The map above shows Maryland and Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Maryland vs Virginia Geography
Land area: Maryland has a land area of 9,711 square miles (25,151 km²), while Virginia has 39,481 square miles (102,256 km²). Virginia's land area is 4.1 times (307%) larger than Maryland's.
Total area: Maryland: 12,406 square miles (32,131 km²) vs Virginia: 42,775 square miles (110,786 km²), including inland and coastal water. Virginia's total area is 3.4 times (245%) larger than Maryland's.
Length: Maryland is 231 miles (371 km) long from north to south; Virginia is 223 miles (359 km). Maryland and Virginia have about the same north-south length.
Width: Maryland spans 243 miles (391 km) east to west; Virginia spans 466 miles (750 km). Virginia's east-west width is 1.9 times (92%) wider than Maryland's.
Highest point: Maryland's highest point is Hoye-Crest at 3,362 feet (1,025 m); Virginia's is Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet (1,746 m). Mount Rogers is 2,367 feet higher than Hoye-Crest.
Lowest point: Maryland's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; Virginia's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Maryland vs Virginia Population and History
Population: Maryland has a population of 6,263,220 (2024), while Virginia has 8,811,195 (2024). Virginia's population is 1.4 times (41%) larger than Maryland's.
Population density: Maryland: 645.0 people per square mile vs Virginia: 223.2. Maryland's population density is 2.9 times (189%) higher than Virginia's.
Biggest city: Maryland's biggest city is Baltimore with 568,271 people; Virginia's is Virginia Beach with 454,808. Baltimore's population is 1.2 times (25%) larger than Virginia Beach's.
Largest metro area: Maryland's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 people) vs 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: Maryland: Admitted to the Union on April 28, 1788, as the 7th state. Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788, as the 10th state.
Maryland vs Virginia Economy
GDP: Maryland's GDP is $546.0 billion (2024) vs Virginia's $761.7 billion. Virginia's economic output is 1.4 times (40%) larger than Maryland's.
GDP per capita: Maryland: $87,180 per person vs Virginia: $86,451. Maryland and Virginia have about the same GDP per capita.
Average income: Maryland: $79,259 vs Virginia: $77,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Maryland and Virginia have about the same average income.
Maryland vs Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Maryland has 24 counties, while Virginia has 133. Virginia's county count is 5.5 times (454%) higher than Maryland's.
Biggest county by area: Maryland's largest county is Frederick County at 661 square miles; Virginia's is Pittsylvania County at 969 square miles. Pittsylvania County's land area is 1.5 times (47%) larger than Frederick County's.
Smallest county by area: Maryland: Baltimore city (81 sq mi) vs Virginia: Falls Church city (2 sq mi). Baltimore city's land area is 40.5 times larger than Falls Church city's.
Most populous county: Maryland: Montgomery County (1,082,273 people) vs Virginia: Fairfax County (1,160,925 people). Fairfax County's population is 1.1 times (7%) larger than Montgomery County's.
Least populous county: Maryland: Kent County (19,557 people) vs Virginia: Highland County (2,348 people). Kent County's population is 8.3 times (733%) larger than Highland County's.
Richest county: Maryland: Montgomery County ($104,882 per capita income) vs Virginia: Arlington County ($131,624). Arlington County's income is 1.3 times (25%) richer than Montgomery County's.
Poorest county: Maryland: Somerset County ($41,421 per capita income) vs Virginia: Sussex County ($41,032). Somerset County and Sussex County have about the same income.
Maryland vs Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Maryland has a top income tax rate of 6.5%, while Virginia has a top income tax rate of 5.75%. Maryland's top rate is 0.75 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Maryland: 0.95% effective rate vs Virginia: 0.71% of home value per year. Maryland's rate is 0.24 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Maryland: 6% combined state and average local rate vs Virginia: 5.77%. Maryland's combined rate is 0.23 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Maryland official website · Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Maryland size comparisons · All 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.