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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..
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
Capital 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 The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian museums, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
D.C. has more free museums than any other city in the US — all 19 Smithsonian museums charge no admission
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
The straight-line distance from Boston to Washington D.C. is 634 km (394 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 15m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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