The following is a comparison of four US states – Texas, California, New Mexico, and Arizona. These are the states that share a border with Mexico.
Texas vs California vs New Mexico vs Arizona – US states comparison
| Texas | California | New Mexico | Arizona | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | about 268,600 square miles (695,660 sq km) | about 163,700 square miles (423,970 sq km) | about 121,600 square miles (314,920 sq km) | about 114,000 square miles (295,230 sq km) |
| Area rank | 2nd | 3rd | 5th | 6th |
| Population (2024 estimate) | 31.29 million | 39.43 million | 2.13 million | 7.58 million |
| GDP (BEA 2024) | $2.7 trillion | $4.1 trillion | $140.5 billion | $552.2 billion |
| GDP rank | 2nd | 1st | 38th | 16th |
| Highest natural point | Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft/2,667 m) | Mount Whitney (14,505 ft/4,421 m) | Wheeler Peak (13,167 ft/4,013 m) | Humphreys Peak (12,637 ft/3,852 m) |
| Capital city | Austin | Sacramento | Santa Fe | Phoenix |
| Largest city | Houston | Los Angeles | Albuquerque | Phoenix |
| Coastline | with the Gulf of Mexico | with the Pacific Ocean | No Coastline | No Coastline |
| Popular places to visit | Caddo Lake, Big Bend National Park, Cadillac Ranch, Caverns of Sonora, etc. | Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Hollywood, Walk of fame, etc. | White Sands National Park, Cerro Grande, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, etc. | Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, Saguaro National Park, etc. |
| Number of National Parks | 2 | 9 | 2 | 3 |
| Nickname | The Lone Star State | The Golden State | The Land of Enchantment | The Grand Canyon State |
| Became a state of the US | 29 December 1845 | 9 September 1850 | 6 January 1912 | 14 February 1912 |
| Border length with Mexico | 1,241 miles (1,997.2 km) (longest) | 140.4 miles (226.0 km) (shortest) | 179.5 miles (288.9 km) | 372.5 miles (599.5 km) |
| Top 3 largest cities | Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas | Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose | Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Rio Rancho | Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa |
| Bordering US states | New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansan, and Louisiana | Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon | Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Colorado | California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US state has the longest international border with Mexico?
Texas
Is Texas the largest state in the US?
No, Alaska is the largest state in the US. Texas is the second largest state.
Is California larger than Texas?
No, Texas is a bigger state in terms of area. California has a larger population.
Which state has a longer coastline, California or Texas?
California
Which state has a higher GDP, California or Texas?
California has the highest GDP in the United States.
Which state is bigger, Arizona or New Mexico?
New Mexico is bigger in terms of area than Arizona.
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