City Map Compare/Athens vs Houston
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5 km
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Athens

39 km²

Houston

1,725 km²

Athens vs Houston - City Size Comparison

Athens vs Houston - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

Area39 km²
Population0.64M
Density16,410 /km²
Elevation74 m
Founded7000 BC
ClimateMediterranean climate
Houston

United States

Area1,725 km²
Population2.30M
Density1,333 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1836

Area Comparison

Athens is 44.2x smaller than Houston

Population Comparison

Athens has 3.6x fewer people than Houston

Is Athens Bigger Than Houston?

Yes — Houston is 44.2x larger than Athens by area. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 1,686 km². You could fit Athens inside Houston approximately 44 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Houston at 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London.

In more relatable units, Athens's 39 km² is about 5,500 American football fields, 80 times the area of Vatican City, or 19 times the area of Monaco. For Houston, that's about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.

About Athens

Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica region and is the southernmost capital on the European mainland. With its urban area's population numbering over 3.6 million, it is the eighth-largest urban area in the European Union (EU).

Known as "Cradle of Western Civilization", Athens covers 39 km² with a population of 0.6 million. The city was founded around 7000 BC. Athens is known for Acropolis of Athens, Parthenon, Plaka neighborhood, among other attractions.

Athens is the southernmost capital on the European mainland and capital of the Attica region.

About Houston

Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.

Also known as "Space City", Houston has an area of 1,725 km² and is home to 2.3 million people. The city dates back to 1836. Visitors come for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, and much more.

Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Houston, with 1,333 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Athens is dramatically more crowded, with 12.3x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside Houston ~44 times

Density Gap

Athens is 12.3x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~8,836 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Athens

Athens covers 39 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Manila (43 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Houston

Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athens bigger than Houston?
Houston is 44.2 times larger than Athens by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 1,686 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside Houston?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 44 times. That means Houston is 44.2x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and Houston?
Houston has approximately 2.3 million people, while Athens has about 0.6 million. Houston has 1.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or Houston?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 1,333 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or Houston?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while Houston was established around 1836 — a difference of about 8836 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Athens and Houston

The straight-line distance from Athens to Houston is 10,181 km (6,326 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 29m.

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