Alaska vs California
California comes out ahead of Alaska on 433 of 771 statistics where one end is better, to 320 with 18 ties. Alaska leads on Sports, Infrastructure & Energy and Economics and 1 more category. California leads on Agriculture, Health and Culture and 9 more categories.
771 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 18 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 320
- Avg. percentile
- 48
- Categories led
- 4
- Wins
- 433
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 12
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Alaska | California |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 738,003 48th of 51 | 39,345,844 1st of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $92,788 13th of 51 | $99,122 6th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.7% tied 43rd of 51 | 5.5% 50th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 10.1% 13th of 51 | 12.0% 29th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 102.4 38th of 51 | 110.7 51st of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $60,272 18th of 51 | $63,028 13th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $74,720 10th of 51 | $80,690 5th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,419 34th of 51 | $2,036 51st of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 729.3 50th of 51 | 432.7 44th of 51 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- AgricultureCalifornia · 16 statistics
- SportsAlaska · 16 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 185 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 77 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 62 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 71 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 124 statistics
- TravelCalifornia · 27 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 24 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 46 statistics
- Facts & TriviaCalifornia · 17 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- EnvironmentCalifornia · 34 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyAlaska · 33 statistics
- EconomicsAlaska · 281 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentAlaska · 119 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Alaska | California |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel Gas Tax (￠/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | 8.95 ￠/gallon 1st of 51 | 87.32 ￠/gallon 51st of 51 |
| Diesel Gas Tax ($/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | $0.090/gallon 1st of 51 | $0.873/gallon 51st of 51 |
| Gas Tax (¢/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | 8.95 ￠/gallon 1st of 51 | 70.92 ￠/gallon 51st of 51 |
| Gas Tax ($/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | $0.090/gallon 1st of 51 | $0.709/gallon 51st of 51 |
| Overall Score (Higher is Better)Best State To Be a Police Officer | 26.2 51st of 51 | 61.87 1st of 51 |
| Related Groups per Capita RankBest States to Homeschool | 1st 1st of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Weather RankBest States to Retire | 50th 50th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Species Diversity Rank (01-51)Most Biodiverse States | 50th 50th of 51 | 1st 1st of 51 |
| MidwifeNursing Pay by State | $85,920 36th of 37 | $154,500 1st of 37 |
| Training Requirements RankBest State To Be a Police Officer | 50th 50th of 51 | 2nd 2nd of 51 |
| Air Quality Rank (US News)Air Quality by State | 2nd 2nd of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Days with Unhealthy Air Quality (US News)Air Quality by State | 55 2nd of 50 | 234 49th of 50 |
| Personnel RankFarming-Friendly States | 48th 48th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Attractive People RankMost Attractive States | 49th 48th of 49 | 2nd 2nd of 49 |
| Individual Income Tax RankBest State To Incorporate In | 1st tied 1st of 51 | 49th 50th of 51 |
| Renewable Energy IncentivesOff-Grid Living Legal States | 16 tied 47th of 50 | 158 1st of 50 |
| Crematory FeeAverage Funeral Cost by State | $952 51st of 51 | $329 4th of 51 |
| Taxes Paid To Own State Per CapitaTax Burden by State | $1,527 1st of 51 | $8,711 48th of 51 |
| Climate RankFarming-Friendly States | 50th 50th of 50 | 4th 4th of 50 |
| Local Effective Tax RateHighest Taxed States | 4.93% 1st of 50 | 11.0% 47th of 50 |
| MPH Overall RankGreenest States | 49th 49th of 50 | 3rd 3rd of 50 |
| Violent Crime Rate per 100kMost Dangerous Cities by State | 1,062 44th of 45 | 87 3rd of 45 |
| Opportunity and Competition RankBest State To Be a Police Officer | 51st 51st of 51 | 5th 5th of 51 |
| Domestic Violence with IPV-Related Impact in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State | 44.1% 50th of 51 | 24.1% 4th of 51 |
| Local Taxes RankBest States to Retire | 3rd 3rd of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| Fuel Prices (1-10)Best States for Camping | 9.57 45th of 49 | 0.95 1st of 49 |
| Overall RankBest State To Incorporate In | 3rd 3rd of 51 | 48th tied 48th of 51 |
| Annual Cost IncreaseGrocery Prices by State | 8.8% tied 46th of 50 | 3.4% 2nd of 50 |
| Aluminum Can PriceAluminum Can Prices by State | $0.28 per lb 5th of 43 | $1.67 per lb 43rd of 43 |
| Anxiety RateMental Health Statistics by State | 7,287 per 100k 5th of 51 | 7,857 per 100k 50th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Alaska or California?
- California comes out ahead of Alaska on 433 of 771 statistics where one end is better, to 320 with 18 ties. Alaska leads on Sports, Infrastructure & Energy and Economics and 1 more category. California leads on Agriculture, Health and Culture and 9 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Alaska or California?
- Alaska has a population of 738,003 (48th of 51 US states) and California has 39,345,844 (1st of 51).
- How do Alaska and California compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Alaska $92,788 (13th of 51), California $99,122 (6th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do Alaska and California compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Alaska 4.7% (tied 43rd of 51), California 5.5% (50th of 51) among US states. Alaska ranks better.
- Where does Alaska beat California most clearly?
- Alaska ranks far ahead on Diesel Gas Tax (￠/gallon) (Gas Taxes by State): 8.95 ￠/gallon vs 87.32 ￠/gallon; Diesel Gas Tax ($/gallon) (Gas Taxes by State): $0.090/gallon vs $0.873/gallon; Gas Tax (¢/gallon) (Gas Taxes by State): 8.95 ￠/gallon vs 70.92 ￠/gallon.
- Where does California beat Alaska most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Overall Score (Higher is Better) (Best State To Be a Police Officer): 61.87 vs 26.2; Weather Rank (Best States to Retire): 1st vs 50th; Species Diversity Rank (01-51) (Most Biodiverse States): 1st vs 50th.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Alaska or California.
- Alabama vs Alaska
- Alaska vs Arizona
- Alaska vs Arkansas
- Alaska vs Colorado
- Alaska vs Connecticut
- Alaska vs Delaware
- Alaska vs District of Columbia
- Alaska vs Florida
- Alabama vs California
- Arizona vs California
- Arkansas vs California
- California vs Colorado
- California vs Connecticut
- California vs Delaware
- California vs District of Columbia
- California vs Florida