Bordering states
Iowa vs Missouri
Short answer
- IA
- 3,241,488
- MO
- 6,245,466
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.
Iowa
Missouri
- < 16
- < 23
- < 34
- < 67
- ≥ 67
Side by side
| Measure | Iowa | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 3,241,488 | 6,245,466 |
| Rank by population | 32nd | 19th |
| Land, sq mi | 55,854 | 68,746 |
| People per sq mi | 58.0 | 90.8 |
| County-equivalents | 99 | 115 |
| Median county residents | 15,008 | 19,100 |
| Median county income | $68,654 | $56,121 |
| Most populous county | Polk County | St. Louis County |
| Largest county by land | Kossuth County | Texas County |
| Capital | Des Moines | Jefferson City |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 12 min | 14 h 52 min |
| Census division | West North Central | West North Central |
Population and density
Missouri has 6,245,466 residents, 93% more than Iowa's 3,241,488. Iowa ranks 32nd and Missouri 19th of the 50 states and DC. Missouri is the more crowded, with 90.8 people per square mile against 58.0, 57% more.
Land area
Missouri has 68,746 square miles of land, 23% more than Iowa's 55,854. The largest county-equivalent in Iowa is Kossuth County at 973 square miles; in Missouri it is Texas County at 1,177.
Counties
Missouri is divided into 115 county-equivalents and Iowa into 99, so an average Missouri county covers 598 square miles against 564. The typical county in Iowa has 15,008 residents, against 19,100 in Missouri. The most populous are Polk County (516,185) and St. Louis County (992,929).
36 county names appear on both sides of the border: Adair, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Linn, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Polk, Scott, Shelby, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Worth, Wright. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Iowa has a household income of $68,654, 22% above Missouri's $56,121. The highest county incomes are Dallas County ($102,189) in Iowa and St. Charles County ($98,765) in Missouri, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Des Moines and Jefferson City are 221 miles apart in a straight line; from Des Moines the initial bearing is 160°, SSE. On June 21, 2026, Des Moines gets 15 h 12 min of daylight and Jefferson City 14 h 52 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 10 min and 9 h 28 min. Month by month tables are on the Des Moines and Jefferson City daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census West North Central division of the Midwest region. By county internal points, Iowa spans 2 UTM zones and Missouri 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Iowa or Missouri?
Missouri, with 68,746 square miles of land against 55,854, 1.23 times as large.
Which has more people, Iowa or Missouri?
Missouri has 6,245,466 residents, 93% more than Iowa's 3,241,488.
How far is Des Moines from Jefferson City?
221 miles in a straight line, heading SSE (160°) from Des Moines.
Do Iowa and Missouri have counties with the same name?
Yes, 36: Adair, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Linn, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Polk, Scott, Shelby, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Worth, Wright.
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.