Boston
232 km²
Washington D.C.
177 km²
USA
USA
Area Comparison
Boston is 1.3x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Boston has 1.0x fewer people than Washington D.C.
Yes — Boston is 1.3x larger than Washington D.C. by area. Boston spans 232 km² (90 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 55 km².
To put Boston's size in perspective, its area of 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
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. Washington D.C., by comparison, equals about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.
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
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.
Also known as "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Boston at 11,700 km². The Washington D.C. metro area is also more populous, with 6.3 million people compared to 4.9 million.
Boston has a population density of 2,931 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Washington D.C. is slightly more compact.
Both Boston and Washington D.C. are in USA, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.
Boston has a humid continental climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Density Gap
Washington D.C. is 1.3x more densely populated
History
Boston is ~160 years older
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).
Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).
The straight-line distance from Boston to Washington D.C. is 634 km (394 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 15m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.