Bordering states
New Jersey vs Pennsylvania
Short answer
- NJ
- 9,500,851
- PA
- 13,078,751
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.
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
- < 65
- < 144
- < 322
- < 968
- ≥ 968
Residents, 2024
- 01New Jersey9,500,851
- 02Pennsylvania13,078,751
Land, square miles
- 01New Jersey7,355
- 02Pennsylvania44,742
People per square mile
- 01New Jersey1,291.8
- 02Pennsylvania292.3
Median county household income
- 01New Jersey$96,965
- 02Pennsylvania$62,918
Side by side
| Measure | New Jersey | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 9,500,851 | 13,078,751 |
| Rank by population | 11th | 5th |
| Land, sq mi | 7,355 | 44,742 |
| People per sq mi | 1,291.8 | 292.3 |
| County-equivalents | 21 | 67 |
| Median county residents | 475,515 | 82,953 |
| Median county income | $96,965 | $62,918 |
| Most populous county | Bergen County | Philadelphia County |
| Largest county by land | Burlington County | Lycoming County |
| Capital | Trenton | Harrisburg |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 02 min | 15 h 03 min |
| Census division | Middle Atlantic | Middle Atlantic |
Population and density
Pennsylvania has 13,078,751 residents, 38% more than New Jersey's 9,500,851. New Jersey ranks 11th and Pennsylvania 5th of the 50 states and DC. New Jersey is the more crowded, with 1,291.8 people per square mile against 292.3, 4.4 times.
Land area
Pennsylvania has 44,742 square miles of land, 6.1 times New Jersey's 7,355. The largest county-equivalent in New Jersey is Burlington County at 799 square miles; in Pennsylvania it is Lycoming County at 1,229.
Counties
Pennsylvania is divided into 67 county-equivalents and New Jersey into 21, so an average Pennsylvania county covers 668 square miles against 350. The typical county in New Jersey has 475,515 residents, against 82,953 in Pennsylvania. The most populous are Bergen County (978,641) and Philadelphia County (1,573,916).
5 county names appear on both sides of the border: Cumberland, Mercer, Somerset, Union, Warren. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in New Jersey has a household income of $96,965, 54% above Pennsylvania's $62,918. The highest county incomes are Somerset County ($140,242) in New Jersey and Chester County ($120,925) in Pennsylvania, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Trenton and Harrisburg are 112 miles apart in a straight line; from Trenton the initial bearing is 272°, W. On June 21, 2026, Trenton gets 15 h 02 min of daylight and Harrisburg 15 h 03 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 18 min and 9 h 18 min. Month by month tables are on the Trenton and Harrisburg daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census Middle Atlantic division of the Northeast region. By county internal points, New Jersey spans 1 UTM zone and Pennsylvania 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, New Jersey or Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania, with 44,742 square miles of land against 7,355, 6.08 times as large.
Which has more people, New Jersey or Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 13,078,751 residents, 38% more than New Jersey's 9,500,851.
How far is Trenton from Harrisburg?
112 miles in a straight line, heading W (272°) from Trenton.
Do New Jersey and Pennsylvania have counties with the same name?
Yes, 5: Cumberland, Mercer, Somerset, Union, Warren.
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.