The map above shows Kentucky and Nevada side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Kentucky vs Nevada Geography
Land area: Kentucky has a land area of 39,485 square miles (102,267 km²), while Nevada has 109,860 square miles (284,537 km²). Nevada's land area is 2.8 times (178%) larger than Kentucky's.
Total area: Kentucky: 40,406 square miles (104,651 km²) vs Nevada: 110,571 square miles (286,377 km²), including inland and coastal water. Nevada's total area is 2.7 times (174%) larger than Kentucky's.
Length: Kentucky is 257 miles (414 km) long from north to south; Nevada is 484 miles (780 km). Nevada's north-south length is 1.9 times (88%) longer than Kentucky's.
Width: Kentucky spans 418 miles (672 km) east to west; Nevada spans 469 miles (755 km). Nevada's east-west width is 1.1 times (12%) wider than Kentucky's.
Highest point: Kentucky's highest point is Black Mountain at 4,134 feet (1,260 m); Nevada's is Boundary Peak at 13,115 feet (3,997 m). Boundary Peak is 8,981 feet higher than Black Mountain.
Lowest point: Kentucky's lowest point is Mississippi River at 270 feet; Nevada's is Colorado River at 481 feet. Kentucky's lowest point is 211 feet lower.
Kentucky vs Nevada Population and History
Population: Kentucky has a population of 4,588,372 (2024), while Nevada has 3,267,467 (2024). Kentucky's population is 1.4 times (40%) larger than Nevada's.
Population density: Kentucky: 116.2 people per square mile vs Nevada: 29.7. Kentucky's population density is 3.9 times (291%) higher than Nevada's.
Biggest city: Kentucky's biggest city is Louisville with 640,796 people; Nevada's is Las Vegas with 678,922. Las Vegas' population is 1.1 times (6%) larger than Louisville's.
Largest metro area: Kentucky's largest metropolitan area is Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (2,302,815 people) vs Nevada's Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV metro area (2,398,871). Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area and Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV metro area have about the same population.
History: Kentucky: Admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state. Nevada: Admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864, as the 36th state. In its current form, Kentucky is the older of the two by 72 years.
Kentucky vs Nevada Economy
GDP: Kentucky's GDP is $295.4 billion (2024) vs Nevada's $269.0 billion. Kentucky's economic output is 1.1 times (10%) larger than Nevada's.
GDP per capita: Kentucky: $64,375 per person vs Nevada: $82,330. Nevada's GDP per capita is 1.3 times (28%) higher than Kentucky's.
Average income: Kentucky: $58,256 vs Nevada: $69,805 average income per person (per capita personal income). Nevada's average income is 1.2 times (20%) higher than Kentucky's.
Kentucky vs Nevada Counties
Number of counties: Kentucky has 120 counties, while Nevada has 17. Kentucky's county count is 7.1 times (606%) higher than Nevada's.
Biggest county by area: Kentucky's largest county is Pike County at 786 square miles; Nevada's is Nye County at 18,182 square miles. Nye County's land area is 23.1 times larger than Pike County's.
Smallest county by area: Kentucky: Gallatin County (98 sq mi) vs Nevada: Carson City (145 sq mi). Carson City's land area is 1.5 times (47%) larger than Gallatin County's.
Most populous county: Kentucky: Jefferson County (793,881 people) vs Nevada: Clark County (2,398,871 people). Clark County's population is 3.0 times (202%) larger than Jefferson County's.
Least populous county: Kentucky: Robertson County (2,382 people) vs Nevada: Esmeralda County (720 people). Robertson County's population is 3.3 times (231%) larger than Esmeralda County's.
Richest county: Kentucky: Oldham County ($87,137 per capita income) vs Nevada: Douglas County ($109,486). Douglas County's income is 1.3 times (26%) richer than Oldham County's.
Poorest county: Kentucky: Elliott County ($31,817 per capita income) vs Nevada: Pershing County ($45,906). Pershing County's income is 1.4 times (44%) richer than Elliott County's.
Kentucky vs Nevada Taxes
State income tax: Kentucky has a top income tax rate of 3.5%, while Nevada has no state income tax. Kentucky's top rate is 3.5 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Kentucky: 0.71% effective rate vs Nevada: 0.47% of home value per year. Kentucky's rate is 0.24 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Kentucky: 6% combined state and average local rate vs Nevada: 8.24%. Nevada's combined rate is 2.24 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Kentucky official website · Nevada official website
More Size Comparisons
All Kentucky size comparisons · All Nevada 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.