Bordering states
Montana vs Wyoming
Short answer
- MT
- 1,137,233
- WY
- 587,618
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.
Montana
Wyoming
- < 1
- < 3
- < 4
- < 8
- ≥ 8
Side by side
| Measure | Montana | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 1,137,233 | 587,618 |
| Rank by population | 43rd | 51st |
| Land, sq mi | 145,550 | 97,089 |
| People per sq mi | 7.8 | 6.1 |
| County-equivalents | 56 | 23 |
| Median county residents | 7,814 | 14,250 |
| Median county income | $59,534 | $70,330 |
| Most populous county | Yellowstone County | Laramie County |
| Largest county by land | Beaverhead County | Sweetwater County |
| Capital | Helena | Cheyenne |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 50 min | 15 h 09 min |
| Census division | Mountain | Mountain |
Population and density
Montana has 1,137,233 residents, 94% more than Wyoming's 587,618. Montana ranks 43rd and Wyoming 51st of the 50 states and DC. Montana is the more crowded, with 7.8 people per square mile against 6.1, 29% more.
Land area
Montana has 145,550 square miles of land, 50% more than Wyoming's 97,089. The largest county-equivalent in Montana is Beaverhead County at 5,543 square miles; in Wyoming it is Sweetwater County at 10,427.
Counties
Montana is divided into 56 county-equivalents and Wyoming into 23, so an average Montana county covers 2,599 square miles against 4,221. The typical county in Montana has 7,814 residents, against 14,250 in Wyoming. The most populous are Yellowstone County (171,583) and Laramie County (101,783).
6 county names appear on both sides of the border: Big Horn, Carbon, Lincoln, Park, Sheridan, Teton. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Wyoming has a household income of $70,330, 18% above Montana's $59,534. The highest county incomes are Gallatin County ($90,942) in Montana and Teton County ($130,156) in Wyoming, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Helena and Cheyenne are 519 miles apart in a straight line; from Helena the initial bearing is 134°, SE. On June 21, 2026, Helena gets 15 h 50 min of daylight and Cheyenne 15 h 09 min; on December 21 the figures are 8 h 34 min and 9 h 13 min. Month by month tables are on the Helena and Cheyenne daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census Mountain division of the West region. By county internal points, Montana spans 3 UTM zones and Wyoming 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Montana or Wyoming?
Montana, with 145,550 square miles of land against 97,089, 1.50 times as large.
Which has more people, Montana or Wyoming?
Montana has 1,137,233 residents, 94% more than Wyoming's 587,618.
How far is Helena from Cheyenne?
519 miles in a straight line, heading SE (134°) from Helena.
Do Montana and Wyoming have counties with the same name?
Yes, 6: Big Horn, Carbon, Lincoln, Park, Sheridan, Teton.
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.