Bordering states
Alabama vs Tennessee
Short answer
- AL
- 5,157,699
- TN
- 7,227,750
The two states, county by county
Both maps share one density scale, so the same shade means the same number of people per square mile on either side of the border. Darker counties are denser. Select a county to open its page.
Alabama
Tennessee
- < 35
- < 52
- < 89
- < 169
- ≥ 169
Side by side
| Measure | Alabama | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 5,157,699 | 7,227,750 |
| Rank by population | 24th | 15th |
| Land, sq mi | 50,651 | 41,224 |
| People per sq mi | 101.8 | 175.3 |
| County-equivalents | 67 | 95 |
| Median county residents | 33,813 | 32,883 |
| Median county income | $52,504 | $57,630 |
| Most populous county | Jefferson County | Shelby County |
| Largest county by land | Baldwin County | Shelby County |
| Capital | Montgomery | Nashville |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 17 min | 14 h 37 min |
| Census division | East South Central | East South Central |
Population and density
Tennessee has 7,227,750 residents, 40% more than Alabama's 5,157,699. Alabama ranks 24th and Tennessee 15th of the 50 states and DC. Tennessee is the more crowded, with 175.3 people per square mile against 101.8, 72% more.
Land area
Alabama has 50,651 square miles of land, 23% more than Tennessee's 41,224. The largest county-equivalent in Alabama is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; in Tennessee it is Shelby County at 753.
Counties
Tennessee is divided into 95 county-equivalents and Alabama into 67, so an average Tennessee county covers 434 square miles against 756. The typical county in Alabama has 33,813 residents, against 32,883 in Tennessee. The most populous are Jefferson County (664,744) and Shelby County (910,530).
23 county names appear on both sides of the border: Blount, Clay, Coffee, DeKalb, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Shelby, Washington. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Tennessee has a household income of $57,630, 10% above Alabama's $52,504. The highest county incomes are Shelby County ($90,280) in Alabama and Williamson County ($136,007) in Tennessee, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Montgomery and Nashville are 263 miles apart in a straight line; from Montgomery the initial bearing is 354°, N. On June 21, 2026, Montgomery gets 14 h 17 min of daylight and Nashville 14 h 37 min; on December 21 the figures are 10 h 01 min and 9 h 42 min. Month by month tables are on the Montgomery and Nashville daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census East South Central division of the South region. By county internal points, Alabama spans 1 UTM zone and Tennessee 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Alabama or Tennessee?
Alabama, with 50,651 square miles of land against 41,224, 1.23 times as large.
Which has more people, Alabama or Tennessee?
Tennessee has 7,227,750 residents, 40% more than Alabama's 5,157,699.
How far is Montgomery from Nashville?
263 miles in a straight line, heading N (354°) from Montgomery.
Do Alabama and Tennessee have counties with the same name?
Yes, 23: Blount, Clay, Coffee, DeKalb, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Shelby, Washington.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
- 01Census Vintage 2024 county population estimates
- 02Census 2024 Gazetteer, counties
- 03Census SAIPE 2023 state and county estimates
- 04Census Bureau regions and divisions of the United States (last verified 2026-09-30)
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.