Houston
1,725 km²
Los Angeles
1,302 km²
United States
USA
Area Comparison
Houston is 1.3x larger than Los Angeles
Population Comparison
Houston has 1.7x fewer people than Los Angeles
Yes — Houston is 1.3x larger than Los Angeles by area. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² (503 mi²) — a difference of 423 km².
To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Los Angeles at 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.
In more relatable units, Houston's 1,725 km² is about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. Los Angeles works out to about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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.
Known as "Space City", Houston covers 1,725 km² with a population of 2.3 million. The city was established in 1836. Houston is known for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, among other attractions.
Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Nicknamed "The City of Angels", Los Angeles has an area of 1,302 km² and is home to 4.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1781. Visitors come for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Los Angeles, with 3,049 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Los Angeles is noticeably denser, packing 2.3 times more people per square kilometer.
Density Gap
Los Angeles is 2.3x more densely populated
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).
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Houston to Los Angeles is 2,207 km (1,371 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 6m.
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