New York County Area & Size Rankings

Understanding New York’s county areas

The land-area range runs from New York County at 22.7 mi² to St. Lawrence County at 2,679.5 mi². The largest has 118.3 times the land area of the smallest and accounts for 5.7% of the combined county land in New York. Compare with every state’s largest county.

The median county-equivalent land area is 653.7 mi², above the national median of 604.5 mi². The median describes the middle of the county size distribution; it does not describe how people or development are distributed. A state with a few very large counties can have a much smaller median than its largest entry suggests.

Where water changes the picture

Suffolk County has the most assigned water area, at 1,462.4 mi². It also has the highest water share, with water making up 61.6% of its total area. Water area and water percentage answer different questions: the first measures an amount, while the second measures the mix of land and water.

Across all 62 entries, water accounts for 13.6% of the combined total area. This is calculated from the summed land and water measurements, rather than averaging county percentages, which would give each small and large county equal weight.

Where people live

An estimated 20,002,427 people lived in New York on July 1, 2025 (−1% since 2020), or 5.8% of the national total in this dataset. Kings County is the most populous county equivalent, with 2,653,963 residents — 13.3% of the state. The largest by land, St. Lawrence County, has 105,488.

Across the state there are 424 people per square mile of land. County densities range from 73,478 in New York County to 2.9 in Hamilton County; the median county equivalent has 112. Switch the map above to density to see where the state’s population concentrates.

Compare the largest and smallest county equivalents in New York to see land, water, and total area on the same scale.

These calculations use the 2026 Census county records listed below. County-equivalent boundaries vary between states; area alone does not measure population, density, or usable land. See coverage and calculation rules.

