Bordering states
Indiana vs Michigan
Short answer
- IN
- 6,924,275
- MI
- 10,140,459
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.
Indiana
Michigan
- < 41
- < 61
- < 104
- < 222
- ≥ 222
Side by side
| Measure | Indiana | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 6,924,275 | 10,140,459 |
| Rank by population | 17th | 10th |
| Land, sq mi | 35,825 | 56,611 |
| People per sq mi | 193.3 | 179.1 |
| County-equivalents | 92 | 83 |
| Median county residents | 34,874 | 38,041 |
| Median county income | $66,685 | $60,410 |
| Most populous county | Marion County | Wayne County |
| Largest county by land | Allen County | Marquette County |
| Capital | Indianapolis | Lansing |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 00 min | 15 h 20 min |
| Census division | East North Central | East North Central |
Population and density
Michigan has 10,140,459 residents, 46% more than Indiana's 6,924,275. Indiana ranks 17th and Michigan 10th of the 50 states and DC. Both average about 193 people per square mile.
Land area
Michigan has 56,611 square miles of land, 58% more than Indiana's 35,825. The largest county-equivalent in Indiana is Allen County at 657 square miles; in Michigan it is Marquette County at 1,809.
Counties
Indiana is divided into 92 county-equivalents and Michigan into 83, so an average Indiana county covers 389 square miles against 682. The typical county in Indiana has 34,874 residents, against 38,041 in Michigan. The most populous are Marion County (981,628) and Wayne County (1,771,063).
8 county names appear on both sides of the border: Cass, Clinton, Crawford, Jackson, Lake, Monroe, St. Joseph, Wayne. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Indiana has a household income of $66,685, 10% above Michigan's $60,410. The highest county incomes are Hamilton County ($121,231) in Indiana and Livingston County ($103,737) in Michigan, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Indianapolis and Lansing are 221 miles apart in a straight line; from Indianapolis the initial bearing is 22°, NNE. On June 21, 2026, Indianapolis gets 15 h 00 min of daylight and Lansing 15 h 20 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 21 min and 9 h 02 min. Month by month tables are on the Indianapolis and Lansing daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census East North Central division of the Midwest region. By county internal points, Indiana spans 1 UTM zone and Michigan 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Indiana or Michigan?
Michigan, with 56,611 square miles of land against 35,825, 1.58 times as large.
Which has more people, Indiana or Michigan?
Michigan has 10,140,459 residents, 46% more than Indiana's 6,924,275.
How far is Indianapolis from Lansing?
221 miles in a straight line, heading NNE (22°) from Indianapolis.
Do Indiana and Michigan have counties with the same name?
Yes, 8: Cass, Clinton, Crawford, Jackson, Lake, Monroe, St. Joseph, Wayne.
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.