City Map Compare/Boston vs Vancouver
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5 km
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Boston

232 km²

Vancouver

115 km²

Boston vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Boston vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Boston

USA

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

Canada

Area115 km²
Population0.66M
Density5,739 /km²
Elevation2 m
Founded1886
ClimateMarine west coast climate

Area Comparison

Boston is 2.0x larger than Vancouver

Population Comparison

Boston has 1.0x more people than Vancouver

Is Boston Bigger Than Vancouver?

Boston is significantly larger, covering 2.0 times the area of Vancouver. Boston spans 232 km² (90 mi²) while Vancouver covers 115 km² (44 mi²) — a difference of 117 km². You could fit Vancouver inside Boston approximately 2 times.

To put Boston's size in perspective, its area of 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Vancouver at 115 km² is roughly the same size as San Francisco.

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. Vancouver, by comparison, equals about 16,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Monaco, or 34 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 Vancouver

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million.

Nicknamed "Hollywood North", Vancouver has an area of 115 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1886. Visitors come for Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and much more.

Vancouver grew from 631,486 residents in 2016 to 662,248 by the 2021 census, leading all of British Columbia.

Population Density

Boston has a population density of 2,931 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Vancouver, with 5,739 people per km², is a densely populated city. Vancouver is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Boston has a humid continental climate while Vancouver experiences Marine west coast climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Vancouver fits inside Boston ~2 times

Density Gap

Vancouver is 2.0x more densely populated

History

Boston is ~256 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 Vancouver

Vancouver covers 115 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Francisco (121 km²), Paris (105 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), or Miami (143 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Boston or Vancouver?
Boston is 2.0 times larger than Vancouver by area. Boston covers 232 km² while Vancouver spans 115 km², a difference of 117 km².
How many times does Vancouver fit inside Boston?
Vancouver (115 km²) fits inside Boston (232 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Boston is 2.0x the area of Vancouver.
What is the population difference between Boston and Vancouver?
Boston has approximately 0.7 million people, while Vancouver has about 0.7 million. Boston has 0.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Boston or Vancouver?
Vancouver is more densely populated with 5,739 people per km², compared to 2,931 people per km².
Which city is older, Boston or Vancouver?
Boston is older, founded around 1630, while Vancouver was established around 1886 — a difference of about 256 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 Vancouver

The straight-line distance from Boston to Vancouver is 4,024 km (2,501 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 14m.

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