#	County / equivalent	Land	Water	Water share	Population	Per mi²
1	St. Lawrence CountyGEOID 36089	2,679.5 mi²	141.7 mi²	5%	105,488	39
2	Essex CountyGEOID 36031	1,794.1 mi²	122.1 mi²	6.4%	36,438	20
3	Hamilton CountyGEOID 36041	1,717.4 mi²	90.4 mi²	5%	5,006	2.9
4	Franklin CountyGEOID 36033	1,629.3 mi²	68.2 mi²	4%	46,500	29
5	Delaware CountyGEOID 36025	1,442.6 mi²	24.8 mi²	1.7%	44,305	31
6	Herkimer CountyGEOID 36043	1,410.6 mi²	46.5 mi²	3.2%	59,219	42
7	Steuben CountyGEOID 36101	1,390.5 mi²	13.5 mi²	1%	91,855	66
8	Cattaraugus CountyGEOID 36009	1,308.2 mi²	14.2 mi²	1.1%	75,390	58
9	Lewis CountyGEOID 36049	1,276.3 mi²	15.3 mi²	1.2%	26,479	21
10	Jefferson CountyGEOID 36045	1,267.9 mi²	588.6 mi²	31.7%	111,540	88
11	Oneida CountyGEOID 36065	1,212.4 mi²	45.3 mi²	3.6%	226,392	187
12	Ulster CountyGEOID 36111	1,124.2 mi²	36.5 mi²	3.1%	183,330	163
13	Chautauqua CountyGEOID 36013	1,060.4 mi²	439.8 mi²	29.3%	124,126	117
14	Erie CountyGEOID 36029	1,042.8 mi²	184.1 mi²	15%	946,741	908
15	Clinton CountyGEOID 36019	1,037.8 mi²	79.8 mi²	7.1%	78,138	75
16	Allegany CountyGEOID 36003	1,029.5 mi²	5 mi²	0.5%	46,800	45
17	Otsego CountyGEOID 36077	1,001.7 mi²	14 mi²	1.4%	60,589	60
18	Sullivan CountyGEOID 36105	968.1 mi²	28.5 mi²	2.9%	80,586	83
19	Oswego CountyGEOID 36075	951.6 mi²	360.4 mi²	27.5%	118,569	125
20	Suffolk CountyGEOID 36103	910.9 mi²	1,462.4 mi²	61.6%	1,546,090	1,697
21	Chenango CountyGEOID 36017	893.4 mi²	5.2 mi²	0.6%	45,715	51
22	Warren CountyGEOID 36113	867.2 mi²	64.4 mi²	6.9%	65,020	75
23	Washington CountyGEOID 36115	831.2 mi²	14.7 mi²	1.7%	59,353	71
24	Orange CountyGEOID 36071	812.1 mi²	26.2 mi²	3.1%	417,669	514
25	Saratoga CountyGEOID 36091	810 mi²	33.8 mi²	4%	241,343	298
26	Dutchess CountyGEOID 36027	795.6 mi²	29.7 mi²	3.6%	300,708	378
27	Onondaga CountyGEOID 36067	778.4 mi²	27.2 mi²	3.4%	466,584	599
28	Broome CountyGEOID 36007	705.7 mi²	9.7 mi²	1.4%	195,736	277
29	Cayuga CountyGEOID 36011	691.6 mi²	172.1 mi²	19.9%	74,365	108
30	Monroe CountyGEOID 36055	657 mi²	709.8 mi²	51.9%	750,506	1,142
31	Madison CountyGEOID 36053	654.9 mi²	6.4 mi²	1%	67,120	102
32	Rensselaer CountyGEOID 36083	652.5 mi²	12.9 mi²	1.9%	160,510	246
33	Greene CountyGEOID 36039	647.2 mi²	10.9 mi²	1.7%	47,238	73
34	Ontario CountyGEOID 36069	644 mi²	18.5 mi²	2.8%	113,130	176
35	Columbia CountyGEOID 36021	634.7 mi²	13.5 mi²	2.1%	60,168	95
36	Livingston CountyGEOID 36051	631.7 mi²	8.5 mi²	1.3%	61,438	97
37	Schoharie CountyGEOID 36095	621.8 mi²	4.5 mi²	0.7%	30,176	49
38	Wayne CountyGEOID 36117	603.8 mi²	779.2 mi²	56.3%	91,250	151
39	Wyoming CountyGEOID 36121	592.7 mi²	3.5 mi²	0.6%	39,741	67
40	Albany CountyGEOID 36001	522.9 mi²	10.4 mi²	2%	321,225	614
41	Niagara CountyGEOID 36063	522.3 mi²	617.3 mi²	54.2%	208,912	400
42	Tioga CountyGEOID 36107	518.8 mi²	4.3 mi²	0.8%	47,453	91
43	Cortland CountyGEOID 36023	498.8 mi²	2.7 mi²	0.5%	45,850	92
44	Fulton CountyGEOID 36035	495.5 mi²	37.4 mi²	7%	52,216	105
45	Genesee CountyGEOID 36037	493 mi²	2.4 mi²	0.5%	58,416	118
46	Tompkins CountyGEOID 36109	474.7 mi²	16.9 mi²	3.4%	104,047	219
47	Westchester CountyGEOID 36119	430.8 mi²	69.3 mi²	13.9%	1,015,743	2,358
48	Chemung CountyGEOID 36015	407.3 mi²	3.4 mi²	0.8%	80,415	197
49	Montgomery CountyGEOID 36057	403.1 mi²	7.2 mi²	1.8%	50,046	124
50	Orleans CountyGEOID 36073	391.3 mi²	426.2 mi²	52.1%	39,825	102
51	Yates CountyGEOID 36123	338.2 mi²	37.6 mi²	10%	24,547	73
52	Schuyler CountyGEOID 36097	328.3 mi²	14 mi²	4.1%	16,924	52
53	Seneca CountyGEOID 36099	323.7 mi²	66.7 mi²	17.1%	32,883	102
54	Nassau CountyGEOID 36059	284.5 mi²	168.8 mi²	37.2%	1,398,939	4,916
55	Putnam CountyGEOID 36079	230.3 mi²	15.9 mi²	6.5%	99,028	430
56	Schenectady CountyGEOID 36093	204.7 mi²	4.8 mi²	2.3%	162,581	794
57	Rockland CountyGEOID 36087	173.7 mi²	25.8 mi²	12.9%	357,397	2,058
58	Queens CountyGEOID 36081	108.7 mi²	72.8 mi²	40.1%	2,358,182	21,690
59	Kings CountyGEOID 36047	69.4 mi²	27.5 mi²	28.4%	2,653,963	38,254
60	Richmond CountyGEOID 36085	57.5 mi²	45.3 mi²	44.1%	501,290	8,715
61	Bronx CountyGEOID 36005	42.2 mi²	15.2 mi²	26.4%	1,406,332	33,324
62	New York CountyGEOID 36061	22.7 mi²	11.2 mi²	33.1%	1,664,862	73,478

