Bordering states
Connecticut vs Rhode Island
Short answer
- CT
- 3,675,069
- RI
- 1,112,308
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.
Connecticut
Rhode Island
- < 396
- < 815
- < 1,023
- < 1,570
- ≥ 1,570
Residents, 2024
- 01Connecticut3,675,069
- 02Rhode Island1,112,308
Land, square miles
- 01Connecticut4,842
- 02Rhode Island1,034
People per square mile
- 01Connecticut758.9
- 02Rhode Island1,075.8
Median county household income
- 01Connecticut$90,965
- 02Rhode Island$99,802
Side by side
| Measure | Connecticut | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 3,675,069 | 1,112,308 |
| Rank by population | 29th | 44th |
| Land, sq mi | 4,842 | 1,034 |
| People per sq mi | 758.9 | 1,075.8 |
| County-equivalents | 9 | 5 |
| Median county residents | 335,666 | 130,333 |
| Median county income | $90,965 | $99,802 |
| Most populous county | Capitol Planning Region | Providence County |
| Largest county by land | Capitol Planning Region | Providence County |
| Capital | Hartford | Providence |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 13 min | 15 h 13 min |
| Census division | New England | New England |
Population and density
Connecticut has 3,675,069 residents, 3.3 times Rhode Island's 1,112,308. Connecticut ranks 29th and Rhode Island 44th of the 50 states and DC. Rhode Island is the more crowded, with 1,075.8 people per square mile against 758.9, 42% more.
Land area
Connecticut has 4,842 square miles of land, 4.7 times Rhode Island's 1,034. The largest county-equivalent in Connecticut is Capitol Planning Region at 1,027 square miles; in Rhode Island it is Providence County at 409.
Counties
Connecticut is divided into 9 county-equivalents and Rhode Island into 5, so an average Connecticut county covers 538 square miles against 207. The typical county in Connecticut has 335,666 residents, against 130,333 in Rhode Island. The most populous are Capitol Planning Region (991,508) and Providence County (675,912).
No county name appears in both states, so a county name alone is enough to tell which state a row belongs to.
Household income
The median county in Rhode Island has a household income of $99,802, 10% above Connecticut's $90,965. The highest county incomes are Western Connecticut Planning Region ($121,285) in Connecticut and Washington County ($101,749) in Rhode Island, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Hartford and Providence are 65 miles apart in a straight line; from Hartford the initial bearing is 86°, E. On June 21, 2026, Hartford gets 15 h 13 min of daylight and Providence 15 h 13 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 08 min and 9 h 08 min. Month by month tables are on the Hartford and Providence daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census New England division of the Northeast region. By county internal points, Connecticut spans 2 UTM zones and Rhode Island 1.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Connecticut or Rhode Island?
Connecticut, with 4,842 square miles of land against 1,034, 4.68 times as large.
Which has more people, Connecticut or Rhode Island?
Connecticut has 3,675,069 residents, 3.3 times Rhode Island's 1,112,308.
How far is Hartford from Providence?
65 miles in a straight line, heading E (86°) from Hartford.
Do Connecticut and Rhode Island have counties with the same name?
No. None of their county-level units share a name.
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.