Are the details (buildings, roads, etc.) on the maps at 1:24,000 scale smaller than 1:500,000 scale?

Maps at 1:24,000 scale are fairly large and provide detailed information about the features of an area, including the locations of important buildings and most campgrounds, ski lifts, and water mills. Footbridges, drawbridges, fence lines, and private roads are also shown at this scale.

Usually these features are omitted from maps in the 1:50,000- to 1:100,000-scale range; these maps cover more area while retaining a reasonable level of detail. Maps at these scales are most often produced using the 30- by 60-minute quadrangle formats.

Small-scale maps (1:250,000 and smaller) show large areas on single map sheets, but details are limited to major features, such as boundaries, parks, airports, major roads, railroads, and streams.

The answer is: (Answer)

Reference:

http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs01502.html

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/2a.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map_scale