City Map Compare/Boston vs Minneapolis
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Boston

232 km²

Minneapolis

149 km²

Boston vs Minneapolis - City Size Comparison

Boston vs Minneapolis - City Size Comparison

Boston

USA

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

United States

Area149 km²
Population0.43M
Density2,886 /km²
Elevation264 m
Founded1850
Climatehot-summer humid continental climate

Area Comparison

Boston is 1.6x larger than Minneapolis

Population Comparison

Boston has 1.6x more people than Minneapolis

Is Boston Bigger Than Minneapolis?

Boston is significantly larger, covering 1.6 times the area of Minneapolis. Boston spans 232 km² (90 mi²) while Minneapolis covers 149 km² (58 mi²) — a difference of 83 km².

To put Boston's size in perspective, its area of 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Minneapolis at 149 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Washington D.C..

In more relatable units, Boston's 232 km² is about 32,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 68 times the area of Central Park. Minneapolis, by comparison, equals about 21,000 American football fields, 74 times the area of Monaco, or 44 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 Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 census, it is the state's most populous city. Located in the state's center near the eastern border, it occupies both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, the state capital of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding area are collectively known as the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area with 3.69 million residents.

Nicknamed "Twin Cities", Minneapolis has an area of 149 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. Its history stretches back to 1850. Visitors come for Mall of America, Mississippi River, Minnehaha Falls, and much more.

Minneapolis straddles both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, Minnesota's state capital.

Population Density

Boston has a population density of 2,931 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Minneapolis, with 2,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Boston is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

Boston has a humid continental climate while Minneapolis experiences hot-summer humid continental climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

History

Boston is ~220 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 Minneapolis

Minneapolis covers 149 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Miami (143 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), San Francisco (121 km²), or Stockholm (188 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boston bigger than Minneapolis?
Boston is 1.6 times larger than Minneapolis by area. Boston covers 232 km² while Minneapolis spans 149 km², a difference of 83 km².
How many times does Minneapolis fit inside Boston?
Minneapolis (149 km²) fits inside Boston (232 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Boston is 1.6x the area of Minneapolis.
What is the population difference between Boston and Minneapolis?
Boston has approximately 0.7 million people, while Minneapolis has about 0.4 million. Boston has 0.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Boston or Minneapolis?
Boston is more densely populated with 2,931 people per km², compared to 2,886 people per km².
Which city is older, Boston or Minneapolis?
Boston is older, founded around 1630, while Minneapolis was established around 1850 — a difference of about 220 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 Minneapolis

The straight-line distance from Boston to Minneapolis is 1,804 km (1,121 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 37m.

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