Bordering states
Ohio vs West Virginia
Short answer
- OH
- 11,883,304
- WV
- 1,769,979
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
West Virginia
- < 40
- < 74
- < 120
- < 252
- ≥ 252
Residents, 2024
- 01Ohio11,883,304
- 02West Virginia1,769,979
Land, square miles
- 01Ohio40,859
- 02West Virginia24,041
People per square mile
- 01Ohio290.8
- 02West Virginia73.6
Median county household income
- 01Ohio$65,205
- 02West Virginia$53,187
Side by side
| Measure | Ohio | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 11,883,304 | 1,769,979 |
| Rank by population | 7th | 39th |
| Land, sq mi | 40,859 | 24,041 |
| People per sq mi | 290.8 | 73.6 |
| County-equivalents | 88 | 55 |
| Median county residents | 58,250 | 21,285 |
| Median county income | $65,205 | $53,187 |
| Most populous county | Franklin County | Kanawha County |
| Largest county by land | Ashtabula County | Randolph County |
| Capital | Columbus | Charleston |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 01 min | 14 h 50 min |
| Census division | East North Central | South Atlantic |
Population and density
Ohio has 11,883,304 residents, 6.7 times West Virginia's 1,769,979. Ohio ranks 7th and West Virginia 39th of the 50 states and DC. Ohio is the more crowded, with 290.8 people per square mile against 73.6, 4.0 times.
Land area
Ohio has 40,859 square miles of land, 70% more than West Virginia's 24,041. The largest county-equivalent in Ohio is Ashtabula County at 702 square miles; in West Virginia it is Randolph County at 1,040.
Counties
Ohio is divided into 88 county-equivalents and West Virginia into 55, so an average Ohio county covers 464 square miles against 437. The typical county in Ohio has 58,250 residents, against 21,285 in West Virginia. The most populous are Franklin County (1,356,303) and Kanawha County (173,906).
13 county names appear on both sides of the border: Fayette, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Logan, Marion, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Putnam, Wayne, Wood. 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, 23% above West Virginia's $53,187. The highest county incomes are Delaware County ($128,300) in Ohio and Jefferson County ($92,747) in West Virginia, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Columbus and Charleston are 135 miles apart in a straight line; from Columbus the initial bearing is 146°, SE. On June 21, 2026, Columbus gets 15 h 01 min of daylight and Charleston 14 h 50 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 20 min and 9 h 30 min. Month by month tables are on the Columbus and Charleston daylight pages.
Where they sit
The border between them is also a Census region boundary: Ohio is in the Midwest and West Virginia in the South. By county internal points, Ohio spans 2 UTM zones and West Virginia 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Ohio or West Virginia?
Ohio, with 40,859 square miles of land against 24,041, 1.70 times as large.
Which has more people, Ohio or West Virginia?
Ohio has 11,883,304 residents, 6.7 times West Virginia's 1,769,979.
How far is Columbus from Charleston?
135 miles in a straight line, heading SE (146°) from Columbus.
Do Ohio and West Virginia have counties with the same name?
Yes, 13: Fayette, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Logan, Marion, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Putnam, Wayne, Wood.
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.