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Houston vs Chicago

Houston is about 2.8× larger than Chicago by administrative area. Houston (United States) covers 1,725 km² (666 mi²) with a population of 2.3 million, while Chicago (United States) covers 606 km² (234 mi²) with 2.7 million residents.

Metric Houston Chicago
Area 1,725 km² 606 km²
Area (mi²) 666 mi² 234 mi²
Population 2,304,580 2,746,388
Population density 1,336 /km² 4,529 /km²
Area ratioHouston is ~2.8× larger by area than Chicago.
20 km
Houston
20 km
Chicago

Both outlines are drawn at the same scale.

Frequently asked questions

Is Houston bigger than Chicago?

Yes — Houston is about 2.8× larger by area: 1,725 km² vs 606 km².

How big is Houston?

Houston, United States, covers about 1,725 km² (666 mi²) of administrative area.

How big is Chicago?

Chicago, United States, covers about 606 km² (234 mi²) of administrative area.

Which city has more people, Houston or Chicago?

Chicago has the larger population: 2.7 million vs 2.3 million. Population density is about 1,336 people/km² in Houston and 4,529 people/km² in Chicago.

City boundaries from OpenStreetMap. Last updated 2026-10-18.

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