The map above shows Michigan and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Michigan vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: Michigan has a land area of 56,611 square miles (146,622 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). Michigan's land area is 1.9 times (88%) larger than South Carolina's.
Total area: Michigan: 96,713 square miles (250,486 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. Michigan's total area is 3.0 times (202%) larger than South Carolina's.
Length: Michigan is 489 miles (786 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). Michigan's north-south length is 2.1 times (107%) longer than South Carolina's.
Width: Michigan spans 453 miles (728 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). Michigan's east-west width is 1.6 times (62%) wider than South Carolina's.
Highest point: Michigan's highest point is Mount Arvon at 2,014 feet (614 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Sassafras Mountain is 1,483 feet higher than Mount Arvon.
Lowest point: Michigan's lowest point is Lake Erie at 571 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. South Carolina's lowest point is 571 feet lower.
Michigan vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: Michigan has a population of 10,140,459 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). Michigan's population is 1.9 times (85%) larger than South Carolina's.
Population density: Michigan: 179.1 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. Michigan and South Carolina have about the same population density.
Biggest city: Michigan's biggest city is Detroit with 645,705 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. Detroit's population is 4.1 times (310%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Michigan's largest metropolitan area is Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area (4,400,578 people) vs South Carolina's Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (2,883,370). Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area's population is 1.5 times (53%) larger than Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area's.
History: Michigan: Admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state. South Carolina: Admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788, as the 8th state. In its current form, South Carolina is the older of the two by 49 years.
Michigan vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: Michigan's GDP is $702.5 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. Michigan's economic output is 2.0 times (97%) larger than South Carolina's.
GDP per capita: Michigan: $69,274 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. Michigan's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (6%) higher than South Carolina's.
Average income: Michigan: $63,690 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). Michigan's average income is 1.0 times (5%) higher than South Carolina's.
Michigan vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: Michigan has 83 counties, while South Carolina has 46. Michigan's county count is 1.8 times (80%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest county by area: Michigan's largest county is Marquette County at 1,809 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. Marquette County's land area is 1.6 times (60%) larger than Horry County's.
Smallest county by area: Michigan: Benzie County (320 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). McCormick County's land area is 1.1 times (12%) larger than Benzie County's.
Most populous county: Michigan: Wayne County (1,771,063 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Wayne County's population is 3.1 times (210%) larger than Greenville County's.
Least populous county: Michigan: Keweenaw County (2,161 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Allendale County's population is 3.5 times (249%) larger than Keweenaw County's.
Richest county: Michigan: Oakland County ($93,579 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Oakland County and Charleston County have about the same income.
Poorest county: Michigan: Lake County ($39,505 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Lake County and Marlboro County have about the same income.
Michigan vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: Michigan has a top income tax rate of 4.25%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%. South Carolina's top rate is 1.75 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Michigan: 1.18% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. Michigan's rate is 0.73 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Michigan: 6% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. South Carolina's combined rate is 1.49 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Michigan official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All Michigan size comparisons · All South Carolina 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.