The map above shows Virginia and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Virginia vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Virginia has a land area of 39,481 square miles (102,256 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Virginia's land area is 1.6 times (64%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Virginia: 42,775 square miles (110,786 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Virginia's total area is 1.8 times (77%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Virginia is 223 miles (359 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). West Virginia's north-south length is 1.1 times (10%) longer than Virginia's.
Width: Virginia spans 466 miles (750 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Virginia's east-west width is 1.7 times (69%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Virginia's highest point is Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet (1,746 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Mount Rogers is 866 feet higher than Spruce Knob.
Lowest point: Virginia's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Virginia's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
Virginia vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Virginia has a population of 8,811,195 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Virginia's population is 5.0 times (398%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Virginia: 223.2 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. Virginia's population density is 3.0 times (203%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: Virginia's biggest city is Virginia Beach with 454,808 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Virginia Beach's population is 9.8 times (878%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Virginia's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 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 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area have about the same population.
History: Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788, as the 10th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Virginia is the older of the two by 75 years.
Virginia vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Virginia's GDP is $761.7 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Virginia's economic output is 7.2 times (615%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Virginia: $86,451 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Virginia's GDP per capita is 1.4 times (44%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Virginia: $77,351 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Virginia's average income is 1.4 times (40%) higher than West Virginia's.
Virginia vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Virginia has 133 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Virginia's county count is 2.4 times (142%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Virginia's largest county is Pittsylvania County at 969 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Randolph County's land area is 1.1 times (7%) larger than Pittsylvania County's.
Smallest county by area: Virginia: Falls Church city (2 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Hancock County's land area is 41.3 times larger than Falls Church city's.
Most populous county: Virginia: Fairfax County (1,160,925 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Fairfax County's population is 6.7 times (568%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Virginia: Highland County (2,348 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 2.1 times (110%) larger than Highland County's.
Richest county: Virginia: Arlington County ($131,624 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Arlington County's income is 1.9 times (87%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Virginia: Sussex County ($41,032 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Sussex County's income is 1.2 times (17%) richer than Webster County's.
Virginia vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Virginia has a top income tax rate of 5.75%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. Virginia's top rate is 0.93 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Virginia: 0.71% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Virginia's rate is 0.19 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Virginia: 5.77% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. West Virginia's combined rate is 0.83 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Virginia official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Virginia 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.