Which has more people, Arkansas or South Dakota?

Arkansas has a population of 3,133,502 (33rd of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).

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

Median Household Income: Arkansas $60,773 (48th of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

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

Unemployment Rate (%): Arkansas 4.1% (29th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

Where does Arkansas beat South Dakota most clearly?

Arkansas ranks far ahead on Annual Mean Wage (Dentist Salary by State): $192,400 vs $144,860; Hourly Mean Wage (Dentist Salary by State): $92.50 vs $69.64; Hourly Median Wage (Dentist Salary by State): $96.41 vs $61.83.

Where does South Dakota beat Arkansas most clearly?

South Dakota ranks far ahead on Obesity Rate - Black (Most Obese States): 29.1% vs 47.6%; Exp. Sexual Violence in Lifetime - Women (Domestic Violence by State): 37.0% vs 58.5%; Dealer Max Vehicle Tax (Car Dealer Fees by State): 4% vs 12.0%.

Arkansas vs South Dakota

South Dakota comes out ahead of Arkansas on 480 of 794 statistics where one end is better, to 297 with 17 ties. Arkansas leads on Sports, Travel and Agriculture. South Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Culture and Infrastructure & Energy and 10 more categories.

794 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 17 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Arkansas

Wins: 297
Avg. percentile: 40
Categories led: 3

South Dakota

Wins: 480
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 13

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	Arkansas	South Dakota
Population	3,133,502 33rd of 51	943,078 46th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$60,773 48th of 51	$75,081 31st of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	4.1% 29th of 51	2.1% 1st of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	16.0% 46th of 51	11.9% 27th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	86.9 1st of 51	88.6 6th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$55,219 38th of 51	$69,153 5th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$54,890 50th of 51	$57,610 45th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$947 3rd of 51	$946 2nd of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	531.8 48th of 51	307.5 28th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	3,393 11th of 48	7,633 42nd of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 18 statistics
CultureSouth Dakota · 78 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
Tech & BusinessSouth Dakota · 48 statistics
PopulationSouth Dakota · 124 statistics
SportsArkansas · 16 statistics
Crime & SafetySouth Dakota · 74 statistics
EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 38 statistics
LawSouth Dakota · 65 statistics
HealthSouth Dakota · 187 statistics
GeographySouth Dakota · 25 statistics
EducationSouth Dakota · 51 statistics
TravelArkansas · 29 statistics
EconomicsSouth Dakota · 292 statistics
Politics & GovernmentSouth Dakota · 123 statistics
AgricultureArkansas · 17 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Arkansas	South Dakota
Obesity Rate - BlackMost Obese States	47.6% 47th of 48	29.1% 5th of 48
Exp. Sexual Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State	58.5% 50th of 51	37.0% tied 5th of 51
Dealer Max Vehicle TaxCar Dealer Fees by State	12.0% tied 43rd of 45	4% tied 4th of 45
Economy RankQuality of Life by State	48th 48th of 50	5th 5th of 50
Overall Best - US NewsBest States to Live In	45th 44th of 49	2nd 2nd of 49
Age-Adjusted Depression RateDepression Rates by State	25.4% 45th of 49	17.2% tied 3rd of 49
Exp. Physical Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State	55.1% 50th of 51	34.6% 7th of 51
3-Year Re-Incarceration (VADOC)Recidivism Rates by State	46.1% 32nd of 34	20.2% 4th of 34
Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States	24.6% tied 45th of 50	16.5% 4th of 50
Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State	24.6% tied 44th of 49	16.5% 4th of 49
Annual Mean WageDentist Salary by State	$192,400 5th of 39	$144,860 37th of 39
Hourly Mean WageDentist Salary by State	$92.50 5th of 39	$69.64 37th of 39
Avg Cost per MbpsInternet Costs by State	$1.27 tied 45th of 51	$0.69 tied 4th of 51
Exp. Physical Violence in Lifetime - MenDomestic Violence by State	46.4% 43rd of 51	28.3% 2nd of 51
Hourly Median WageDentist Salary by State	$96.41 5th of 39	$61.83 36th of 39
LPC License FeeLPC Requirements by State	$50.00 tied 1st of 46	$225 40th of 46
Dental Services Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State	$374 tied 7th of 51	$577 tied 47th of 51
Infrastructure RankWorst States to Live in	10th 10th worst of 50	49th 2nd best of 50
Chronically HomelessHomeless Population by State	3,497 44th of 51	151 5th of 51
Annual Grocery Cost (GoBanking)Grocery Prices by State	$5,756 1st of 49	$6,259 38th of 49
Getting Insufficient SleepHealthiest States	38.7% 44th of 51	31.2% 6th of 51
Overall RankBest State To Incorporate In	40th 40th of 51	2nd 2nd of 51
Exp. Stalking in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State	19.4% 44th of 46	10.1% 10th of 46
Financial Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US	41st 41st of 50	4th 4th of 50
Money-RelatedMost Stressed States	5th 5th worst of 50	42nd 9th best of 50
Experienced Any Domestic Violence in Lifetime - % of MenDomestic Violence by State	34.2% 40th of 50	20.7% 3rd of 50
Household Income DiversityMost Diverse US States	44th 44th of 50	7th 7th of 50
Median Price per AcreBest States To Homestead	$10,558 3rd of 50	$77,352 40th of 50
NAEP Math ScoresBest States for Education	266 43rd of 50	281 6th of 50
Overall Worst States Rank (US News)Worst States to Live in	7th 7th worst of 50	43rd 8th best 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, Arkansas or South Dakota?: South Dakota comes out ahead of Arkansas on 480 of 794 statistics where one end is better, to 297 with 17 ties. Arkansas leads on Sports, Travel and Agriculture. South Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Culture and Infrastructure & Energy and 10 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Arkansas or South Dakota?: Arkansas has a population of 3,133,502 (33rd of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).
How do Arkansas and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Arkansas $60,773 (48th of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
How do Arkansas and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): Arkansas 4.1% (29th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
Where does Arkansas beat South Dakota most clearly?: Arkansas ranks far ahead on Annual Mean Wage (Dentist Salary by State): $192,400 vs $144,860; Hourly Mean Wage (Dentist Salary by State): $92.50 vs $69.64; Hourly Median Wage (Dentist Salary by State): $96.41 vs $61.83.
Where does South Dakota beat Arkansas most clearly?: South Dakota ranks far ahead on Obesity Rate - Black (Most Obese States): 29.1% vs 47.6%; Exp. Sexual Violence in Lifetime - Women (Domestic Violence by State): 37.0% vs 58.5%; Dealer Max Vehicle Tax (Car Dealer Fees by State): 4% vs 12.0%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Arkansas or South Dakota.

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