 m). Cheaha Mountain is 391 feet higher than Mount Arvon.
Lowest point: Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; Michigan's is Lake Erie at 571 feet. Alabama's lowest point is 571 feet lower.
Alabama vs Michigan Population and History
Population: Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while Michigan has 10,140,459 (2024). Michigan's population is 2.0 times (97%) larger than Alabama's.
Population density: Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs Michigan: 179.1. Michigan's population density is 1.8 times (76%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest city: Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; Michigan's is Detroit with 645,705. Detroit's population is 2.8 times (180%) larger than Huntsville's.
Largest metro area: Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 people) vs Michigan's Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area (4,400,578). Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area's population is 3.7 times (269%) larger than Birmingham, AL metro area's.
History: Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state. Michigan: Admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state. In its current form, Alabama is the older of the two by 18 years.
Alabama vs Michigan Economy
GDP: Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs Michigan's $702.5 billion. Michigan's economic output is 2.2 times (116%) larger than Alabama's.
GDP per capita: Alabama: $63,080 per person vs Michigan: $69,274. Michigan's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (10%) higher than Alabama's.
Average income: Alabama: $57,311 vs Michigan: $63,690 average income per person (per capita personal income). Michigan's average income is 1.1 times (11%) higher than Alabama's.
Alabama vs Michigan Counties
Number of counties: Alabama has 67 counties, while Michigan has 83. Michigan's county count is 1.2 times (24%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest county by area: Alabama's largest county is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; Michigan's is Marquette County at 1,809 square miles. Marquette County's land area is 1.1 times (14%) larger than Baldwin County's.
Smallest county by area: Alabama: Etowah County (535 sq mi) vs Michigan: Benzie County (320 sq mi). Etowah County's land area is 1.7 times (67%) larger than Benzie County's.
Most populous county: Alabama: Jefferson County (664,744 people) vs Michigan: Wayne County (1,771,063 people). Wayne County's population is 2.7 times (166%) larger than Jefferson County's.
Least populous county: Alabama: Greene County (7,127 people) vs Michigan: Keweenaw County (2,161 people). Greene County's population is 3.3 times (230%) larger than Keweenaw County's.
Richest county: Alabama: Jefferson County ($75,312 per capita income) vs Michigan: Oakland County ($93,579). Oakland County's income is 1.2 times (24%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alabama: Bullock County ($39,403 per capita income) vs Michigan: Lake County ($39,505). Bullock County and Lake County have about the same income.
Alabama vs Michigan Taxes
State income tax: Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5%, while Michigan has a top income tax rate of 4.25%. Alabama's top rate is 0.75 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alabama: 0.38% effective rate vs Michigan: 1.18% of home value per year. Michigan's rate is 0.8 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alabama: 9.46% combined state and average local rate vs Michigan: 6%. Alabama's combined rate is 3.46 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · Michigan official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama size comparisons · All Michigan 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.