Houston
1,725 km²
Phoenix
1,341 km²
United States
United States
Area Comparison
Houston is 1.3x larger than Phoenix
Population Comparison
Houston has 1.4x more people than Phoenix
Houston is significantly larger, covering 1.3 times the area of Phoenix. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Phoenix covers 1,341 km² (518 mi²) — a difference of 384 km².
To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Phoenix at 1,341 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. For Phoenix, that's about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 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.
Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area, with an estimated 5.19 million residents, is the tenth-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and the most populous in the Mountain states and Southwest.
Nicknamed "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix has an area of 1,341 km² and is home to 1.6 million people. The city dates back to 1868. Visitors come for Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, and much more.
Phoenix is the most populous U.S. state capital and the fifth-largest city in the country with 1.6 million residents.
Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Phoenix, with 1,201 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Both cities have comparable density, though Houston is slightly more compact.
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).
Phoenix covers 1,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
The straight-line distance from Houston to Phoenix is 1,633 km (1,015 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 25m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.