Bordering states
Missouri vs Nebraska
Short answer
- MO
- 6,245,466
- 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.
Missouri
Nebraska
- < 7
- < 14
- < 26
- < 53
- ≥ 53
Side by side
| Measure | Missouri | Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 6,245,466 | 2,005,465 |
| Rank by population | 19th | 37th |
| Land, sq mi | 68,746 | 76,815 |
| People per sq mi | 90.8 | 26.1 |
| County-equivalents | 115 | 93 |
| Median county residents | 19,100 | 6,103 |
| Median county income | $56,121 | $65,151 |
| Most populous county | St. Louis County | Douglas County |
| Largest county by land | Texas County | Cherry County |
| Capital | Jefferson City | Lincoln |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 52 min | 15 h 06 min |
| Census division | West North Central | West North Central |
Population and density
Missouri has 6,245,466 residents, 3.1 times Nebraska's 2,005,465. Missouri ranks 19th and Nebraska 37th of the 50 states and DC. Missouri is the more crowded, with 90.8 people per square mile against 26.1, 3.5 times.
Land area
Nebraska has 76,815 square miles of land, 12% more than Missouri's 68,746. The largest county-equivalent in Missouri is Texas County at 1,177 square miles; in Nebraska it is Cherry County at 5,960.
Counties
Missouri is divided into 115 county-equivalents and Nebraska into 93, so an average Missouri county covers 598 square miles against 826. The typical county in Missouri has 19,100 residents, against 6,103 in Nebraska. The most populous are St. Louis County (992,929) and Douglas County (601,158).
21 county names appear on both sides of the border: Boone, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Douglas, Franklin, Holt, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lincoln, Madison, Phelps, Platte, Polk, Saline, Washington, Wayne, Webster. 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, 16% above Missouri's $56,121. The highest county incomes are St. Charles County ($98,765) in Missouri and Sarpy County ($101,902) in Nebraska, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Jefferson City and Lincoln are 286 miles apart in a straight line; from Jefferson City the initial bearing is 304°, NW. On June 21, 2026, Jefferson City gets 14 h 52 min of daylight and Lincoln 15 h 06 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 28 min and 9 h 15 min. Month by month tables are on the Jefferson City and Lincoln daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census West North Central division of the Midwest region. By county internal points, Missouri spans 2 UTM zones and Nebraska 3.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Missouri or Nebraska?
Nebraska, with 76,815 square miles of land against 68,746, 1.12 times as large.
Which has more people, Missouri or Nebraska?
Missouri has 6,245,466 residents, 3.1 times Nebraska's 2,005,465.
How far is Jefferson City from Lincoln?
286 miles in a straight line, heading NW (304°) from Jefferson City.
Do Missouri and Nebraska have counties with the same name?
Yes, 21: Boone, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Douglas, Franklin, Holt, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lincoln, Madison, Phelps, Platte, Polk, Saline, Washington, Wayne, Webster.
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.