diff --git a/contribs/ev/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/ev/example/RunEvExampleTest.java b/contribs/ev/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/ev/example/RunEvExampleTest.java
index 87644405c7d..9509bba85cc 100644
--- a/contribs/ev/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/ev/example/RunEvExampleTest.java
+++ b/contribs/ev/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/ev/example/RunEvExampleTest.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import org.matsim.core.config.ConfigUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.events.EventsUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.population.PopulationUtils;
+import org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison;
 import org.matsim.testcases.MatsimTestUtils;
 import org.matsim.utils.eventsfilecomparison.ComparisonResult;
 
@@ -33,8 +34,8 @@ public class RunEvExampleTest{
 				Population actual = PopulationUtils.createPopulation( ConfigUtils.createConfig() ) ;
 				PopulationUtils.readPopulation( actual, utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/output_plans.xml.gz" );
 
-				boolean result = PopulationUtils.comparePopulations( expected, actual );
-				Assertions.assertTrue(result);
+				PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(expected, actual);
+				Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result);
 			}
 			{
 				String expected = utils.getInputDirectory() + "/output_events.xml.gz" ;
@@ -66,8 +67,8 @@ public class RunEvExampleTest{
 				Population actual = PopulationUtils.createPopulation( ConfigUtils.createConfig() ) ;
 				PopulationUtils.readPopulation( actual, utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/output_plans.xml.gz" );
 
-				boolean result = PopulationUtils.comparePopulations( expected, actual );
-				Assertions.assertTrue(result);
+				PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(expected, actual);
+				Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result);
 			}
 			{
 				String expected = utils.getInputDirectory() + "/output_events.xml.gz" ;
diff --git a/contribs/ev/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/ev/example/RunEvExampleWithLTHConsumptionModelTest.java b/contribs/ev/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/ev/example/RunEvExampleWithLTHConsumptionModelTest.java
index 447b79966ad..c71b0898651 100644
--- a/contribs/ev/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/ev/example/RunEvExampleWithLTHConsumptionModelTest.java
+++ b/contribs/ev/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/ev/example/RunEvExampleWithLTHConsumptionModelTest.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import org.matsim.core.config.ConfigUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.events.EventsUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.population.PopulationUtils;
+import org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison;
 import org.matsim.testcases.MatsimTestUtils;
 import org.matsim.utils.eventsfilecomparison.ComparisonResult;
 
@@ -33,8 +34,8 @@ void runTest(){
 				Population actual = PopulationUtils.createPopulation( ConfigUtils.createConfig() ) ;
 				PopulationUtils.readPopulation( actual, utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/output_plans.xml.gz" );
 
-				boolean result = PopulationUtils.comparePopulations( expected, actual );
-				Assertions.assertTrue( result );
+				PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(expected, actual);
+				Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result);
 			}
 			{
 				String expected = utils.getInputDirectory() + "/output_events.xml.gz" ;
diff --git a/contribs/parking/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/parking/parkingproxy/run/RunWithParkingProxyIT.java b/contribs/parking/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/parking/parkingproxy/run/RunWithParkingProxyIT.java
index e87a4afbaba..7619ded63e9 100644
--- a/contribs/parking/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/parking/parkingproxy/run/RunWithParkingProxyIT.java
+++ b/contribs/parking/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/parking/parkingproxy/run/RunWithParkingProxyIT.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Disabled;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.extension.RegisterExtension;
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@
 import org.matsim.core.config.ConfigUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.events.EventsUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.population.PopulationUtils;
+import org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison;
 import org.matsim.core.utils.io.IOUtils;
 import org.matsim.examples.ExamplesUtils;
 import org.matsim.testcases.MatsimTestUtils;
@@ -60,9 +62,8 @@ void testMain(){
                         PopulationUtils.readPopulation( expected, utils.getInputDirectory() + "/output_experienced_plans.xml.gz" );
                         final Population actual = PopulationUtils.createPopulation( ConfigUtils.createConfig() );
                         PopulationUtils.readPopulation( actual, utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/output_experienced_plans.xml.gz" );
-                        if(!PopulationUtils.comparePopulations( expected, actual )) {
-                        	throw new RuntimeException("Plans file comparison ended with result false");
-                        }
+						PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(expected, actual);
+						Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result);
                 }
         }
 }
diff --git a/contribs/roadpricing/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/roadpricing/run/RoadPricingByConfigfileTest.java b/contribs/roadpricing/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/roadpricing/run/RoadPricingByConfigfileTest.java
index e59e74dd90b..93893f362fc 100644
--- a/contribs/roadpricing/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/roadpricing/run/RoadPricingByConfigfileTest.java
+++ b/contribs/roadpricing/src/test/java/org/matsim/contrib/roadpricing/run/RoadPricingByConfigfileTest.java
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 import org.matsim.core.config.ConfigUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.events.EventsUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.population.PopulationUtils;
+import org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison;
 import org.matsim.core.utils.io.IOUtils;
 import org.matsim.examples.ExamplesUtils;
 import org.matsim.testcases.MatsimTestUtils;
@@ -62,7 +63,8 @@ final void testMain() {
 				PopulationUtils.readPopulation( expected, utils.getInputDirectory() + "/output_plans.xml.gz" );
 				final Population actual = PopulationUtils.createPopulation( ConfigUtils.createConfig() );
 				PopulationUtils.readPopulation( actual, utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/output_plans.xml.gz" );
-				Assertions.assertTrue(PopulationUtils.comparePopulations( expected, actual ), "Populations are different");
+				PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(expected, actual);
+				Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result);
 			}
 
