The map above shows Maryland and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Maryland vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: Maryland has a land area of 9,711 square miles (25,151 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). South Dakota's land area is 7.8 times (681%) larger than Maryland's.
Total area: Maryland: 12,406 square miles (32,131 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Dakota's total area is 6.2 times (522%) larger than Maryland's.
Length: Maryland is 231 miles (371 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 1.9 times (92%) longer than Maryland's.
Width: Maryland spans 243 miles (391 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). South Dakota's east-west width is 1.5 times (53%) wider than Maryland's.
Highest point: Maryland's highest point is Hoye-Crest at 3,362 feet (1,025 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Black Elk Peak is 3,836 feet higher than Hoye-Crest.
Lowest point: Maryland's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. Maryland's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
Maryland vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: Maryland has a population of 6,263,220 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). Maryland's population is 6.8 times (577%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: Maryland: 645.0 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. Maryland's population density is 52.9 times higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: Maryland's biggest city is Baltimore with 568,271 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Baltimore's population is 2.7 times (172%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: Maryland's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 20.9 times larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: Maryland: Admitted to the Union on April 28, 1788, as the 7th state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, Maryland is the older of the two by 101 years.
Maryland vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: Maryland's GDP is $546.0 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. Maryland's economic output is 7.1 times (611%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Maryland: $87,180 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. Maryland's GDP per capita is 1.0 times (5%) higher than South Dakota's.
Average income: Maryland: $79,259 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). Maryland's average income is 1.0 times (5%) higher than South Dakota's.
Maryland vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Maryland has 24 counties, while South Dakota has 66. South Dakota's county count is 2.8 times (175%) higher than Maryland's.
Biggest county by area: Maryland's largest county is Frederick County at 661 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Meade County's land area is 5.3 times (425%) larger than Frederick County's.
Smallest county by area: Maryland: Baltimore city (81 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 5.1 times (409%) larger than Baltimore city's.
Most populous county: Maryland: Montgomery County (1,082,273 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Montgomery County's population is 5.2 times (419%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: Maryland: Kent County (19,557 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Kent County's population is 22.4 times larger than Jones County's.
Richest county: Maryland: Montgomery County ($104,882 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.4 times (40%) richer than Montgomery County's.
Poorest county: Maryland: Somerset County ($41,421 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Somerset County's income is 1.3 times (26%) richer than Ziebach County's.
Maryland vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Maryland has a top income tax rate of 6.5%, while South Dakota has no state income tax. Maryland's top rate is 6.5 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Maryland: 0.95% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. South Dakota's rate is 0.07 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Maryland: 6% combined state and average local rate vs South Dakota: 6.11%. South Dakota's combined rate is 0.11 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Maryland official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Maryland 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.