Loading map...
Loading map...
USA
USA
Area Comparison
Boston is 2.6x smaller than Chicago
Population Comparison
Boston has 4.0x fewer people than Chicago
In terms of area, Chicago is 2.6x the size of Boston. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Boston covers 232 km² (90 mi²) — a difference of 374 km². You could fit Boston inside Chicago approximately 2 times.
To put Boston's size in perspective, its area of 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
A historic city and academic center in the northeastern US. Known as "Beantown", Boston covers 232 km² with a population of 0.7 million. The city was established in 1630. Boston is known for Harvard & MIT, Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MBTA (The T).
Boston's subway system (the T) opened in 1897, making it the oldest subway in North America
Third-largest city in the United States. Nicknamed "The Windy City", Chicago has an area of 606 km² and is home to 2.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1833. Visitors come for Deep-dish pizza, Willis Tower, Millennium Park & Cloud Gate, and much more. Getting around is easy with the CTA (L train).
Chicago reversed the flow of the Chicago River in 1900, an engineering feat that still stands
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 2.4x larger than greater Boston at 11,700 km². The Chicago metro area is also more populous, with 9.5 million people compared to 4.9 million.
Boston has a population density of 2,931 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chicago is noticeably denser, packing 1.5 times more people per square kilometer.
Both Boston and Chicago are in USA, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.
Both cities share a humid continental climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Boston fits inside Chicago ~2 times
Density Gap
Chicago is 1.5x more densely populated
History
Boston is ~203 years older
The straight-line distance from Boston to Chicago is 1,366 km (849 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 6m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.