 
diff --git a/contribs/vsp/src/test/java/playground/vsp/ev/UrbanEVIT.java b/contribs/vsp/src/test/java/playground/vsp/ev/UrbanEVIT.java
index b96c04fb079..b133b0e485a 100644
--- a/contribs/vsp/src/test/java/playground/vsp/ev/UrbanEVIT.java
+++ b/contribs/vsp/src/test/java/playground/vsp/ev/UrbanEVIT.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import org.matsim.core.config.ConfigUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.events.EventsUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.population.PopulationUtils;
+import org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison;
 import org.matsim.testcases.MatsimTestUtils;
 import org.matsim.utils.eventsfilecomparison.ComparisonResult;
 
@@ -32,8 +33,8 @@ void run() {
 				Population actual = PopulationUtils.createPopulation( ConfigUtils.createConfig() ) ;
 				PopulationUtils.readPopulation( actual, utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/output_plans.xml.gz" );
 
-				boolean result = PopulationUtils.comparePopulations( expected, actual );
-				Assertions.assertTrue( result );
+				PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(expected, actual);
+				Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result);
 			}
 			{
 				String expected = utils.getInputDirectory() + "/output_events.xml.gz" ;
diff --git a/matsim/src/main/java/org/matsim/core/population/PopulationUtils.java b/matsim/src/main/java/org/matsim/core/population/PopulationUtils.java
index cae206c534b..5755982b6ed 100644
--- a/matsim/src/main/java/org/matsim/core/population/PopulationUtils.java
+++ b/matsim/src/main/java/org/matsim/core/population/PopulationUtils.java
@@ -665,7 +665,10 @@ public static double calculateSimilarity(List<Activity> activities1, List<Activi
 	 * this will go unnoticed (this method will just return true or false,
 	 * probably false, except if both Writers have written the exact same text
 	 * until the Exception happens).
+	 *
+	 * @deprecated -- please use {@link org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison} instead.  nkuehnel, apr'24
 	 */
+	@Deprecated
 	public static boolean equalPopulation(final Population s1, final Population s2) {
 		try {
 			try( InputStream inputStream1 = openPopulationInputStream( s1 ) ; InputStream inputStream2 = openPopulationInputStream( s2 ) ){
@@ -1186,6 +1189,10 @@ public static Population readPopulation( String filename ) {
 		readPopulation( population, filename );
 		return population ;
 	}
+	/**
+	 * @deprecated -- please use {@link org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison} instead.  nkuehnel, apr'24
+	 */
+	@Deprecated
 	public static boolean comparePopulations( Population population1, Population population2 ) {
 		return PopulationUtils.equalPopulation( population1, population2 );
 	}
diff --git a/matsim/src/main/java/org/matsim/core/population/routes/PopulationComparison.java b/matsim/src/main/java/org/matsim/core/population/routes/PopulationComparison.java
index 8dac954aa3f..30902a92e97 100644
--- a/matsim/src/main/java/org/matsim/core/population/routes/PopulationComparison.java
+++ b/matsim/src/main/java/org/matsim/core/population/routes/PopulationComparison.java
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ public enum Result { equal, notEqual }
 
 	private static final Logger log = LogManager.getLogger( PopulationComparison.class );
 
+	private PopulationComparison(){}
 
-	public Result compare( Population population1, Population population2 ){
+
+	public static Result compare( Population population1, Population population2 ){
 		Result result=Result.equal;
 
 		Iterator<? extends Person> it1 = population1.getPersons().values().iterator();
diff --git a/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/core/replanning/modules/ExternalModuleTest.java b/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/core/replanning/modules/ExternalModuleTest.java
index e9c44723123..194a7f1fe00 100644
--- a/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/core/replanning/modules/ExternalModuleTest.java
+++ b/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/core/replanning/modules/ExternalModuleTest.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 import org.matsim.core.controler.*;
 import org.matsim.core.population.PopulationUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.population.io.PopulationReader;
+import org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison;
 import org.matsim.core.replanning.ReplanningContext;
 import org.matsim.core.scenario.ScenarioUtils;
 import org.matsim.testcases.MatsimTestUtils;
@@ -82,7 +83,9 @@ public boolean invoke() {
             }
         }, "test", outputDirectoryHierarchy, scenario);
         replanPopulation(scenario.getPopulation(), testee);
-        Assertions.assertTrue(PopulationUtils.equalPopulation(scenario.getPopulation(), originalScenario.getPopulation()));
+
+		PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(scenario.getPopulation(), originalScenario.getPopulation());
+		Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result);
     }
 
