Bordering states
Oregon vs Washington
Short answer
- OR
- 4,272,371
- WA
- 7,958,180
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.
Oregon
Washington
- < 8
- < 22
- < 50
- < 122
- ≥ 122
Residents, 2024
- 01Oregon4,272,371
- 02Washington7,958,180
Land, square miles
- 01Oregon95,997
- 02Washington66,455
People per square mile
- 01Oregon44.5
- 02Washington119.8
Median county household income
- 01Oregon$68,568
- 02Washington$71,374
Side by side
| Measure | Oregon | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 4,272,371 | 7,958,180 |
| Rank by population | 27th | 13th |
| Land, sq mi | 95,997 | 66,455 |
| People per sq mi | 44.5 | 119.8 |
| County-equivalents | 36 | 39 |
| Median county residents | 46,128 | 69,632 |
| Median county income | $68,568 | $71,374 |
| Most populous county | Multnomah County | King County |
| Largest county by land | Harney County | Okanogan County |
| Capital | Salem | Olympia |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 37 min | 15 h 54 min |
| Census division | Pacific | Pacific |
Population and density
Washington has 7,958,180 residents, 86% more than Oregon's 4,272,371. Oregon ranks 27th and Washington 13th of the 50 states and DC. Washington is the more crowded, with 119.8 people per square mile against 44.5, 2.7 times.
Land area
Oregon has 95,997 square miles of land, 44% more than Washington's 66,455. The largest county-equivalent in Oregon is Harney County at 10,134 square miles; in Washington it is Okanogan County at 5,266.
Counties
Washington is divided into 39 county-equivalents and Oregon into 36, so an average Washington county covers 1,704 square miles against 2,667. The typical county in Oregon has 46,128 residents, against 69,632 in Washington. The most populous are Multnomah County (795,897) and King County (2,340,211).
6 county names appear on both sides of the border: Benton, Columbia, Douglas, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Washington has a household income of $71,374, 4% above Oregon's $68,568. The highest county incomes are Washington County ($103,486) in Oregon and King County ($120,672) in Washington, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Salem and Olympia are 145 miles apart in a straight line; from Salem the initial bearing is 2°, N. On June 21, 2026, Salem gets 15 h 37 min of daylight and Olympia 15 h 54 min; on December 21 the figures are 8 h 46 min and 8 h 30 min. Month by month tables are on the Salem and Olympia daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census Pacific division of the West region. By county internal points, Oregon spans 2 UTM zones and Washington 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Oregon or Washington?
Oregon, with 95,997 square miles of land against 66,455, 1.44 times as large.
Which has more people, Oregon or Washington?
Washington has 7,958,180 residents, 86% more than Oregon's 4,272,371.
How far is Salem from Olympia?
145 miles in a straight line, heading N (2°) from Salem.
Do Oregon and Washington have counties with the same name?
Yes, 6: Benton, Columbia, Douglas, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln.
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.