Alabama vs West Virginia
Alabama comes out ahead of West Virginia on 448 of 805 statistics where one end is better, to 343 with 14 ties. Alabama leads on Agriculture, Education and Sports and 5 more categories. West Virginia leads on Law, Tech & Business and Crime & Safety and 5 more categories.
805 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 14 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 448
- Avg. percentile
- 42
- Categories led
- 8
- Wins
- 343
- Avg. percentile
- 39
- Categories led
- 8
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Alabama | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,223,121 24th of 51 | 1,764,892 39th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $63,999 46th of 51 | $59,608 50th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 2.9% 5th of 51 | 4.2% tied 30th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 15.6% 45th of 51 | 16.7% 48th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 88.8 7th of 51 | 89.5 9th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $52,216 48th of 51 | $50,051 50th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $57,500 46th of 51 | $56,470 49th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,007 9th of 51 | $872 1st of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 348.3 33rd of 51 | 241.7 20th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,669 7th of 48 | 5,067 22nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- AgricultureAlabama · 17 statistics
- EducationAlabama · 51 statistics
- SportsAlabama · 17 statistics
- HealthAlabama · 189 statistics
- TravelAlabama · 29 statistics
- LawWest Virginia · 66 statistics
- Tech & BusinessWest Virginia · 47 statistics
- Crime & SafetyWest Virginia · 72 statistics
- PopulationAlabama · 124 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentWest Virginia · 128 statistics
- Facts & TriviaAlabama · 17 statistics
- CultureWest Virginia · 77 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyWest Virginia · 36 statistics
- EconomicsAlabama · 298 statistics
- EnvironmentWest Virginia · 39 statistics
- GeographyWest Virginia · 25 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Alabama | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Local Sales Tax RateSales Tax by State | 11.0% 38th of 38 | 1% tied 2nd of 38 |
| Christmas Spirit RankChristmas by State | 50th 50th of 51 | 4th 4th of 51 |
| Heroin Use Past MonthDrug Use by State | 0.24% 5th of 51 | 0.62% 49th of 51 |
| Rural Pavement RoughnessRoad Quality by State | 1% tied 1st of 50 | 7% tied 45th of 50 |
| Service Fees (USD)Bad Check Laws by State | $30.00 tied 35th of 50 | $10.00 1st of 50 |
| Avg. Local Sales Tax RateInternet Sales Tax by State | 5.46% 38th of 38 | 0.59% 8th of 38 |
| Hospital Health Care Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State | $3,350 10th of 51 | $5,724 50th of 51 |
| Hourly Median WageDentist Salary by State | $98.14 4th of 39 | $62.25 34th of 39 |
| Cost of LivingPension-Friendly States | 96 5th of 49 | 68 tied 41st of 49 |
| Overall RankBest States to Retire | 45th 45th of 50 | 7th 7th of 50 |
| PriceEgg Prices by State | $6.12 per dozen 48th of 50 | $4.64 per dozen 10th of 50 |
| Annual Mean WageDentist Salary by State | $190,370 7th of 39 | $145,300 36th of 39 |
| Hourly Mean WageDentist Salary by State | $91.53 7th of 39 | $69.86 36th of 39 |
| Cancer Rate: New CasesCancer Rates by State | 437.2 per 100k 12th of 51 | 517.8 per 100k 50th of 51 |
| Employment and Wealth Racial Progress RankLeast Racist States | 6th 6th of 51 | 44th 44th of 51 |
| % Change in Prison Pop. 2021-2022Prison Population by State | 1,389.0% 45th of 50 | 26.0% 9th of 50 |
| CAS Illegal Legislative Corruption Level (1-5)Most Corrupt States | 4 tied 44th of 48 | 2 tied 3rd of 48 |
| Primary Care Physicians Per 100kHealthiest States | 250 45th of 51 | 352 9th of 51 |
| Minimum CostBreast Augmentation Cost by State | $3,500 tied 2nd of 50 | $5,000 tied 33rd of 50 |
| Food and Health Support RankBest States to Be Homeless | 48th 48th of 50 | 13th 13th of 50 |
| % of Hate Crimes with Racial/Ethnic/Ancestry BiasMost Racist States | 58.3% 40th of 51 | 43.3% 5th of 51 |
| Registration & Documentation FeesCar Registration Fees by State | $882 42nd of 50 | $302 8th of 50 |
| Religious DiversityLeast Diverse States in the US | 8th 8th of 50 | 42nd 42nd of 50 |
| Average SalaryHighest Paying Jobs by State | $376,956 2nd of 50 | $344,930 36th of 50 |
| Cancer Rate New Cases 2018 to 2022Cancer Rates by State | 432.6 per 100k Pop. tied 14th of 51 | 498.1 per 100k Pop. 49th of 51 |
| MMRVaccination Rates by State | 93.2% 11th of 51 | 89.2% 45th of 51 |
| Student Loan Average Borrower DebtStudent Loan Debt by State | $37,137 40th of 51 | $31,690 6th of 51 |
| Road QualityRoad Quality by State | 4th 4th of 50 | 37th 37th of 50 |
| Avg Annual FatalitiesDeadliest Highway by State | 33 45th of 50 | 11 tied 11th of 50 |
| Health Care RankDisability Benefits by State | 39th 39th of 51 | 6th 6th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Alabama or West Virginia?
- Alabama comes out ahead of West Virginia on 448 of 805 statistics where one end is better, to 343 with 14 ties. Alabama leads on Agriculture, Education and Sports and 5 more categories. West Virginia leads on Law, Tech & Business and Crime & Safety and 5 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Alabama or West Virginia?
- Alabama has a population of 5,223,121 (24th of 51 US states) and West Virginia has 1,764,892 (39th of 51).
- How do Alabama and West Virginia compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Alabama $63,999 (46th of 51), West Virginia $59,608 (50th of 51) among US states. Alabama ranks better.
- How do Alabama and West Virginia compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Alabama 2.9% (5th of 51), West Virginia 4.2% (tied 30th of 51) among US states. Alabama ranks better.
- Where does Alabama beat West Virginia most clearly?
- Alabama ranks far ahead on Heroin Use Past Month (Drug Use by State): 0.24% vs 0.62%; Rural Pavement Roughness (Road Quality by State): 1% vs 7%; Hospital Health Care Cost per Capita (Health Care Costs by State): $3,350 vs $5,724.
- Where does West Virginia beat Alabama most clearly?
- West Virginia ranks far ahead on Maximum Local Sales Tax Rate (Sales Tax by State): 1% vs 11.0%; Christmas Spirit Rank (Christmas by State): 4th vs 50th; Service Fees (USD) (Bad Check Laws by State): $10.00 vs $30.00.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Alabama or West Virginia.
- Alabama vs Alaska
- Alabama vs Arizona
- Alabama vs Arkansas
- Alabama vs California
- Alabama vs Colorado
- Alabama vs Connecticut
- Alabama vs Delaware
- Alabama vs District of Columbia
- Alaska vs West Virginia
- Arizona vs West Virginia
- Arkansas vs West Virginia
- California vs West Virginia
- Colorado vs West Virginia
- Connecticut vs West Virginia
- Delaware vs West Virginia
- District of Columbia vs West Virginia