County / equivalent

Land

Water

Water share

Population

Per mi²

St. Lawrence CountyGEOID 36089

2,679.5 mi²

141.7 mi²

105,488

Essex CountyGEOID 36031

1,794.1 mi²

122.1 mi²

6.4%

36,438

Hamilton CountyGEOID 36041

1,717.4 mi²

90.4 mi²

5,006

2.9

Franklin CountyGEOID 36033

1,629.3 mi²

68.2 mi²

46,500

Delaware CountyGEOID 36025

1,442.6 mi²

24.8 mi²

1.7%

44,305

Herkimer CountyGEOID 36043

1,410.6 mi²

46.5 mi²

3.2%

59,219

Steuben CountyGEOID 36101

1,390.5 mi²

13.5 mi²

91,855

Cattaraugus CountyGEOID 36009

1,308.2 mi²

14.2 mi²

1.1%

75,390

Lewis CountyGEOID 36049

1,276.3 mi²

15.3 mi²

1.2%

26,479

Jefferson CountyGEOID 36045

1,267.9 mi²

588.6 mi²

31.7%

111,540

Oneida CountyGEOID 36065

1,212.4 mi²

45.3 mi²

3.6%

226,392

187

Ulster CountyGEOID 36111

1,124.2 mi²

36.5 mi²

3.1%

183,330

163

Chautauqua CountyGEOID 36013

1,060.4 mi²

439.8 mi²

29.3%

124,126

117

Erie CountyGEOID 36029

1,042.8 mi²

184.1 mi²

15%

946,741

908

Clinton CountyGEOID 36019

1,037.8 mi²

79.8 mi²

7.1%

78,138

Allegany CountyGEOID 36003

1,029.5 mi²

5 mi²

0.5%

46,800

Otsego CountyGEOID 36077

1,001.7 mi²

14 mi²

1.4%

60,589

Sullivan CountyGEOID 36105

968.1 mi²

28.5 mi²

2.9%

80,586

Oswego CountyGEOID 36075

951.6 mi²

360.4 mi²

27.5%

118,569

125

Suffolk CountyGEOID 36103

910.9 mi²

1,462.4 mi²

61.6%

1,546,090

1,697

Chenango CountyGEOID 36017

893.4 mi²

5.2 mi²

0.6%

45,715

Warren CountyGEOID 36113

867.2 mi²

64.4 mi²

6.9%

65,020

Washington CountyGEOID 36115

831.2 mi²

14.7 mi²

1.7%

59,353

Orange CountyGEOID 36071

812.1 mi²

26.2 mi²

3.1%

417,669

514

Saratoga CountyGEOID 36091

810 mi²

33.8 mi²

241,343

298

Dutchess CountyGEOID 36027

795.6 mi²

29.7 mi²

3.6%

300,708

378

Onondaga CountyGEOID 36067

778.4 mi²

27.2 mi²

3.4%

466,584

599

Broome CountyGEOID 36007

705.7 mi²

9.7 mi²

1.4%

195,736

277

Cayuga CountyGEOID 36011

691.6 mi²

172.1 mi²

19.9%

74,365

108

Monroe CountyGEOID 36055

657 mi²

709.8 mi²

51.9%

750,506

1,142

Madison CountyGEOID 36053

654.9 mi²

6.4 mi²

67,120

102

Rensselaer CountyGEOID 36083

652.5 mi²

12.9 mi²

1.9%

160,510

246

Greene CountyGEOID 36039

647.2 mi²

10.9 mi²

1.7%

47,238

Ontario CountyGEOID 36069

644 mi²

18.5 mi²

2.8%

113,130

176

Columbia CountyGEOID 36021

634.7 mi²

13.5 mi²

2.1%

60,168

Livingston CountyGEOID 36051

631.7 mi²

8.5 mi²

1.3%

61,438

Schoharie CountyGEOID 36095

621.8 mi²

4.5 mi²

0.7%

30,176

Wayne CountyGEOID 36117

603.8 mi²

779.2 mi²

56.3%

91,250

151

Wyoming CountyGEOID 36121

592.7 mi²

3.5 mi²

0.6%

39,741

Albany CountyGEOID 36001

522.9 mi²

10.4 mi²

321,225

614

Niagara CountyGEOID 36063

522.3 mi²

617.3 mi²

54.2%

208,912

400

Tioga CountyGEOID 36107

518.8 mi²

4.3 mi²

0.8%

47,453

Cortland CountyGEOID 36023

498.8 mi²

2.7 mi²

0.5%

45,850

Fulton CountyGEOID 36035

495.5 mi²

37.4 mi²

52,216

105

Genesee CountyGEOID 36037

493 mi²

2.4 mi²

0.5%

58,416

118

Tompkins CountyGEOID 36109

474.7 mi²

16.9 mi²

3.4%

104,047

219

Westchester CountyGEOID 36119

430.8 mi²

69.3 mi²

13.9%

1,015,743

2,358

Chemung CountyGEOID 36015

407.3 mi²

3.4 mi²

0.8%

80,415

197

Montgomery CountyGEOID 36057

403.1 mi²

7.2 mi²

1.8%

50,046

124

Orleans CountyGEOID 36073

391.3 mi²

426.2 mi²

52.1%

39,825

102

Yates CountyGEOID 36123

338.2 mi²

37.6 mi²

10%

24,547

Schuyler CountyGEOID 36097

328.3 mi²

14 mi²

4.1%

16,924

Seneca CountyGEOID 36099

323.7 mi²

66.7 mi²

17.1%

32,883

102

Nassau CountyGEOID 36059

284.5 mi²

168.8 mi²

37.2%

1,398,939

4,916

Putnam CountyGEOID 36079

230.3 mi²

15.9 mi²

6.5%

99,028

430

Schenectady CountyGEOID 36093

204.7 mi²

4.8 mi²

2.3%

162,581

794

Rockland CountyGEOID 36087

173.7 mi²

25.8 mi²

12.9%

357,397

2,058

Queens CountyGEOID 36081

108.7 mi²

72.8 mi²

40.1%

2,358,182

21,690

Kings CountyGEOID 36047

69.4 mi²

27.5 mi²

28.4%

2,653,963

38,254

Richmond CountyGEOID 36085

57.5 mi²

45.3 mi²

44.1%

501,290

8,715

Bronx CountyGEOID 36005

42.2 mi²

15.2 mi²

26.4%

1,406,332

33,324

New York CountyGEOID 36061

22.7 mi²

11.2 mi²

33.1%

1,664,862

73,478

New York counties by area

Understanding New York’s county areas

Where water changes the picture

Where people live

Complete area table