Which has more people, Alaska or South Dakota?

Alaska has a population of 738,003 (48th of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).

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

Median Household Income: Alaska $92,788 (13th of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. Alaska ranks better.

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

Unemployment Rate (%): Alaska 4.7% (tied 43rd of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

Where does Alaska beat South Dakota most clearly?

Alaska ranks far ahead on Fishing Booker Rank (Best States for Fishing): 1st vs 49th; SSI Lobbying Disclosure Score (Most Corrupt States): 97.5 vs 39.6; State Rank State Govt (Public Land by State): 2nd vs 49th.

Where does South Dakota beat Alaska most clearly?

South Dakota ranks far ahead on Annual Cost (Assisted Living Costs by State): $40,200 vs $81,960; Opioid Death Rate (Opioid Epidemic by State): 11.9 per 1k pop. vs 45.1 per 1k pop.; Overall Best - US News (Best States to Live In): 2nd vs 49th.

Alaska vs South Dakota

South Dakota comes out ahead of Alaska on 416 of 770 statistics where one end is better, to 343 with 11 ties. Alaska leads on Sports, Politics & Government and Economics and 2 more categories. South Dakota leads on Agriculture, Facts & Trivia and Infrastructure & Energy and 7 more categories.

770 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 11 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Alaska

Wins: 343
Avg. percentile: 48
Categories led: 5

South Dakota

Wins: 416
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 10

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	Alaska	South Dakota
Population	738,003 48th of 51	943,078 46th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$92,788 13th of 51	$75,081 31st of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	4.7% tied 43rd of 51	2.1% 1st of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	10.1% 13th of 51	11.9% 27th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	102.4 38th of 51	88.6 6th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$60,272 18th of 51	$69,153 5th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$74,720 10th of 51	$57,610 45th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$1,419 34th of 51	$946 2nd of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	729.3 50th of 51	307.5 28th of 51

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

AgricultureSouth Dakota · 16 statistics
SportsAlaska · 16 statistics
Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 33 statistics
EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 34 statistics
GeographySouth Dakota · 24 statistics
TravelSouth Dakota · 27 statistics
PopulationSouth Dakota · 123 statistics
CultureSouth Dakota · 77 statistics
LawSouth Dakota · 61 statistics
Politics & GovernmentAlaska · 121 statistics
EconomicsAlaska · 284 statistics
EducationAlaska · 51 statistics
HealthAlaska · 185 statistics
Crime & SafetySouth Dakota · 71 statistics
Tech & BusinessEven · 46 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Alaska	South Dakota
Fishing Booker RankBest States for Fishing	1st 1st of 50	49th 49th of 50
SSI Lobbying Disclosure ScoreMost Corrupt States	97.5 1st of 50	39.6 49th of 50
State Rank State GovtPublic Land by State	2nd 1st of 49	49th 48th of 49
Annual CostAssisted Living Costs by State	$81,960 50th of 51	$40,200 2nd of 51
Opioid Death RateOpioid Epidemic by State	45.1 per 1k pop. 50th of 51	11.9 per 1k pop. 2nd of 51
Share of Annual Family IncomeChild Care Cost by State	19.4% 3rd of 51	9.4% 51st of 51
Overall Best - US NewsBest States to Live In	49th 48th of 49	2nd 2nd of 49
State Integrity Investigation (SII) Total ScoreMost Corrupt States	76 1st of 50	56 tied 47th of 50
Eggflation (Cost Increase Per Dozen)Egg Prices by State	22.0% 3rd of 50	137.0% 49th of 50
Work Environment RankHappiest States	48th 48th of 50	3rd 2nd of 50
# Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023Prison Population by State	-6.3 2nd of 49	9.3 47th of 49
Avg Cost per MbpsInternet Costs by State	$2.92 51st of 51	$0.69 tied 4th of 51
Annual Mean WageNurse Salary by State	$103,310 5th of 51	$64,500 51st of 51
Hourly Mean WageNurse Salary by State	$49.67 5th of 51	$31.01 51st of 51
Minimum Annual SalaryIBEW Pay Scale by State	$114,880 1st of 51	$56,500 47th of 51
RN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State	$109,210 5th of 51	$69,030 51st of 51
RN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State	$52.51 5th of 51	$33.19 51st of 51
Mean Annual WageOT Salary by State	$100,810 4th of 51	$76,900 50th of 51
Mean Hourly WageOT Salary by State	$48.46 4th of 51	$36.97 50th of 51
U-6 Unemployment Rate Q2 2022U6 Employment Rate	9.6% 48th of 51	4.2% 2nd of 51
SSI Executive Accountability ScoreMost Corrupt States	88.5 1st of 50	46.9 46th of 50
Annual Mean WageOptometrist Salary by State	$180,470 1st of 47	$108,280 43rd of 47
Hourly Mean WageOptometrist Salary by State	$86.77 1st of 47	$52.06 43rd of 47
COLI Utilities Costs IndexLeast Expensive States	152.8 50th of 51	83.5 5th of 51
Drug Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States	48.9 47th of 51	10.3 2nd of 51
RN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State	$106,410 5th of 51	$67,030 50th of 51
RN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State	$51.16 5th of 51	$32.23 50th of 51
U-6 Unemployment Rate Q3 2022U6 Employment Rate	8.4% 48th of 51	4.4% 3rd of 51
% of Insured Adult Males Age 18-64 Who Undergo Circumcision Each Year (NCBI 2015-2018)Circumcision Rates by State	0.0443 45th of 50	0.195 1st of 50
Best Ranch ScoreBest State to Own a Ranch	36.13 50th of 50	56.36 6th of 50

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, Alaska or South Dakota?: South Dakota comes out ahead of Alaska on 416 of 770 statistics where one end is better, to 343 with 11 ties. Alaska leads on Sports, Politics & Government and Economics and 2 more categories. South Dakota leads on Agriculture, Facts & Trivia and Infrastructure & Energy and 7 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Alaska or South Dakota?: Alaska has a population of 738,003 (48th of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).
How do Alaska and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Alaska $92,788 (13th of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. Alaska ranks better.
How do Alaska and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): Alaska 4.7% (tied 43rd of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
Where does Alaska beat South Dakota most clearly?: Alaska ranks far ahead on Fishing Booker Rank (Best States for Fishing): 1st vs 49th; SSI Lobbying Disclosure Score (Most Corrupt States): 97.5 vs 39.6; State Rank State Govt (Public Land by State): 2nd vs 49th.
Where does South Dakota beat Alaska most clearly?: South Dakota ranks far ahead on Annual Cost (Assisted Living Costs by State): $40,200 vs $81,960; Opioid Death Rate (Opioid Epidemic by State): 11.9 per 1k pop. vs 45.1 per 1k pop.; Overall Best - US News (Best States to Live In): 2nd vs 49th.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Alaska or South Dakota.

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