One territory, three islands that differ in size, pace and access. Start with the one you are considering.
The most populous U.S. Virgin Island, home to the territorial capital, Charlotte Amalie, the main airport and the ferry links to St. John.
Area guides: Charlotte Amalie, Frenchtown, Northside, Red Hook and the East End, Tutu and Anna's Retreat, Water Island
The largest U.S. Virgin Island by land area, with two historic towns, a countryside still mapped in plantation-era estates, and 41,004 residents at the 2020 Census.
Area guides: Cane Bay and the North Shore, Christiansted, East End, Frederiksted, Gallows Bay, Mid-Island and Sion Farm
Photo: Jason P. Heym, CC BY-SA 3.0
The smallest of the three main islands. About two-thirds of St. John is national park, there is no airport, and you reach it by ferry or car barge from Red Hook on St. Thomas.
Area guides: Chocolate Hole and Great Cruz Bay, Coral Bay, Cruz Bay, East End, St. John
Photo: Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0
The islands at their true positions, with the figures from the Census Bureau.
| St. Thomas | St. Croix | St. John | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2020 | 42,261 | 41,004 | 3,881 |
| Land area | 31 sq mi | 83 sq mi | 19.7 sq mi |
| Estates | 113 | 231 | 72 |
| Main towns | Charlotte Amalie | Christiansted, Frederiksted | Coral Bay, Cruz Bay |
| Most populous estate | Annas Retreat (5,551) | The Whim East (2,499) | Enighed (774) |
Figures summed from the estate tables: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Island Areas Censuses: U.S. Virgin Islands, Table 2 (population by estate); land area from U.S. Census Bureau, TIGER/Line Shapefiles 2025, U.S. Virgin Islands estates.
Property descriptions in the islands often name the estate. Find any of them on the map, with its 2020 population and land area.
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