The map above shows District of Columbia and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
District of Columbia vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: District of Columbia has a land area of 61 square miles (158 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). West Virginia's land area is 394.1 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Total area: District of Columbia: 68 square miles (177 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. West Virginia's total area is 354.5 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Length: District of Columbia is 13 miles (22 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). West Virginia's north-south length is 18.8 times longer than District of Columbia's.
Width: District of Columbia spans 12 miles (19 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). West Virginia's east-west width is 23.0 times wider than District of Columbia's.
Highest point: District of Columbia's highest point is Fort Reno at 429 feet (131 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 4,434 feet higher than Fort Reno.
Lowest point: District of Columbia's lowest point is Potomac River at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. District of Columbia's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
District of Columbia vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: District of Columbia has a population of 702,250 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). West Virginia's population is 2.5 times (152%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Population density: District of Columbia: 11,493.5 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. District of Columbia's population density is 156.2 times higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: District of Columbia's biggest city is Washington with 702,250 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Washington's population is 15.1 times larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: District of Columbia's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 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 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area have about the same population.
History: District of Columbia: The federal district, established by the Residence Act on July 16, 1790; not a state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, District of Columbia is the older of the two by 73 years.
District of Columbia vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: District of Columbia's GDP is $184.3 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. District of Columbia's economic output is 1.7 times (73%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: District of Columbia: $262,439 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. District of Columbia's GDP per capita is 4.4 times (336%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: District of Columbia: $111,185 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). District of Columbia's average income is 2.0 times (101%) higher than West Virginia's.
District of Columbia vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: District of Columbia has 1 counties, while West Virginia has 55. West Virginia's county count is 55.0 times higher than District of Columbia's.
Biggest county by area: District of Columbia's largest county is District of Columbia at 61 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Randolph County's land area is 17.0 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Smallest county by area: District of Columbia: District of Columbia (61 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Hancock County's land area is 1.4 times (35%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Most populous county: District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). District of Columbia's population is 4.0 times (304%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). District of Columbia's population is 142.6 times larger than Wirt County's.
Richest county: District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). District of Columbia's income is 1.6 times (58%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). District of Columbia's income is 3.2 times (217%) richer than Webster County's.
District of Columbia vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: District of Columbia has a top income tax rate of 10.75%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. District of Columbia's top rate is 5.93 percentage points higher.
Property tax: District of Columbia: 0.63% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. District of Columbia's rate is 0.11 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: District of Columbia: 6% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. West Virginia's combined rate is 0.6 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
District of Columbia official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All District of Columbia 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.