Which is better, Maricopa County, AZ or San Diego County, CA?

San Diego County, CA comes out ahead of Maricopa County, AZ on 19 of 30 statistics where one end is better, to 11. San Diego County, CA leads on Health. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Maricopa County, AZ or San Diego County, CA?

Maricopa County, AZ has a population of 4,724,969 (4th of 3,094 US counties) and San Diego County, CA has 3,276,954 (5th of 3,094).

How do Maricopa County, AZ and San Diego County, CA compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Maricopa County, AZ $89,300 (317th of 3,093), San Diego County, CA $106,268 (117th of 3,093) among US counties. San Diego County, CA ranks better.

How do Maricopa County, AZ and San Diego County, CA compare on Poverty Rate (%)?

Poverty Rate (%): Maricopa County, AZ 11.0% (987th of 3,094), San Diego County, CA 10.3% (847th of 3,094) among US counties. San Diego County, CA ranks better.

Where does Maricopa County, AZ beat San Diego County, CA most clearly?

Maricopa County, AZ ranks far ahead on Unemployment Rate (%) (Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)): 3.8% vs 4.6%; Adults with Depression (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 18.9% vs 21.2%; Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 15.3% vs 16.6%.

Where does San Diego County, CA beat Maricopa County, AZ most clearly?

San Diego County, CA ranks far ahead on Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 8.7% vs 13.1%; Cooling Degree Days per Year (Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)): 1,413 vs 3,724; Median Income (Poorest Counties): $106,268 vs $89,300.

Maricopa County, AZ vs San Diego County, CA

San Diego County, CA comes out ahead of Maricopa County, AZ on 19 of 30 statistics where one end is better, to 11. San Diego County, CA leads on Health.

30 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Maricopa County, AZ

Wins: 11
Avg. percentile: 50
Categories led: 0

San Diego County, CA

Wins: 19
Avg. percentile: 55
Categories led: 1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US counties.

Statistic	Maricopa County, AZ	San Diego County, CA
Population	4,724,969 4th of 3,094	3,276,954 5th of 3,094
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$89,300 317th of 3,093	$106,268 117th of 3,093
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	11.0% 987th of 3,094	10.3% 847th of 3,094
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)	3.8% tied 1,250th of 3,094	4.6% tied 2,157th of 3,094
Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	34.9% tied 898th of 3,094	34.5% tied 807th of 3,094
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	26.0 1,971st of 3,094	25.5 1,878th of 3,094
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	1,404 tied 98th of 3,050	2,019 tied 280th of 3,050
Median Air Quality IndexAir Quality by County (EPA)	73 957th of 960	67 tied 953rd of 960

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

HealthSan Diego County, CA · 11 statistics
EconomicsEven · 9 statistics

Biggest differences

The 22 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 1,547 US counties.

Statistic	Maricopa County, AZ	San Diego County, CA
Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	13.1% tied 2,133rd of 2,916	8.7% tied 759th of 2,916
Cooling Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	3,724 3,025th of 3,050	1,413 tied 1,919th of 3,050
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)	3.8% tied 1,250th of 3,094	4.6% tied 2,157th of 3,094
Adults with Depression (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	18.9% tied 178th of 2,916	21.2% tied 560th of 2,916
Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	15.3% tied 145th of 2,916	16.6% tied 433rd of 2,916
Median IncomePoorest Counties	$89,300 317th of 2,000	$106,268 117th of 2,000
Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	17.5% tied 807th of 2,916	18.4% tied 1,045th of 2,916
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$89,300 317th of 3,093	$106,268 117th of 3,093
Adults Who Binge Drink (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	16.8% tied 1,061st of 2,916	17.2% tied 1,232nd of 2,916
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	36.7% 387th of 3,094	43.2% 196th of 3,094
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	93.1% 260th of 3,094	94.9% 71st of 3,094
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	1,404 tied 98th of 3,050	2,019 tied 280th of 3,050
Adults with Obesity (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	30.6% tied 225th of 2,916	25.4% tied 55th of 2,916
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$452,800 2,904th of 3,092	$854,700 tied 3,068th of 3,092
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	11.0% 987th of 3,094	10.3% 847th of 3,094
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$1,708 2,953rd of 3,090	$2,246 3,076th of 3,090
Adults with Diabetes (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	9.6% tied 759th of 2,916	9.4% tied 638th of 2,916
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	26.0 1,971st of 3,094	25.5 1,878th of 3,094
Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	34.9% tied 898th of 3,094	34.5% tied 807th of 3,094
Adults Who Smoke (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	11.0% tied 160th of 2,916	10.1% tied 87th of 2,916
Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	20.0% tied 244th of 2,916	20.4% tied 276th of 2,916
Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	72.0% tied 2,291st of 2,916	71.9% tied 2,313th of 2,916

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Maricopa County, AZ or San Diego County, CA?: San Diego County, CA comes out ahead of Maricopa County, AZ on 19 of 30 statistics where one end is better, to 11. San Diego County, CA leads on Health. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Maricopa County, AZ or San Diego County, CA?: Maricopa County, AZ has a population of 4,724,969 (4th of 3,094 US counties) and San Diego County, CA has 3,276,954 (5th of 3,094).
How do Maricopa County, AZ and San Diego County, CA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Maricopa County, AZ $89,300 (317th of 3,093), San Diego County, CA $106,268 (117th of 3,093) among US counties. San Diego County, CA ranks better.
How do Maricopa County, AZ and San Diego County, CA compare on Poverty Rate (%)?: Poverty Rate (%): Maricopa County, AZ 11.0% (987th of 3,094), San Diego County, CA 10.3% (847th of 3,094) among US counties. San Diego County, CA ranks better.
Where does Maricopa County, AZ beat San Diego County, CA most clearly?: Maricopa County, AZ ranks far ahead on Unemployment Rate (%) (Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)): 3.8% vs 4.6%; Adults with Depression (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 18.9% vs 21.2%; Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 15.3% vs 16.6%.
Where does San Diego County, CA beat Maricopa County, AZ most clearly?: San Diego County, CA ranks far ahead on Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 8.7% vs 13.1%; Cooling Degree Days per Year (Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)): 1,413 vs 3,724; Median Income (Poorest Counties): $106,268 vs $89,300.

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