City Map Compare/Houston vs Seattle
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5 km
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Houston

1,725 km²

Seattle

369 km²

Houston vs Seattle - City Size Comparison

Houston vs Seattle - City Size Comparison

Houston

United States

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

United States

Area369 km²
Population0.74M
Density2,005 /km²
Elevation40 m
Founded1851

Area Comparison

Houston is 4.7x larger than Seattle

Population Comparison

Houston has 3.1x more people than Seattle

Is Houston Bigger Than Seattle?

Yes — Houston is 4.7x larger than Seattle by area. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Seattle covers 369 km² (142 mi²) — a difference of 1,356 km². You could fit Seattle 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, Seattle at 369 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul.

Picture Houston another way: its area is large enough to fit about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. For Seattle, that's about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 times the area of Central Park.

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.

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.

About Seattle

Seattle is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is the 18th-most populous city in the United States with a population of 780,995 in 2024, while the Seattle metropolitan area at over 4.15 million residents is the 15th-most populous metropolitan area in the nation. The city is the county seat of King County, the most populous county in Washington.

Often called "The Emerald City", Seattle has an area of 369 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1851. Visitors come for Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Starbucks headquarters, and much more.

Seattle is Washington's most populous city with 780,995 residents in 2024, anchoring the Pacific Northwest.

Population Density

Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Seattle, with 2,005 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Seattle is noticeably denser, packing 1.5 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Seattle fits inside Houston ~4 times

Density Gap

Seattle is 1.5x more densely populated

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Seattle

Seattle covers 369 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Philadelphia (370 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Portland (376 km²), Atlanta (348 km²), or Denver (401 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houston bigger than Seattle?
Houston is 4.7 times larger than Seattle by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while Seattle spans 369 km², a difference of 1,356 km².
How many times does Seattle fit inside Houston?
Seattle (369 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 4 times. That means Houston is 4.7x the area of Seattle.
What is the population difference between Houston and Seattle?
Houston has approximately 2.3 million people, while Seattle has about 0.7 million. Houston has 1.6 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Houston or Seattle?
Seattle is more densely populated with 2,005 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 Houston and Seattle

The straight-line distance from Houston to Seattle is 3,041 km (1,889 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 5m.

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