Bordering states
Iowa vs Nebraska
Short answer
- IA
- 3,241,488
- NE
- 2,005,465
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
Nebraska
- < 6
- < 15
- < 24
- < 40
- ≥ 40
Side by side
| Measure | Iowa | Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 3,241,488 | 2,005,465 |
| Rank by population | 32nd | 37th |
| Land, sq mi | 55,854 | 76,815 |
| People per sq mi | 58.0 | 26.1 |
| County-equivalents | 99 | 93 |
| Median county residents | 15,008 | 6,103 |
| Median county income | $68,654 | $65,151 |
| Most populous county | Polk County | Douglas County |
| Largest county by land | Kossuth County | Cherry County |
| Capital | Des Moines | Lincoln |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 12 min | 15 h 06 min |
| Census division | West North Central | West North Central |
Population and density
Iowa has 3,241,488 residents, 62% more than Nebraska's 2,005,465. Iowa ranks 32nd and Nebraska 37th of the 50 states and DC. Iowa is the more crowded, with 58.0 people per square mile against 26.1, 2.2 times.
Land area
Nebraska has 76,815 square miles of land, 38% more than Iowa's 55,854. The largest county-equivalent in Iowa is Kossuth County at 973 square miles; in Nebraska it is Cherry County at 5,960.
Counties
Iowa is divided into 99 county-equivalents and Nebraska into 93, so an average Iowa county covers 564 square miles against 826. The typical county in Iowa has 15,008 residents, against 6,103 in Nebraska. The most populous are Polk County (516,185) and Douglas County (601,158).
17 county names appear on both sides of the border: Adams, Boone, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Franklin, Hamilton, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Madison, Polk, Sioux, Washington, Wayne, Webster. 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, 5% above Nebraska's $65,151. The highest county incomes are Dallas County ($102,189) in Iowa and Sarpy County ($101,902) in Nebraska, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Des Moines and Lincoln are 170 miles apart in a straight line; from Des Moines the initial bearing is 252°, WSW. On June 21, 2026, Des Moines gets 15 h 12 min of daylight and Lincoln 15 h 06 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 10 min and 9 h 15 min. Month by month tables are on the Des Moines and Lincoln 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 Nebraska 3.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Iowa or Nebraska?
Nebraska, with 76,815 square miles of land against 55,854, 1.38 times as large.
Which has more people, Iowa or Nebraska?
Iowa has 3,241,488 residents, 62% more than Nebraska's 2,005,465.
How far is Des Moines from Lincoln?
170 miles in a straight line, heading WSW (252°) from Des Moines.
Do Iowa and Nebraska have counties with the same name?
Yes, 17: Adams, Boone, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Franklin, Hamilton, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Madison, Polk, Sioux, Washington, Wayne, Webster.
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.