Bordering states
Massachusetts vs New York
Short answer
- MA
- 7,136,171
- NY
- 19,867,248
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.
Massachusetts
New York
- < 72
- < 105
- < 278
- < 912
- ≥ 912
Residents, 2024
- 01Massachusetts7,136,171
- 02New York19,867,248
Land, square miles
- 01Massachusetts7,801
- 02New York47,123
People per square mile
- 01Massachusetts914.8
- 02New York421.6
Median county household income
- 01Massachusetts$92,474
- 02New York$68,571
Side by side
| Measure | Massachusetts | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 7,136,171 | 19,867,248 |
| Rank by population | 16th | 4th |
| Land, sq mi | 7,801 | 47,123 |
| People per sq mi | 914.8 | 421.6 |
| County-equivalents | 14 | 62 |
| Median county residents | 503,121 | 85,936 |
| Median county income | $92,474 | $68,571 |
| Most populous county | Middlesex County | Kings County |
| Largest county by land | Worcester County | St. Lawrence County |
| Capital | Boston | Albany |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 17 min | 15 h 19 min |
| Census division | New England | Middle Atlantic |
Population and density
New York has 19,867,248 residents, 2.8 times Massachusetts's 7,136,171. Massachusetts ranks 16th and New York 4th of the 50 states and DC. Massachusetts is the more crowded, with 914.8 people per square mile against 421.6, 2.2 times.
Land area
New York has 47,123 square miles of land, 6.0 times Massachusetts's 7,801. The largest county-equivalent in Massachusetts is Worcester County at 1,511 square miles; in New York it is St. Lawrence County at 2,680.
Counties
New York is divided into 62 county-equivalents and Massachusetts into 14, so an average New York county covers 760 square miles against 557. The typical county in Massachusetts has 503,121 residents, against 85,936 in New York. The most populous are Middlesex County (1,668,956) and Kings County (2,617,631).
3 county names appear on both sides of the border: Essex, Franklin, Suffolk. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Massachusetts has a household income of $92,474, 35% above New York's $68,571. The highest county incomes are Norfolk County ($123,449) in Massachusetts and Nassau County ($140,466) in New York, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Boston and Albany are 139 miles apart in a straight line; from Boston the initial bearing is 279°, W. On June 21, 2026, Boston gets 15 h 17 min of daylight and Albany 15 h 19 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 05 min and 9 h 03 min. Month by month tables are on the Boston and Albany daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Northeast region, but Massachusetts is in the New England division and New York in the Middle Atlantic division. By county internal points, Massachusetts spans 2 UTM zones and New York 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Massachusetts or New York?
New York, with 47,123 square miles of land against 7,801, 6.04 times as large.
Which has more people, Massachusetts or New York?
New York has 19,867,248 residents, 2.8 times Massachusetts's 7,136,171.
How far is Boston from Albany?
139 miles in a straight line, heading W (279°) from Boston.
Do Massachusetts and New York have counties with the same name?
Yes, 3: Essex, Franklin, Suffolk.
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.