The map above shows Rhode Island and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Rhode Island vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Rhode Island has a land area of 1,034 square miles (2,678 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). West Virginia's land area is 23.3 times larger than Rhode Island's.
Total area: Rhode Island: 1,545 square miles (4,002 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. West Virginia's total area is 15.7 times larger than Rhode Island's.
Length: Rhode Island is 61 miles (98 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). West Virginia's north-south length is 4.0 times (302%) longer than Rhode Island's.
Width: Rhode Island spans 42 miles (67 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). West Virginia's east-west width is 6.6 times (557%) wider than Rhode Island's.
Highest point: Rhode Island's highest point is Jerimoth Hill at 811 feet (247 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 4,052 feet higher than Jerimoth Hill.
Lowest point: Rhode Island's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Rhode Island's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
Rhode Island vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Rhode Island has a population of 1,112,308 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). West Virginia's population is 1.6 times (59%) larger than Rhode Island's.
Population density: Rhode Island: 1,075.8 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. Rhode Island's population density is 14.6 times higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: Rhode Island's biggest city is Providence with 194,706 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Providence's population is 4.2 times (319%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Rhode Island's largest metropolitan area is Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (1,700,901 people) vs West Virginia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 3.8 times (278%) larger than Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area's.
History: Rhode Island: Admitted to the Union on May 29, 1790, as the 13th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Rhode Island is the older of the two by 73 years.
Rhode Island vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Rhode Island's GDP is $80.4 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. West Virginia's economic output is 1.3 times (32%) larger than Rhode Island's.
GDP per capita: Rhode Island: $72,265 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Rhode Island's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (20%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Rhode Island: $70,622 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Rhode Island's average income is 1.3 times (28%) higher than West Virginia's.
Rhode Island vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Rhode Island has 5 counties, while West Virginia has 55. West Virginia's county count is 11.0 times higher than Rhode Island's.
Biggest county by area: Rhode Island's largest county is Providence County at 410 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Randolph County's land area is 2.5 times (154%) larger than Providence County's.
Smallest county by area: Rhode Island: Bristol County (24 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Hancock County's land area is 3.4 times (243%) larger than Bristol County's.
Most populous county: Rhode Island: Providence County (675,912 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Providence County's population is 3.9 times (289%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Rhode Island: Bristol County (50,145 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Bristol County's population is 10.2 times larger than Wirt County's.
Richest county: Rhode Island: Bristol County ($99,923 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Bristol County's income is 1.4 times (42%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Rhode Island: Providence County ($61,040 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Providence County's income is 1.7 times (74%) richer than Webster County's.
Rhode Island vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Rhode Island has a top income tax rate of 5.99%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. Rhode Island's top rate is 1.17 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Rhode Island: 1.07% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Rhode Island's rate is 0.55 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Rhode Island: 7% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Rhode Island's combined rate is 0.4 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Rhode Island official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Rhode Island size comparisons · All West 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.