The map above shows Connecticut and Rhode Island side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Connecticut vs Rhode Island Geography
Land area: Connecticut has a land area of 4,843 square miles (12,542 km²), while Rhode Island has 1,034 square miles (2,678 km²). Connecticut's land area is 4.7 times (368%) larger than Rhode Island's.
Total area: Connecticut: 5,544 square miles (14,358 km²) vs Rhode Island: 1,545 square miles (4,002 km²), including inland and coastal water. Connecticut's total area is 3.6 times (259%) larger than Rhode Island's.
Length: Connecticut is 73 miles (118 km) long from north to south; Rhode Island is 61 miles (98 km). Connecticut's north-south length is 1.2 times (20%) longer than Rhode Island's.
Width: Connecticut spans 104 miles (167 km) east to west; Rhode Island spans 42 miles (67 km). Connecticut's east-west width is 2.5 times (148%) wider than Rhode Island's.
Highest point: Connecticut's highest point is Mount Frissell (south slope) at 2,376 feet (724 m); Rhode Island's is Jerimoth Hill at 811 feet (247 m). Mount Frissell (south slope) is 1,565 feet higher than Jerimoth Hill.
Lowest point: Connecticut's lowest point is Long Island Sound at 0 feet; Rhode Island's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Connecticut vs Rhode Island Population and History
Population: Connecticut has a population of 3,675,069 (2024), while Rhode Island has 1,112,308 (2024). Connecticut's population is 3.3 times (230%) larger than Rhode Island's.
Population density: Connecticut: 758.9 people per square mile vs Rhode Island: 1,075.8. Rhode Island's population density is 1.4 times (42%) higher than Connecticut's.
Biggest city: Connecticut's biggest city is Bridgeport with 151,599 people; Rhode Island's is Providence with 194,706. Providence's population is 1.3 times (28%) larger than Bridgeport's.
Largest metro area: Connecticut's largest metropolitan area is Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area (1,169,048 people) vs Rhode Island's Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (1,700,901). Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area's population is 1.5 times (45%) larger than Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area's.
History: Connecticut: Admitted to the Union on January 9, 1788, as the 5th state. Rhode Island: Admitted to the Union on May 29, 1790, as the 13th state. In its current form, Connecticut is the older of the two by 2 years.
Connecticut vs Rhode Island Economy
GDP: Connecticut's GDP is $356.8 billion (2024) vs Rhode Island's $80.4 billion. Connecticut's economic output is 4.4 times (344%) larger than Rhode Island's.
GDP per capita: Connecticut: $97,096 per person vs Rhode Island: $72,265. Connecticut's GDP per capita is 1.3 times (34%) higher than Rhode Island's.
Average income: Connecticut: $95,067 vs Rhode Island: $70,622 average income per person (per capita personal income). Connecticut's average income is 1.3 times (35%) higher than Rhode Island's.
Connecticut vs Rhode Island Counties
Number of counties: Connecticut has 9 counties, while Rhode Island has 5. Connecticut's county count is 1.8 times (80%) higher than Rhode Island's.
Biggest county by area: Connecticut's largest county is Capitol Planning Region at 1,027 square miles; Rhode Island's is Providence County at 410 square miles. Capitol Planning Region's land area is 2.5 times (151%) larger than Providence County's.
Smallest county by area: Connecticut: Greater Bridgeport Planning Region (140 sq mi) vs Rhode Island: Bristol County (24 sq mi). Greater Bridgeport Planning Region's land area is 5.8 times (482%) larger than Bristol County's.
Most populous county: Connecticut: Capitol Planning Region (991,508 people) vs Rhode Island: Providence County (675,912 people). Capitol Planning Region's population is 1.5 times (47%) larger than Providence County's.
Least populous county: Connecticut: Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region (97,701 people) vs Rhode Island: Bristol County (50,145 people). Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region's population is 1.9 times (95%) larger than Bristol County's.
Richest county: Connecticut: Western Connecticut Planning Region ($165,513 per capita income) vs Rhode Island: Bristol County ($99,923). Western Connecticut Planning Region's income is 1.7 times (66%) richer than Bristol County's.
Poorest county: Connecticut: Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region ($64,845 per capita income) vs Rhode Island: Providence County ($61,040). Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region's income is 1.1 times (6%) richer than Providence County's.
Connecticut vs Rhode Island Taxes
State income tax: Connecticut has a top income tax rate of 6.99%, while Rhode Island has a top income tax rate of 5.99%. Connecticut's top rate is 1 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Connecticut: 1.66% effective rate vs Rhode Island: 1.07% of home value per year. Connecticut's rate is 0.59 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Connecticut: 6.35% combined state and average local rate vs Rhode Island: 7%. Rhode Island's combined rate is 0.65 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Connecticut official website · Rhode Island official website
More Size Comparisons
All Connecticut size comparisons · All Rhode Island 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.