City Map Compare/Boston vs Denver
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Boston

232 km²

Denver

401 km²

Boston vs Denver - City Size Comparison

Boston vs Denver - City Size Comparison

Boston

USA

Area232 km²
Population0.68M
Density2,931 /km²
Elevation43 m
Metro Pop.4.9M
Founded1630
Climatehumid continental
Denver

United States

Area401 km²
Population0.72M
Density1,796 /km²
Elevation1,609 m
Founded1858
Climatecold semi-arid climate

Area Comparison

Boston is 1.7x smaller than Denver

Population Comparison

Boston has 1.1x fewer people than Denver

Is Boston Bigger Than Denver?

Denver is significantly larger, covering 1.7 times the area of Boston. Denver spans 401 km² (155 mi²) while Boston covers 232 km² (90 mi²) — a difference of 169 km².

To put Boston's size in perspective, its area of 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Denver at 401 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Seoul.

Boston's footprint is roughly about 32,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 68 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Denver, by comparison, equals about 56,000 American football fields, 200 times the area of Monaco, or 120 times the area of Central Park.

About Boston

Boston is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It serves as a cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. Boston has an area of 48.4 sq mi (125 km2) and a population of 675,647 as of the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in the Northeastern United States after New York City and Philadelphia.

Known as "Beantown", Boston covers 232 km² with a population of 0.7 million. The city was established in 1630. Boston is known for Fenway Park, Freedom Trail, Harvard University, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MBTA (The T).

Boston covers just 125 km2 yet serves as the cultural and financial heart of all New England

About Denver

Denver is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Officially a consolidated city and county, it is located in the South Platte River valley on the western edge of the High Plains, and is just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains (Rockies). Denver is the 19th-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous state capital, with a population of 715,522 at the 2020 census.

Also known as "Mile High City", Denver has an area of 401 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1858. Visitors come for Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Art Museum, Union Station, and much more.

Denver sits in the South Platte River valley just east of the Rocky Mountains' Front Range.

Population Density

Boston has a population density of 2,931 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Denver, with 1,796 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Boston is noticeably denser, packing 1.6 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Boston has a humid continental climate while Denver experiences cold semi-arid climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Boston is 1.6x more densely populated

History

Boston is ~228 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Boston

Boston covers 232 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Osaka (225 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), or Edinburgh (259 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Denver

Denver covers 401 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vienna (415 km²), Portland (376 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), Seattle (369 km²), or Dhaka (368 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boston actually bigger than Denver?
Denver is 1.7 times larger than Boston by area. Denver covers 401 km² while Boston spans 232 km², a difference of 169 km².
How many times does Boston fit inside Denver?
Boston (232 km²) fits inside Denver (401 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Denver is 1.7x the area of Boston.
What is the population difference between Boston and Denver?
Denver has approximately 0.7 million people, while Boston has about 0.7 million. Denver has 0.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Boston or Denver?
Boston is more densely populated with 2,931 people per km², compared to 1,796 people per km².
Which city is older, Boston or Denver?
Boston is older, founded around 1630, while Denver was established around 1858 — a difference of about 228 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 Boston and Denver

The straight-line distance from Boston to Denver is 2,841 km (1,765 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 51m.

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