Bordering states
Minnesota vs Wisconsin
Short answer
- MN
- 5,793,151
- WI
- 5,960,975
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.
Minnesota
Wisconsin
- < 15
- < 29
- < 48
- < 122
- ≥ 122
Side by side
| Measure | Minnesota | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 5,793,151 | 5,960,975 |
| Rank by population | 22nd | 20th |
| Land, sq mi | 79,632 | 54,168 |
| People per sq mi | 72.7 | 110.0 |
| County-equivalents | 87 | 72 |
| Median county residents | 22,050 | 41,821 |
| Median county income | $71,573 | $70,174 |
| Most populous county | Hennepin County | Milwaukee County |
| Largest county by land | St. Louis County | Marathon County |
| Capital | Saint Paul | Madison |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 37 min | 15 h 22 min |
| Census division | West North Central | East North Central |
Population and density
Wisconsin has 5,960,975 residents, about the same as Minnesota's 5,793,151. Minnesota ranks 22nd and Wisconsin 20th of the 50 states and DC. Wisconsin is the more crowded, with 110.0 people per square mile against 72.7, 51% more.
Land area
Minnesota has 79,632 square miles of land, 47% more than Wisconsin's 54,168. The largest county-equivalent in Minnesota is St. Louis County at 6,248 square miles; in Wisconsin it is Marathon County at 1,545.
Counties
Minnesota is divided into 87 county-equivalents and Wisconsin into 72, so an average Minnesota county covers 915 square miles against 752. The typical county in Minnesota has 22,050 residents, against 41,821 in Wisconsin. The most populous are Hennepin County (1,273,334) and Milwaukee County (924,740).
10 county names appear on both sides of the border: Brown, Chippewa, Dodge, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Polk, Rock, Washington. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The typical county household income is about the same in both: $71,573 in Minnesota and $70,174 in Wisconsin. The highest county incomes are Carver County ($129,437) in Minnesota and St. Croix County ($103,731) in Wisconsin, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Saint Paul and Madison are 226 miles apart in a straight line; from Saint Paul the initial bearing is 124°, SE. On June 21, 2026, Saint Paul gets 15 h 37 min of daylight and Madison 15 h 22 min; on December 21 the figures are 8 h 46 min and 9 h 00 min. Month by month tables are on the Saint Paul and Madison daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Midwest region, but Minnesota is in the West North Central division and Wisconsin in the East North Central division. By county internal points, Minnesota spans 2 UTM zones and Wisconsin 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Minnesota or Wisconsin?
Minnesota, with 79,632 square miles of land against 54,168, 1.47 times as large.
Which has more people, Minnesota or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has 5,960,975 residents, about the same as Minnesota's 5,793,151.
How far is Saint Paul from Madison?
226 miles in a straight line, heading SE (124°) from Saint Paul.
Do Minnesota and Wisconsin have counties with the same name?
Yes, 10: Brown, Chippewa, Dodge, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Polk, Rock, 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.