Which has more people, Alabama or South Dakota?

Alabama has a population of 5,223,121 (24th of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).

How do Alabama and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Alabama $63,999 (46th of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

How do Alabama and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?

Unemployment Rate (%): Alabama 2.9% (5th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

Where does Alabama beat South Dakota most clearly?

Alabama ranks far ahead on Prisoners, American Indian/Alaskan Native (Prison Population by State): 1 vs 1,473; SSI Executive Accountability Score (Most Corrupt States): 81.9 vs 46.9; Forest Coverage (1-10) (Best States for Camping): 7.85 vs 0.25.

Where does South Dakota beat Alabama most clearly?

South Dakota ranks far ahead on Obesity Rate - Black (Most Obese States): 29.1% vs 49.1%; % of Species at Risk (Most Biodiverse States): 2% vs 15.0%; Exp. Physical Violence in Lifetime - Men (Domestic Violence by State): 28.3% vs 47.6%.

Alabama vs South Dakota

South Dakota comes out ahead of Alabama on 478 of 793 statistics where one end is better, to 306 with 9 ties. Alabama leads on Travel and Sports. South Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Culture and Environment and 10 more categories.

793 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 9 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Alabama

Wins: 306
Avg. percentile: 42
Categories led: 2

South Dakota

Wins: 478
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 13

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	Alabama	South Dakota
Population	5,223,121 24th of 51	943,078 46th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$63,999 46th of 51	$75,081 31st of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	2.9% 5th of 51	2.1% 1st of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	15.6% 45th of 51	11.9% 27th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	88.8 7th of 51	88.6 6th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$52,216 48th of 51	$69,153 5th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$57,500 46th of 51	$57,610 45th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$1,007 9th of 51	$946 2nd of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	348.3 33rd of 51	307.5 28th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	2,669 7th of 48	7,633 42nd of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
CultureSouth Dakota · 77 statistics
EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 38 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
GeographySouth Dakota · 25 statistics
TravelAlabama · 29 statistics
Tech & BusinessSouth Dakota · 47 statistics
LawSouth Dakota · 66 statistics
HealthSouth Dakota · 186 statistics
EducationSouth Dakota · 51 statistics
PopulationSouth Dakota · 124 statistics
EconomicsSouth Dakota · 291 statistics
AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
Crime & SafetySouth Dakota · 74 statistics
SportsAlabama · 16 statistics
Politics & GovernmentEven · 124 statistics

Biggest differences

The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.

Statistic	Alabama	South Dakota
Prisoners, American Indian/Alaskan NativePrison Population by State	1 1st of 49	1,473 46th of 49
Obesity Rate - BlackMost Obese States	49.1% 48th of 48	29.1% 5th of 48
% of Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States	15.0% tied 47th of 51	2% tied 1st of 51
SSI Executive Accountability ScoreMost Corrupt States	81.9 2nd of 50	46.9 46th of 50
Forest Coverage (1-10)Best States for Camping	7.85 5th of 49	0.25 48th of 49
Dental Services Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State	$361 3rd of 51	$577 tied 47th of 51
Exp. Physical Violence in Lifetime - MenDomestic Violence by State	47.6% tied 46th of 51	28.3% 2nd of 51
Forest CoverageOff-Grid Living Legal States	70.6% 5th of 50	3.93% 48th of 50
Participation RateLabor Force Participation Rate by State	56.7% 49th of 51	67.2% tied 5th of 51
Getting Insufficient SleepHealthiest States	40.5% 49th of 51	31.2% 6th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$52,216 48th of 51	$69,153 5th of 51
Average SalaryHighest Paying Jobs by State	$376,956 2nd of 50	$336,300 44th of 50
NAEP Math ScoresBest States for Education	262 48th of 50	281 6th of 50
FTE Reporter RankMost Corrupt States	4th 4th worst of 49	44th 5th best of 49
Hourly Median WageDentist Salary by State	$98.14 4th of 39	$61.83 36th of 39
Average Wind SpeedWindiest States in the U.S.	14.7 mph 44th of 51	21.32 mph 2nd of 51
Avg Annual FatalitiesDeadliest Highway by State	33 45th of 50	5.5 4th of 50
Community & Environment RankHappiest States	46th 46th of 50	6th 5th of 50
SSI Legislative Accountability ScoreMost Corrupt States	75.2 4th of 50	52.9 45th of 50
Worst States to Retire - HealthcareWorst States to Retire	1st worst of 50	42nd 9th best of 50
Overall Best - US NewsBest States to Live In	43rd 42nd of 49	2nd 2nd of 49
Hospital Health Care Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State	$3,350 10th of 51	$6,991 51st of 51
Money-RelatedMost Stressed States	2nd 2nd worst of 50	42nd 9th best of 50
Industrial Toxin Concentration (US News)Air Quality by State	1,643 pounds/mi² 43rd of 50	108 pounds/mi² 3rd of 50
Mean Wind Speed at 328 ftWindiest States in the U.S.	5.94 mph tied 49th of 51	8.96 mph 9th of 51
Greenest StatesMost Beautiful States	48th 48th of 50	9th 9th of 50
Work Environment RankHappiest States	41st 41st of 50	3rd 2nd of 50
HIV Death RateHIV Statistics by State	7.2 tied 41st of 51	1.1 2nd of 51
Annual Mean WageDentist Salary by State	$190,370 7th of 39	$144,860 37th of 39
Hourly Mean WageDentist Salary by State	$91.53 7th of 39	$69.64 37th of 39

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, Alabama or South Dakota?: South Dakota comes out ahead of Alabama on 478 of 793 statistics where one end is better, to 306 with 9 ties. Alabama leads on Travel and Sports. South Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Culture and Environment and 10 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Alabama or South Dakota?: Alabama has a population of 5,223,121 (24th of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).
How do Alabama and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Alabama $63,999 (46th of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
How do Alabama and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): Alabama 2.9% (5th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
Where does Alabama beat South Dakota most clearly?: Alabama ranks far ahead on Prisoners, American Indian/Alaskan Native (Prison Population by State): 1 vs 1,473; SSI Executive Accountability Score (Most Corrupt States): 81.9 vs 46.9; Forest Coverage (1-10) (Best States for Camping): 7.85 vs 0.25.
Where does South Dakota beat Alabama most clearly?: South Dakota ranks far ahead on Obesity Rate - Black (Most Obese States): 29.1% vs 49.1%; % of Species at Risk (Most Biodiverse States): 2% vs 15.0%; Exp. Physical Violence in Lifetime - Men (Domestic Violence by State): 28.3% vs 47.6%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Alabama or South Dakota.

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