Arizona vs California
California comes out ahead of Arizona on 458 of 808 statistics where one end is better, to 338 with 12 ties. Arizona leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Politics & Government. California leads on Health, Sports and Education and 9 more categories.
808 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 12 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 338
- Avg. percentile
- 48
- Categories led
- 3
- Wins
- 458
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 12
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Arizona | California |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,691,212 14th of 51 | 39,345,844 1st of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $79,964 21st of 51 | $99,122 6th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.3% tied 33rd of 51 | 5.5% 50th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.5% 32nd of 51 | 12.0% 29th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 100.7 35th of 51 | 110.7 51st of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $52,890 43rd of 51 | $63,028 13th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $67,620 20th of 51 | $80,690 5th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,543 39th of 51 | $2,036 51st of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 377.9 36th of 51 | 432.7 44th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 1,919 4th of 48 | 2,814 9th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthCalifornia · 189 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- EnvironmentCalifornia · 40 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- Facts & TriviaCalifornia · 18 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 76 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 71 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 124 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyArizona · 36 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 294 statistics
- AgricultureArizona · 17 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentArizona · 125 statistics
- TravelEven · 29 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Arizona | California |
|---|---|---|
| Local Street Accidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State | 81.1% 44th of 44 | 3.5% 1st of 44 |
| Max RateTax Rates by State | 2.5% 1st of 44 | 13.3% 44th of 44 |
| Capital Gains RateCapital Gains Tax by State | 2.5% 1st of 43 | 13.3% 43rd of 43 |
| Wasted Instead of ReusedFood Waste by State | 1st worst of 50 | 49th 2nd best of 50 |
| Income Tax Maximum RateTaxes by State | 2.98% 2nd of 43 | 12.3% 43rd of 43 |
| Diesel Gas Tax (￠/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | 19 ￠/gallon 3rd of 51 | 87.32 ￠/gallon 51st of 51 |
| Diesel Gas Tax ($/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | $0.190/gallon 3rd of 51 | $0.873/gallon 51st of 51 |
| Fuel Prices (1-10)Best States for Camping | 9.65 47th of 49 | 0.95 1st of 49 |
| Gas Tax (¢/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | 19 ￠/gallon 4th of 51 | 70.92 ￠/gallon 51st of 51 |
| Gas Tax ($/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | $0.190/gallon 4th of 51 | $0.709/gallon 51st of 51 |
| Governor's SalaryGovernor Salary by State | $95,000 49th of 50 | $242,295 3rd of 50 |
| Teacher's Union Rank (1=Strongest)States with Teacher Unions | 51st 51st of 51 | 6th 6th of 51 |
| Anxiety Rate Ages 0-14Mental Health Statistics by State | 2,819 per 100k 49th of 51 | 2,550 per 100k 4th of 51 |
| SWAMP Index ScoreMost Corrupt States | 28.81 49th of 51 | 75.24 4th of 51 |
| Favorable Gun Laws RankBest States for Gun Owners | 6th 6th of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Median IncomeSafest Cities by State | $43,630 46th of 48 | $160,808 4th of 48 |
| Overall Freedom RankMost Libertarian States | 5th 5th of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| Overall Freedom ScoreMost Libertarian States | 0.44 5th of 50 | -0.58 48th of 50 |
| SSI Pension Fund Management ScoreMost Corrupt States | 47.9 tied 44th of 50 | 93.8 2nd of 50 |
| Change in Prison Population 2000-2022Private Prisons by State | 581.0% 30th of 30 | -100.0% tied 1st of 30 |
| Overall Public School RankPublic School Rankings by State | 50th 50th of 50 | 8th 8th of 50 |
| Overall RankFood Waste by State | 1st worst of 50 | 42nd 9th best of 50 |
| Gun Law Rank (Giffords)Gun Laws by State | 41st 41st of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Gun Laws Strength RankStrictest Gun Laws by State | 41st 41st of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Yearly Salary 40 Hour Week MaxLIUNA Pay Scale by State | $40,738 42nd of 50 | $94,000 2nd of 50 |
| # Dentists per 1k jobsDentist Salary by State | 0.62 43rd of 50 | 1.04 4th of 50 |
| Freedom RankMost Free States | 9th 9th of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| State Freedom ScoreState Powers | 0.322 9th of 50 | -0.474 48th of 50 |
| Deaths in 1918Spanish Flu Deaths by State | 2,000 tied 7th of 49 | 16,773 45th of 49 |
| Median Teacher SalaryTeacher Pay by State | $56,880 40th of 51 | $95,260 1st of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Arizona or California?
- California comes out ahead of Arizona on 458 of 808 statistics where one end is better, to 338 with 12 ties. Arizona leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Politics & Government. California leads on Health, Sports and Education and 9 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Arizona or California?
- Arizona has a population of 7,691,212 (14th of 51 US states) and California has 39,345,844 (1st of 51).
- How do Arizona and California compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Arizona $79,964 (21st of 51), California $99,122 (6th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do Arizona and California compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Arizona 4.3% (tied 33rd of 51), California 5.5% (50th of 51) among US states. Arizona ranks better.
- Where does Arizona beat California most clearly?
- Arizona ranks far ahead on Max Rate (Tax Rates by State): 2.5% vs 13.3%; Capital Gains Rate (Capital Gains Tax by State): 2.5% vs 13.3%; Income Tax Maximum Rate (Taxes by State): 2.98% vs 12.3%.
- Where does California beat Arizona most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Local Street Accidents 2018-2022 (Jaywalking Laws By State): 3.5% vs 81.1%; Wasted Instead of Reused (Food Waste by State): 49th vs 1st; Fuel Prices (1-10) (Best States for Camping): 0.95 vs 9.65.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Arizona or California.
- Alabama vs Arizona
- Alaska vs Arizona
- Arizona vs Arkansas
- Arizona vs Colorado
- Arizona vs Connecticut
- Arizona vs Delaware
- Arizona vs District of Columbia
- Arizona vs Florida
- Alabama vs California
- Alaska vs California
- Arkansas vs California
- California vs Colorado
- California vs Connecticut
- California vs Delaware
- California vs District of Columbia
- California vs Florida