Bordering states
New York vs Pennsylvania
Short answer
- NY
- 19,867,248
- 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 York
Pennsylvania
- < 58
- < 97
- < 186
- < 507
- ≥ 507
Residents, 2024
- 01New York19,867,248
- 02Pennsylvania13,078,751
Land, square miles
- 01New York47,123
- 02Pennsylvania44,742
People per square mile
- 01New York421.6
- 02Pennsylvania292.3
Median county household income
- 01New York$68,571
- 02Pennsylvania$62,918
Side by side
| Measure | New York | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 19,867,248 | 13,078,751 |
| Rank by population | 4th | 5th |
| Land, sq mi | 47,123 | 44,742 |
| People per sq mi | 421.6 | 292.3 |
| County-equivalents | 62 | 67 |
| Median county residents | 85,936 | 82,953 |
| Median county income | $68,571 | $62,918 |
| Most populous county | Kings County | Philadelphia County |
| Largest county by land | St. Lawrence County | Lycoming County |
| Capital | Albany | Harrisburg |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 19 min | 15 h 03 min |
| Census division | Middle Atlantic | Middle Atlantic |
Population and density
New York has 19,867,248 residents, 52% more than Pennsylvania's 13,078,751. New York ranks 4th and Pennsylvania 5th of the 50 states and DC. New York is the more crowded, with 421.6 people per square mile against 292.3, 44% more.
Land area
New York has 47,123 square miles of land, 5% more than Pennsylvania's 44,742. The largest county-equivalent in New York is St. Lawrence County at 2,680 square miles; in Pennsylvania it is Lycoming County at 1,229.
Counties
Pennsylvania is divided into 67 county-equivalents and New York into 62, so an average Pennsylvania county covers 668 square miles against 760. The typical county in New York has 85,936 residents, against 82,953 in Pennsylvania. The most populous are Kings County (2,617,631) and Philadelphia County (1,573,916).
16 county names appear on both sides of the border: Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Jefferson, Monroe, Montgomery, Sullivan, Tioga, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in New York has a household income of $68,571, 9% above Pennsylvania's $62,918. The highest county incomes are Nassau County ($140,466) in New York and Chester County ($120,925) in Pennsylvania, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Albany and Harrisburg are 231 miles apart in a straight line; from Albany the initial bearing is 225°, SW. On June 21, 2026, Albany gets 15 h 19 min of daylight and Harrisburg 15 h 03 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 03 min and 9 h 18 min. Month by month tables are on the Albany and Harrisburg daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census Middle Atlantic division of the Northeast region. By county internal points, New York spans 2 UTM zones and Pennsylvania 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, New York or Pennsylvania?
New York, with 47,123 square miles of land against 44,742, 1.05 times as large.
Which has more people, New York or Pennsylvania?
New York has 19,867,248 residents, 52% more than Pennsylvania's 13,078,751.
How far is Albany from Harrisburg?
231 miles in a straight line, heading SW (225°) from Albany.
Do New York and Pennsylvania have counties with the same name?
Yes, 16: Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Jefferson, Monroe, Montgomery, Sullivan, Tioga, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming.
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.