Bordering states
Kansas vs Missouri
Short answer
- KS
- 2,970,606
- 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.
Kansas
Missouri
- < 7
- < 15
- < 29
- < 54
- ≥ 54
Side by side
| Measure | Kansas | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 2,970,606 | 6,245,466 |
| Rank by population | 34th | 19th |
| Land, sq mi | 81,759 | 68,746 |
| People per sq mi | 36.3 | 90.8 |
| County-equivalents | 105 | 115 |
| Median county residents | 6,946 | 19,100 |
| Median county income | $62,431 | $56,121 |
| Most populous county | Johnson County | St. Louis County |
| Largest county by land | Butler County | Texas County |
| Capital | Topeka | Jefferson City |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 55 min | 14 h 52 min |
| Census division | West North Central | West North Central |
Population and density
Missouri has 6,245,466 residents, 2.1 times Kansas's 2,970,606. Kansas ranks 34th and Missouri 19th of the 50 states and DC. Missouri is the more crowded, with 90.8 people per square mile against 36.3, 2.5 times.
Land area
Kansas has 81,759 square miles of land, 19% more than Missouri's 68,746. The largest county-equivalent in Kansas is Butler County at 1,430 square miles; in Missouri it is Texas County at 1,177.
Counties
Missouri is divided into 115 county-equivalents and Kansas into 105, so an average Missouri county covers 598 square miles against 779. The typical county in Kansas has 6,946 residents, against 19,100 in Missouri. The most populous are Johnson County (632,276) and St. Louis County (992,929).
19 county names appear on both sides of the border: Atchison, Barton, Butler, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Montgomery, Osage, Saline, Scott, Washington. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Kansas has a household income of $62,431, 11% above Missouri's $56,121. The highest county incomes are Johnson County ($103,085) in Kansas and St. Charles County ($98,765) in Missouri, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Topeka and Jefferson City are 191 miles apart in a straight line; from Topeka the initial bearing is 99°, E. On June 21, 2026, Topeka gets 14 h 55 min of daylight and Jefferson City 14 h 52 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 25 min and 9 h 28 min. Month by month tables are on the Topeka 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, Kansas spans 2 UTM zones and Missouri 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Kansas or Missouri?
Kansas, with 81,759 square miles of land against 68,746, 1.19 times as large.
Which has more people, Kansas or Missouri?
Missouri has 6,245,466 residents, 2.1 times Kansas's 2,970,606.
How far is Topeka from Jefferson City?
191 miles in a straight line, heading E (99°) from Topeka.
Do Kansas and Missouri have counties with the same name?
Yes, 19: Atchison, Barton, Butler, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Montgomery, Osage, Saline, Scott, Washington.
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.