Bordering states
Kansas vs Nebraska
Short answer
- KS
- 2,970,606
- 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.
Kansas
Nebraska
- < 3
- < 6
- < 13
- < 31
- ≥ 31
Side by side
| Measure | Kansas | Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 2,970,606 | 2,005,465 |
| Rank by population | 34th | 37th |
| Land, sq mi | 81,759 | 76,815 |
| People per sq mi | 36.3 | 26.1 |
| County-equivalents | 105 | 93 |
| Median county residents | 6,946 | 6,103 |
| Median county income | $62,431 | $65,151 |
| Most populous county | Johnson County | Douglas County |
| Largest county by land | Butler County | Cherry County |
| Capital | Topeka | Lincoln |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 55 min | 15 h 06 min |
| Census division | West North Central | West North Central |
Population and density
Kansas has 2,970,606 residents, 48% more than Nebraska's 2,005,465. Kansas ranks 34th and Nebraska 37th of the 50 states and DC. Kansas is the more crowded, with 36.3 people per square mile against 26.1, 39% more.
Land area
Kansas has 81,759 square miles of land, 6% more than Nebraska's 76,815. The largest county-equivalent in Kansas is Butler County at 1,430 square miles; in Nebraska it is Cherry County at 5,960.
Counties
Kansas is divided into 105 county-equivalents and Nebraska into 93, so an average Kansas county covers 779 square miles against 826. The typical county in Kansas has 6,946 residents, against 6,103 in Nebraska. The most populous are Johnson County (632,276) and Douglas County (601,158).
24 county names appear on both sides of the border: Brown, Butler, Chase, Cheyenne, Clay, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Saline, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Thomas, Washington. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Nebraska has a household income of $65,151, 4% above Kansas's $62,431. The highest county incomes are Johnson County ($103,085) in Kansas and Sarpy County ($101,902) in Nebraska, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Topeka and Lincoln are 133 miles apart in a straight line; from Topeka the initial bearing is 336°, NNW. On June 21, 2026, Topeka gets 14 h 55 min of daylight and Lincoln 15 h 06 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 25 min and 9 h 15 min. Month by month tables are on the Topeka and Lincoln 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 Nebraska 3.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Kansas or Nebraska?
Kansas, with 81,759 square miles of land against 76,815, 1.06 times as large.
Which has more people, Kansas or Nebraska?
Kansas has 2,970,606 residents, 48% more than Nebraska's 2,005,465.
How far is Topeka from Lincoln?
133 miles in a straight line, heading NNW (336°) from Topeka.
Do Kansas and Nebraska have counties with the same name?
Yes, 24: Brown, Butler, Chase, Cheyenne, Clay, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Saline, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Thomas, 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.