California vs Florida
California comes out ahead of Florida on 448 of 808 statistics where one end is better, to 345 with 15 ties. California leads on Tech & Business, Health and Education and 5 more categories. Florida leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Travel and Geography and 4 more categories.
808 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 15 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 448
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 8
- Wins
- 345
- Avg. percentile
- 48
- Categories led
- 7
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 23,659,198 3rd of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $74,568 34th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 3.9% tied 23rd of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 12.6% 33rd of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 103.4 41st of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $57,131 30th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $64,670 27th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,669 43rd of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 260.9 23rd of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 645 1st of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 186 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyFlorida · 36 statistics
- TravelFlorida · 29 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 50 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 293 statistics
- AgricultureCalifornia · 17 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 76 statistics
- GeographyFlorida · 25 statistics
- SportsFlorida · 16 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 122 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 71 statistics
- Facts & TriviaFlorida · 18 statistics
- CultureFlorida · 78 statistics
- PopulationFlorida · 125 statistics
- EnvironmentEven · 40 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| AccessibilityBest States for Hiking | 9 1st of 50 | 2 50th of 50 |
| Experience RatingBest States for Hiking | 9.1 1st of 50 | 1.7 50th of 50 |
| MidwifeNursing Pay by State | $154,500 1st of 37 | $84,270 37th of 37 |
| Average Teacher SalaryTeacher Pay by State | $101,084 1st of 51 | $54,875 50th of 51 |
| Average Teacher SalaryBest States for Teachers | $103,552 1st of 51 | $56,663 50th of 51 |
| DUI RateWorst Drivers by State | 3.5 per 1k drivers 50th of 51 | 0.4 per 1k drivers 1st of 51 |
| % Change in Prison Pop. 2021-2022Prison Population by State | -3,833.0% 1st of 50 | 4,261.0% 49th of 50 |
| % Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023Prison Population by State | -1,646.0% 1st of 50 | 2,529.0% 49th of 50 |
| Average Documentation FeeCar Registration Fees by State | $85.00 1st of 50 | $999 49th of 50 |
| Median Doc FeeCar Dealer Fees by State | $85.00 2nd of 51 | $899 tied last of 51 |
| Total ScoreBest States for Hiking | 95 1st of 50 | 2 tied last of 50 |
| Fiscal Freedom RankMost Libertarian States | 48th 48th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Overall ScoreBest States to Retire | 21.61 48th of 50 | 32.04 1st of 50 |
| Individual Income Tax RankBest State To Incorporate In | 49th 50th of 51 | 1st tied 1st of 51 |
| Urban Pavement RoughnessRoad Quality by State | 44.0% 50th of 50 | 5% tied 2nd of 50 |
| Freedom RankMost Free States | 48th 48th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Overall Freedom RankMost Libertarian States | 48th 48th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Overall Freedom ScoreMost Libertarian States | -0.58 48th of 50 | 0.57 2nd of 50 |
| State Freedom ScoreState Powers | -0.474 48th of 50 | 0.552 2nd of 50 |
| Accident RateWorst Drivers by State | 28.1 per 1k drivers 49th of 51 | 11.9 per 1k drivers 3rd of 51 |
| Cancer CasesHealthiest States | 7.1 tied 3rd of 50 | 10.5 48th of 50 |
| Local Taxes RankBest States to Retire | 48th 48th of 50 | 4th 4th of 50 |
| Weather RankBest States to Retire | 1st 1st of 50 | 45th 45th of 50 |
| Overall RankBest State To Incorporate In | 48th tied 48th of 51 | 4th 4th of 51 |
| Access ScoreArthritis Friendly States | 39 2nd of 51 | 12 46th of 51 |
| Electrician Mean Hourly Wage 2023Electrician Salary by State | $40.54 6th of 51 | $25.18 50th of 51 |
| Electrician Mean Yearly Wage 2023Electrician Salary by State | $84,330 6th of 51 | $52,380 50th of 51 |
| Teacher's Union Rank (1=Strongest)States with Teacher Unions | 6th 6th of 51 | 50th 50th of 51 |
| Annual SalaryBSN Salary by State | $101,533 4th of 50 | $77,142 47th of 50 |
| Hourly WageBSN Salary by State | $48.81 4th of 50 | $37.09 47th of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Florida?
- California comes out ahead of Florida on 448 of 808 statistics where one end is better, to 345 with 15 ties. California leads on Tech & Business, Health and Education and 5 more categories. Florida leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Travel and Geography and 4 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Florida?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Florida has 23,659,198 (3rd of 51).
- How do California and Florida compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Florida $74,568 (34th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Florida compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Florida 3.9% (tied 23rd of 51) among US states. Florida ranks better.
- Where does California beat Florida most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Accessibility (Best States for Hiking): 9 vs 2; Experience Rating (Best States for Hiking): 9.1 vs 1.7; Midwife (Nursing Pay by State): $154,500 vs $84,270.
- Where does Florida beat California most clearly?
- Florida ranks far ahead on DUI Rate (Worst Drivers by State): 0.4 per 1k drivers vs 3.5 per 1k drivers; Fiscal Freedom Rank (Most Libertarian States): 1st vs 48th; Overall Score (Best States to Retire): 32.04 vs 21.61.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Florida.
- Alabama vs California
- Alaska vs California
- Arizona vs California
- Arkansas vs California
- California vs Colorado
- California vs Connecticut
- California vs Delaware
- California vs District of Columbia
- Alabama vs Florida
- Alaska vs Florida
- Arizona vs Florida
- Arkansas vs Florida
- Colorado vs Florida
- Connecticut vs Florida
- Delaware vs Florida
- District of Columbia vs Florida