The map above shows South Carolina and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Carolina vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: South Carolina has a land area of 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). South Carolina's land area is 1.3 times (25%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Carolina's total area is 1.3 times (32%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). South Carolina and West Virginia have about the same north-south length.
Width: South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). South Carolina and West Virginia have about the same east-west width.
Highest point: South Carolina's highest point is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 1,366 feet higher than Sassafras Mountain.
Lowest point: South Carolina's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. South Carolina's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
South Carolina vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: South Carolina has a population of 5,478,831 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). South Carolina's population is 3.1 times (210%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: South Carolina: 182.2 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. South Carolina's population density is 2.5 times (148%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: South Carolina's biggest city is Charleston with 157,665 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Charleston's population is 3.4 times (239%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: South Carolina's largest metropolitan area is Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (2,883,370 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 2.2 times (123%) larger than Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area's.
History: South Carolina: Admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788, as the 8th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, South Carolina is the older of the two by 75 years.
South Carolina vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: South Carolina's GDP is $357.1 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. South Carolina's economic output is 3.4 times (235%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: South Carolina: $65,173 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. South Carolina's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (8%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: South Carolina: $60,776 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Carolina's average income is 1.1 times (10%) higher than West Virginia's.
South Carolina vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: South Carolina has 46 counties, while West Virginia has 55. West Virginia's county count is 1.2 times (20%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest county by area: South Carolina's largest county is Horry County at 1,133 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Horry County's land area is 1.1 times (9%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). McCormick County's land area is 4.3 times (335%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Greenville County's population is 3.3 times (228%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Allendale County's population is 1.5 times (53%) larger than Wirt County's.
Richest county: South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Charleston County's income is 1.3 times (28%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Marlboro County's income is 1.2 times (18%) richer than Webster County's.
South Carolina vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. South Carolina's top rate is 1.18 percentage points higher.
Property tax: South Carolina: 0.45% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. West Virginia's rate is 0.07 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: South Carolina: 7.49% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. South Carolina's combined rate is 0.89 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
South Carolina official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Carolina 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.