Bordering states
Kentucky vs Virginia
Short answer
- KY
- 4,588,372
- VA
- 8,811,195
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
Virginia
- < 38
- < 61
- < 100
- < 388
- ≥ 388
Side by side
| Measure | Kentucky | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 4,588,372 | 8,811,195 |
| Rank by population | 26th | 12th |
| Land, sq mi | 39,485 | 39,481 |
| People per sq mi | 116.2 | 223.2 |
| County-equivalents | 120 | 133 |
| Median county residents | 19,740 | 27,800 |
| Median county income | $55,510 | $64,903 |
| Most populous county | Jefferson County | Fairfax County |
| Largest county by land | Pike County | Pittsylvania County |
| Capital | Frankfort | Richmond |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 49 min | 14 h 46 min |
| Census division | East South Central | South Atlantic |
Population and density
Virginia has 8,811,195 residents, 92% more than Kentucky's 4,588,372. Kentucky ranks 26th and Virginia 12th of the 50 states and DC. Virginia is the more crowded, with 223.2 people per square mile against 116.2, 92% more.
Land area
Kentucky has 39,485 square miles of land, about the same as Virginia's 39,481. The largest county-equivalent in Kentucky is Pike County at 786 square miles; in Virginia it is Pittsylvania County at 969.
Counties
Virginia is divided into 133 county-equivalents and Kentucky into 120, so an average Virginia county covers 297 square miles against 329. The typical county in Kentucky has 19,740 residents, against 27,800 in Virginia. The most populous are Jefferson County (793,881) and Fairfax County (1,160,925).
17 county names appear on both sides of the border: Bath, Campbell, Carroll, Cumberland, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Madison, Montgomery, Nelson, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Warren, Washington. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Virginia has a household income of $64,903, 17% above Kentucky's $55,510. The highest county incomes are Oldham County ($120,818) in Kentucky and Loudoun County ($173,655) in Virginia, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Frankfort and Richmond are 408 miles apart in a straight line; from Frankfort the initial bearing is 94°, E. On June 21, 2026, Frankfort gets 14 h 49 min of daylight and Richmond 14 h 46 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 30 min and 9 h 34 min. Month by month tables are on the Frankfort and Richmond daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the South region, but Kentucky is in the East South Central division and Virginia in the South Atlantic division. By county internal points, Kentucky spans 2 UTM zones and Virginia 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Kentucky or Virginia?
Kentucky, with 39,485 square miles of land against 39,481, 1.00 times as large.
Which has more people, Kentucky or Virginia?
Virginia has 8,811,195 residents, 92% more than Kentucky's 4,588,372.
How far is Frankfort from Richmond?
408 miles in a straight line, heading E (94°) from Frankfort.
Do Kentucky and Virginia have counties with the same name?
Yes, 17: Bath, Campbell, Carroll, Cumberland, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Madison, Montgomery, Nelson, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Warren, 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.