Bordering states
Ohio vs Pennsylvania
Short answer
- OH
- 11,883,304
- 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.
Ohio
Pennsylvania
- < 65
- < 100
- < 161
- < 381
- ≥ 381
Residents, 2024
- 01Ohio11,883,304
- 02Pennsylvania13,078,751
Land, square miles
- 01Ohio40,859
- 02Pennsylvania44,742
People per square mile
- 01Ohio290.8
- 02Pennsylvania292.3
Median county household income
- 01Ohio$65,205
- 02Pennsylvania$62,918
Side by side
| Measure | Ohio | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 11,883,304 | 13,078,751 |
| Rank by population | 7th | 5th |
| Land, sq mi | 40,859 | 44,742 |
| People per sq mi | 290.8 | 292.3 |
| County-equivalents | 88 | 67 |
| Median county residents | 58,250 | 82,953 |
| Median county income | $65,205 | $62,918 |
| Most populous county | Franklin County | Philadelphia County |
| Largest county by land | Ashtabula County | Lycoming County |
| Capital | Columbus | Harrisburg |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 01 min | 15 h 03 min |
| Census division | East North Central | Middle Atlantic |
Population and density
Pennsylvania has 13,078,751 residents, 10% more than Ohio's 11,883,304. Ohio ranks 7th and Pennsylvania 5th of the 50 states and DC. Both average about 292 people per square mile.
Land area
Pennsylvania has 44,742 square miles of land, 10% more than Ohio's 40,859. The largest county-equivalent in Ohio is Ashtabula County at 702 square miles; in Pennsylvania it is Lycoming County at 1,229.
Counties
Ohio is divided into 88 county-equivalents and Pennsylvania into 67, so an average Ohio county covers 464 square miles against 668. The typical county in Ohio has 58,250 residents, against 82,953 in Pennsylvania. The most populous are Franklin County (1,356,303) and Philadelphia County (1,573,916).
21 county names appear on both sides of the border: Adams, Butler, Clinton, Crawford, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Ohio has a household income of $65,205, 4% above Pennsylvania's $62,918. The highest county incomes are Delaware County ($128,300) in Ohio and Chester County ($120,925) in Pennsylvania, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Columbus and Harrisburg are 324 miles apart in a straight line; from Columbus the initial bearing is 84°, E. On June 21, 2026, Columbus gets 15 h 01 min of daylight and Harrisburg 15 h 03 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 20 min and 9 h 18 min. Month by month tables are on the Columbus and Harrisburg daylight pages.
Where they sit
The border between them is also a Census region boundary: Ohio is in the Midwest and Pennsylvania in the Northeast. By county internal points, Ohio spans 2 UTM zones and Pennsylvania 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Ohio or Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania, with 44,742 square miles of land against 40,859, 1.10 times as large.
Which has more people, Ohio or Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 13,078,751 residents, 10% more than Ohio's 11,883,304.
How far is Columbus from Harrisburg?
324 miles in a straight line, heading E (84°) from Columbus.
Do Ohio and Pennsylvania have counties with the same name?
Yes, 21: Adams, Butler, Clinton, Crawford, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne.
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.