Bordering states
Kentucky vs Tennessee
Short answer
- KY
- 4,588,372
- TN
- 7,227,750
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.
Kentucky
Tennessee
- < 38
- < 54
- < 84
- < 146
- ≥ 146
Side by side
| Measure | Kentucky | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 4,588,372 | 7,227,750 |
| Rank by population | 26th | 15th |
| Land, sq mi | 39,485 | 41,224 |
| People per sq mi | 116.2 | 175.3 |
| County-equivalents | 120 | 95 |
| Median county residents | 19,740 | 32,883 |
| Median county income | $55,510 | $57,630 |
| Most populous county | Jefferson County | Shelby County |
| Largest county by land | Pike County | Shelby County |
| Capital | Frankfort | Nashville |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 49 min | 14 h 37 min |
| Census division | East South Central | East South Central |
Population and density
Tennessee has 7,227,750 residents, 58% more than Kentucky's 4,588,372. Kentucky ranks 26th and Tennessee 15th of the 50 states and DC. Tennessee is the more crowded, with 175.3 people per square mile against 116.2, 51% more.
Land area
Tennessee has 41,224 square miles of land, about the same as Kentucky's 39,485. The largest county-equivalent in Kentucky is Pike County at 786 square miles; in Tennessee it is Shelby County at 753.
Counties
Kentucky is divided into 120 county-equivalents and Tennessee into 95, so an average Kentucky county covers 329 square miles against 434. The typical county in Kentucky has 19,740 residents, against 32,883 in Tennessee. The most populous are Jefferson County (793,881) and Shelby County (910,530).
34 county names appear on both sides of the border: Anderson, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Clay, Cumberland, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Robertson, Scott, Shelby, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Tennessee has a household income of $57,630, 4% above Kentucky's $55,510. The highest county incomes are Oldham County ($120,818) in Kentucky and Williamson County ($136,007) in Tennessee, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Frankfort and Nashville are 175 miles apart in a straight line; from Frankfort the initial bearing is 218°, SW. On June 21, 2026, Frankfort gets 14 h 49 min of daylight and Nashville 14 h 37 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 30 min and 9 h 42 min. Month by month tables are on the Frankfort and Nashville daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census East South Central division of the South region. By county internal points, Kentucky spans 2 UTM zones and Tennessee 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Kentucky or Tennessee?
Tennessee, with 41,224 square miles of land against 39,485, 1.04 times as large.
Which has more people, Kentucky or Tennessee?
Tennessee has 7,227,750 residents, 58% more than Kentucky's 4,588,372.
How far is Frankfort from Nashville?
175 miles in a straight line, heading SW (218°) from Frankfort.
Do Kentucky and Tennessee have counties with the same name?
Yes, 34: Anderson, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Clay, Cumberland, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Robertson, Scott, Shelby, Union, Warren, Washington, 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.