Houston
1,725 km²
Philadelphia
370 km²
United States
United States
Area Comparison
Houston is 4.7x larger than Philadelphia
Population Comparison
Houston has 1.4x more people than Philadelphia
Houston is significantly larger, covering 4.7 times the area of Philadelphia. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Philadelphia covers 370 km² (143 mi²) — a difference of 1,355 km². You could fit Philadelphia inside Houston approximately 4 times.
To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Philadelphia at 370 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul.
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. For Philadelphia, that's about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Philadelphia, colloquially referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, and the sixth-most populous city in the United States, with a Census-estimated population of 1,574,281 in July 2025. The Philadelphia metropolitan area has 6.33 million residents and is the nation's ninth-largest metropolitan area. Philadelphia is known for its culture, cuisine, and history, maintaining contemporary influence in business and technology, sports, and music.
Often called "Philly", Philadelphia has an area of 370 km² and is home to 1.6 million people. It was established in 1682. Visitors come for Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Philly Cheesesteak, and much more.
Philadelphia is the sixth-most populous US city, with an estimated 1,574,281 residents as of July 2025.
Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Philadelphia, with 4,324 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Philadelphia is dramatically more crowded, with 3.2x the population density.
Size Ratio
Philadelphia fits inside Houston ~4 times
Density Gap
Philadelphia is 3.2x more densely populated
History
Philadelphia is ~154 years older
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).
Philadelphia covers 370 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seattle (369 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Portland (376 km²), Atlanta (348 km²), or Denver (401 km²).
The straight-line distance from Houston to Philadelphia is 2,156 km (1,340 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 2m.
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