 	@Test
@@ -99,7 +102,8 @@ public boolean invoke() {
             }
         }, "test", outputDirectoryHierarchy, scenario);
         replanPopulation(scenario.getPopulation(), testee);
-        Assertions.assertFalse(PopulationUtils.equalPopulation(scenario.getPopulation(), originalScenario.getPopulation()));
+		PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(scenario.getPopulation(), originalScenario.getPopulation());
+		Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result);
     }
 
     private Population loadPopulation(String filename) {
diff --git a/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/core/router/RoutingIT.java b/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/core/router/RoutingIT.java
index 35ac550ee68..7d3ace29d49 100644
--- a/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/core/router/RoutingIT.java
+++ b/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/core/router/RoutingIT.java
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 import org.matsim.core.population.PopulationUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.population.algorithms.PersonAlgorithm;
 import org.matsim.core.population.io.PopulationReader;
+import org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison;
 import org.matsim.core.router.costcalculators.FreespeedTravelTimeAndDisutility;
 import org.matsim.core.router.costcalculators.TravelDisutilityFactory;
 import org.matsim.core.router.speedy.SpeedyALTFactory;
@@ -161,12 +162,12 @@ private void doTest(final RouterProvider provider) {
 		new MatsimNetworkReader(referenceScenario.getNetwork()).readFile(config.network().getInputFile());
 		new PopulationReader(referenceScenario).readFile(inPlansName);
 
-		final boolean isEqual = PopulationUtils.equalPopulation(referenceScenario.getPopulation(), scenario.getPopulation());
-		if ( !isEqual ) {
+		PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(referenceScenario.getPopulation(), scenario.getPopulation());
+		if (result == PopulationComparison.Result.notEqual) {
 			new PopulationWriter(referenceScenario.getPopulation(), scenario.getNetwork()).write(this.utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/reference_population.xml.gz");
 			new PopulationWriter(scenario.getPopulation(), scenario.getNetwork()).write(this.utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/output_population.xml.gz");
 		}
-		Assertions.assertTrue(isEqual, "different plans files.");
+		Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result, "different plans files");
 	}
 
 	private static void calcRoute(
diff --git a/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/integration/replanning/ReRoutingIT.java b/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/integration/replanning/ReRoutingIT.java
index c432538434a..f318a535671 100644
--- a/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/integration/replanning/ReRoutingIT.java
+++ b/matsim/src/test/java/org/matsim/integration/replanning/ReRoutingIT.java
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 import org.matsim.core.controler.Controler;
 import org.matsim.core.gbl.Gbl;
 import org.matsim.core.population.PopulationUtils;
+import org.matsim.core.population.routes.PopulationComparison;
 import org.matsim.core.scenario.ScenarioUtils;
 import org.matsim.core.utils.io.IOUtils;
 import org.matsim.examples.ExamplesUtils;
@@ -113,7 +114,6 @@ private void evaluate() throws MalformedURLException {
 		this.evaluate("plans.xml.gz");
 	}
 
-	private final static Logger LOG = LogManager.getLogger(ReRoutingIT.class);
 	private void evaluate(String plansFilename) throws MalformedURLException {
 		Config config = utils.loadConfig(utils.getClassInputDirectory() + "config.xml");
 		config.network().setInputFile(IOUtils.extendUrl(ExamplesUtils.getTestScenarioURL("berlin"), "network.xml.gz").toString());
@@ -124,13 +124,12 @@ private void evaluate(String plansFilename) throws MalformedURLException {
 		Scenario scenario = ScenarioUtils.loadScenario(config);
 
 		Gbl.startMeasurement();
-		final boolean isEqual = PopulationUtils.equalPopulation(referenceScenario.getPopulation(), scenario.getPopulation());
+		PopulationComparison.Result result = PopulationComparison.compare(referenceScenario.getPopulation(), scenario.getPopulation());
 		Gbl.printElapsedTime();
-		if ( !isEqual ) {
+		if (result == PopulationComparison.Result.notEqual) {
 			new PopulationWriter(referenceScenario.getPopulation(), scenario.getNetwork()).write(utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/reference_population.xml.gz");
 			new PopulationWriter(scenario.getPopulation(), scenario.getNetwork()).write(utils.getOutputDirectory() + "/output_population.xml.gz");
 		}
-		Assertions.assertTrue(isEqual, "different plans files.");
+		Assertions.assertEquals(PopulationComparison.Result.equal, result, "different plans file");
 	}
-
 }