Bordering states
California vs Oregon
Short answer
- CA
- 39,431,263
- OR
- 4,272,371
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.
California
Oregon
- < 7
- < 44
- < 107
- < 308
- ≥ 308
Residents, 2024
- 01California39,431,263
- 02Oregon4,272,371
Land, square miles
- 01California155,859
- 02Oregon95,997
People per square mile
- 01California253.0
- 02Oregon44.5
Median county household income
- 01California$81,175
- 02Oregon$68,568
Side by side
| Measure | California | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 39,431,263 | 4,272,371 |
| Rank by population | 1st | 27th |
| Land, sq mi | 155,859 | 95,997 |
| People per sq mi | 253.0 | 44.5 |
| County-equivalents | 58 | 36 |
| Median county residents | 187,274 | 46,128 |
| Median county income | $81,175 | $68,568 |
| Most populous county | Los Angeles County | Multnomah County |
| Largest county by land | San Bernardino County | Harney County |
| Capital | Sacramento | Salem |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 52 min | 15 h 37 min |
| Census division | Pacific | Pacific |
Population and density
California has 39,431,263 residents, 9.2 times Oregon's 4,272,371. California ranks 1st and Oregon 27th of the 50 states and DC. California is the more crowded, with 253.0 people per square mile against 44.5, 5.7 times.
Land area
California has 155,859 square miles of land, 62% more than Oregon's 95,997. The largest county-equivalent in California is San Bernardino County at 20,068 square miles; in Oregon it is Harney County at 10,134.
Counties
California is divided into 58 county-equivalents and Oregon into 36, so an average California county covers 2,687 square miles against 2,667. The typical county in California has 187,274 residents, against 46,128 in Oregon. The most populous are Los Angeles County (9,757,179) and Multnomah County (795,897).
1 county name appears on both sides of the border: Lake. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in California has a household income of $81,175, 18% above Oregon's $68,568. The highest county incomes are Santa Clara County ($154,573) in California and Washington County ($103,486) in Oregon, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Sacramento and Salem are 447 miles apart in a straight line; from Sacramento the initial bearing is 350°, N. On June 21, 2026, Sacramento gets 14 h 52 min of daylight and Salem 15 h 37 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 28 min and 8 h 46 min. Month by month tables are on the Sacramento and Salem daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census Pacific division of the West region. By county internal points, California spans 2 UTM zones and Oregon 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, California or Oregon?
California, with 155,859 square miles of land against 95,997, 1.62 times as large.
Which has more people, California or Oregon?
California has 39,431,263 residents, 9.2 times Oregon's 4,272,371.
How far is Sacramento from Salem?
447 miles in a straight line, heading N (350°) from Sacramento.
Do California and Oregon have counties with the same name?
Yes, 1: Lake.
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.