The map above shows Maine and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Maine vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: Maine has a land area of 30,845 square miles (79,888 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). South Dakota's land area is 2.5 times (146%) larger than Maine's.
Total area: Maine: 35,380 square miles (91,634 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Dakota's total area is 2.2 times (118%) larger than Maine's.
Length: Maine is 311 miles (501 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 1.4 times (42%) longer than Maine's.
Width: Maine spans 203 miles (327 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). South Dakota's east-west width is 1.8 times (83%) wider than Maine's.
Highest point: Maine's highest point is Mount Katahdin at 5,253 feet (1,601 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Black Elk Peak is 1,945 feet higher than Mount Katahdin.
Lowest point: Maine's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. Maine's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
Maine vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: Maine has a population of 1,405,012 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). Maine's population is 1.5 times (52%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: Maine: 45.6 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. Maine's population density is 3.7 times (274%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: Maine's biggest city is Portland with 69,568 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Sioux Falls' population is 3.0 times (201%) larger than Portland's.
Largest metro area: Maine's largest metropolitan area is Portland-South Portland, ME metro area (571,534 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Portland-South Portland, ME metro area's population is 1.9 times (85%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: Maine: Admitted to the Union on March 15, 1820, as the 23rd state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, Maine is the older of the two by 69 years.
Maine vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: Maine's GDP is $99.2 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. Maine's economic output is 1.3 times (29%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Maine: $70,586 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (18%) higher than Maine's.
Average income: Maine: $68,932 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Dakota's average income is 1.1 times (10%) higher than Maine's.
Maine vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Maine has 16 counties, while South Dakota has 66. South Dakota's county count is 4.1 times (313%) higher than Maine's.
Biggest county by area: Maine's largest county is Aroostook County at 6,671 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Aroostook County's land area is 1.9 times (92%) larger than Meade County's.
Smallest county by area: Maine: Sagadahoc County (254 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 1.6 times (62%) larger than Sagadahoc County's.
Most populous county: Maine: Cumberland County (313,809 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Cumberland County's population is 1.5 times (50%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: Maine: Piscataquis County (17,432 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Piscataquis County's population is 19.9 times larger than Jones County's.
Richest county: Maine: Cumberland County ($90,142 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.6 times (63%) richer than Cumberland County's.
Poorest county: Maine: Franklin County ($52,725 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Franklin County's income is 1.6 times (61%) richer than Ziebach County's.
Maine vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Maine has a top income tax rate of 7.15%, while South Dakota has no state income tax. Maine's top rate is 7.15 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Maine: 0.91% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. South Dakota's rate is 0.11 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Maine: 5.5% combined state and average local rate vs South Dakota: 6.11%. South Dakota's combined rate is 0.61 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Maine official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Maine size comparisons · All South Dakota 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.