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USA
USA
Area Comparison
Chicago is 3.4x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Chicago has 3.9x more people than Washington D.C.
Chicago is significantly larger, covering 3.4 times the area of Washington D.C.. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 429 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Chicago approximately 3 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
Third-largest city in the United States. Known as "The Windy City", Chicago covers 606 km² with a population of 2.7 million. The city was established in 1833. Chicago is known for Deep-dish pizza, Willis Tower, Millennium Park & Cloud Gate, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the CTA (L train).
Chicago reversed the flow of the Chicago River in 1900, an engineering feat that still stands
Capital of the United States. Nicknamed "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 Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 2.0x larger than greater Washington D.C. at 14,412 km². The Chicago metro area is also more populous, with 9.5 million people compared to 6.3 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 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 Chicago is slightly more compact.
Both Chicago and Washington D.C. are in USA, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.
Chicago has a humid continental climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside Chicago ~3 times
The straight-line distance from Chicago to Washington D.C. is 955 km (594 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 37m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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