Population Density Comparison
Demographics

California vs Idaho: Population Density

California is more densely populated than Idaho.

California flag
California
CA • West
Winner
241.5 per sq mi
Number of residents per square mile.
Idaho flag
Idaho
ID • West
22.0 per sq mi
Number of residents per square mile.

Visual Comparison

California 241.5 per sq mi
Idaho 22.0 per sq mi

Difference: 219.5 per sq mi — California leads.

Related Context

Density in Context

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

Metric
California
Idaho
Population
39,538,223
1,839,106
Land Area
163,696 sq mi
83,569 sq mi
Median Home Value
$693,700
$361,500
Violent Crime / 100k
499.5
224.7
Cost of Living Index
138.5
103.3

What This Means

California vs Idaho: Population Density in context

California has a population density of 241.5 per sq mi, compared with 22.0 per sq mi in Idaho — roughly 11.0× the Idaho figure. Number of residents per square mile.

California
241.5 per sq mi
Idaho
22.0 per sq mi
Difference
219.5 per sq mi

People Also Ask

California vs Idaho Population Density — Common Questions

Q What is California's population density?

California's population density is 241.5 per sq mi.

Q What is Idaho's population density?

Idaho's population density is 22.0 per sq mi.

Q Which state has a higher population density — California or Idaho?

California is more densely populated than Idaho.

Q How much more population density does California have compared to Idaho?

219.5 per sq mi.

More Comparisons: California vs Idaho

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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset, with minimum wage data from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.