City Map Compare/Denver vs Houston
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Denver

401 km²

Houston

1,725 km²

Denver vs Houston - City Size Comparison

Denver vs Houston - City Size Comparison

Denver

United States

Area401 km²
Population0.72M
Density1,796 /km²
Elevation1,609 m
Founded1858
Climatecold semi-arid climate
Houston

United States

Area1,725 km²
Population2.30M
Density1,333 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1836

Area Comparison

Denver is 4.3x smaller than Houston

Population Comparison

Denver has 3.2x fewer people than Houston

Is Denver Bigger Than Houston?

In terms of area, Houston is 4.3x the size of Denver. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Denver covers 401 km² (155 mi²) — a difference of 1,324 km². You could fit Denver inside Houston approximately 4 times.

To put Denver's size in perspective, its area of 401 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Houston at 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Denver's footprint is roughly about 56,000 American football fields, 200 times the area of Monaco, or 120 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Houston, by comparison, equals about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.

About Denver

Denver is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Officially a consolidated city and county, it is located in the South Platte River valley on the western edge of the High Plains, and is just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains (Rockies). Denver is the 19th-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous state capital, with a population of 715,522 at the 2020 census.

Known as "Mile High City", Denver covers 401 km² with a population of 0.7 million. The city was established in 1858. Denver is known for Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Art Museum, Union Station, among other attractions.

Denver sits in the South Platte River valley just east of the Rocky Mountains' Front Range.

About Houston

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.

Often called "Space City", Houston has an area of 1,725 km² and is home to 2.3 million people. The city dates back to 1836. Visitors come for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, and much more.

Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.

Population Density

Denver has a population density of 1,796 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Houston, with 1,333 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Both cities have comparable density, though Denver is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Denver fits inside Houston ~4 times

Density Gap

Denver is 1.3x more densely populated

Cities Similar in Size to Denver

Denver covers 401 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vienna (415 km²), Portland (376 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), Seattle (369 km²), or Dhaka (368 km²).

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Denver actually bigger than Houston?
Houston is 4.3 times larger than Denver by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while Denver spans 401 km², a difference of 1,324 km².
How many times does Denver fit inside Houston?
Denver (401 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 4 times. That means Houston is 4.3x the area of Denver.
What is the population difference between Denver and Houston?
Houston has approximately 2.3 million people, while Denver has about 0.7 million. Houston has 1.6 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Denver or Houston?
Denver is more densely populated with 1,796 people per km², compared to 1,333 people per km².
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 Denver and Houston

The straight-line distance from Denver to Houston is 1,414 km (879 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 10m.

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