The map above shows Alabama and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Alabama's land area is 2.1 times (111%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alabama's total area is 2.2 times (116%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Alabama is 331 miles (532 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Alabama's north-south length is 1.4 times (35%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). West Virginia's east-west width is 1.3 times (30%) wider than Alabama's.
Highest point: Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 2,458 feet higher than Cheaha Mountain.
Lowest point: Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Alabama's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
Alabama vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Alabama's population is 2.9 times (191%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. Alabama's population density is 1.4 times (38%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Huntsville's population is 5.0 times (396%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 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 5.4 times (440%) larger than Birmingham, AL metro area's.
History: Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Alabama is the older of the two by 44 years.
Alabama vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Alabama's economic output is 3.1 times (205%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Alabama: $63,080 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Alabama's GDP per capita is 1.0 times (5%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Alabama: $57,311 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Alabama and West Virginia have about the same average income.
Alabama vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Alabama has 67 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Alabama's county count is 1.2 times (22%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Alabama's largest county is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Baldwin County's land area is 1.5 times (53%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: Alabama: Etowah County (535 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Etowah County's land area is 6.5 times (548%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Alabama: Jefferson County (664,744 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Jefferson County's population is 3.8 times (282%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Alabama: Greene County (7,127 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Greene County's population is 1.4 times (45%) larger than Wirt County's.
Richest county: Alabama: Jefferson County ($75,312 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Jefferson County's income is 1.1 times (7%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alabama: Bullock County ($39,403 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Bullock County's income is 1.1 times (12%) richer than Webster County's.
Alabama vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. Alabama's top rate is 0.18 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alabama: 0.38% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. West Virginia's rate is 0.14 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alabama: 9.46% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Alabama's combined rate is 2.86 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama 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.