How Big Is Houston?
United States
Area
1,725 km²
666 mi²
Population
2.3M
Density
1,333/km²
Founded
1836
Houston Size Overview
Houston covers an area of 1,725 km² (666 mi²) in United States. Largest city in Texas, United States. The city is often called "Space City". To put this in perspective, Houston is roughly the same size as London. In more relatable units, that's about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.
Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.
With a population of 2.3 million, Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km².
Houston has a history stretching back to 1836. The city is renowned for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, and Texas Medical Center.
Did You Know?
- Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.
- Greater Houston's 7.8 million residents form the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the nation.
- Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston serves as Harris County's seat.
Compare Houston with Other Cities
Compare Houston with any city using our interactive map tool.
Cities Similar in Size to Houston
Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 km²).