Demographics

California vs New York: Population Density

New York is more densely populated than California.

California flag
California
CA · West
240.4 per sq mi
Number of residents per square mile.
New York flag
New York
NY · Northeast
Winner
366.7 per sq mi
Number of residents per square mile.

Visual comparison

California240.4 per sq mi
New York366.7 per sq mi

Difference: 126.3 per sq mi — New York leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for population density.

California #11 · 240.4 per sq mi
New York #7 · 366.7 per sq mi
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Population Density

#1 New Jersey flag New Jersey
1,099.4 per sq mi
#2 Rhode Island flag Rhode Island
724.0 per sq mi
#3 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
679.3 per sq mi
#4 Connecticut flag Connecticut
668.0 per sq mi
#5 Maryland flag Maryland
506.6 per sq mi
#6 Delaware flag Delaware
429.8 per sq mi
#7 New York flag New York
366.7 per sq mi
#8 Florida flag Florida
359.8 per sq mi
#9 Pennsylvania flag Pennsylvania
283.9 per sq mi
#10 Ohio flag Ohio
266.4 per sq mi
Selected states
#11 California flag California
240.4 per sq mi

California ranks 11th and New York ranks 7th nationally for population density.

Related context

Density in Context

Population density shapes commutes, housing costs, and the feel of daily life.

MetricCaliforniaNew York
Population 39,538,223 20,201,249 Land Area 163,696 sq mi 54,555 sq mi Median Home Value $693,700 $367,200 Violent Crime / 100k 499.5 319.6 Cost of Living Index 138.5 132.7

What this means

California vs New York: Population Density in context

New York's population density is 366.7 per sq mi, compared with 240.4 per sq mi in California, a gap of 52.5%. Number of residents per square mile.

California
240.4 per sq mi
New York
366.7 per sq mi
Difference
126.3 per sq mi

People also ask

California vs New York Population Density — common questions

QWhat is California's population density?

California's population density is 240.4 per sq mi.

QWhat is New York's population density?

New York's population density is 366.7 per sq mi.

QWhich state has a higher population density — California or New York?

New York is more densely populated than California.

QHow much more population density does New York have compared to California?

126.3 per sq mi.

More comparisons: California vs New York

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Full comparison
Population Bachelor's Degree Advanced Degree Net Domestic Migration Population Growth Since 2020

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Data source and freshness

Primary source
U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census and TIGER/Line
Data period
2020 population and land area
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
Calculated as population divided by land area.