The map above shows Iowa and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Iowa vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Iowa has a land area of 55,854 square miles (144,660 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Iowa's land area is 2.3 times (132%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Iowa: 56,273 square miles (145,746 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Iowa's total area is 2.3 times (132%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Iowa is 216 miles (347 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). West Virginia's north-south length is 1.1 times (13%) longer than Iowa's.
Width: Iowa spans 335 miles (539 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Iowa's east-west width is 1.2 times (21%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Iowa's highest point is Hawkeye Point at 1,669 feet (509 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 3,194 feet higher than Hawkeye Point.
Lowest point: Iowa's lowest point is Mississippi River at 480 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. West Virginia's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
Iowa vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Iowa has a population of 3,241,488 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Iowa's population is 1.8 times (83%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Iowa: 58.0 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. West Virginia's population density is 1.3 times (27%) higher than Iowa's.
Biggest city: Iowa's biggest city is Des Moines with 213,096 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Des Moines' population is 4.6 times (358%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Iowa's largest metropolitan area is Omaha, NE-IA metro area (1,001,010 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 6.4 times (543%) larger than Omaha, NE-IA metro area's.
History: Iowa: Admitted to the Union on December 28, 1846, as the 29th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Iowa is the older of the two by 17 years.
Iowa vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Iowa's GDP is $265.8 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Iowa's economic output is 2.5 times (150%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Iowa: $81,998 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Iowa's GDP per capita is 1.4 times (36%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Iowa: $65,225 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Iowa's average income is 1.2 times (18%) higher than West Virginia's.
Iowa vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Iowa has 99 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Iowa's county count is 1.8 times (80%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Iowa's largest county is Kossuth County at 973 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Randolph County's land area is 1.1 times (7%) larger than Kossuth County's.
Smallest county by area: Iowa: Dickinson County (381 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Dickinson County's land area is 4.6 times (361%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Iowa: Polk County (516,185 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Polk County's population is 3.0 times (197%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Iowa: Adams County (3,606 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 1.4 times (37%) larger than Adams County's.
Richest county: Iowa: Mitchell County ($98,211 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Mitchell County's income is 1.4 times (39%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Iowa: Decatur County ($46,134 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Decatur County's income is 1.3 times (32%) richer than Webster County's.
Iowa vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Iowa has a top income tax rate of 3.8%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 1.02 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Iowa: 1.29% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Iowa's rate is 0.77 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Iowa: 6.94% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Iowa's combined rate is 0.34 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Iowa official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Iowa 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.