California vs Idaho
California comes out ahead of Idaho on 403 of 801 statistics where one end is better, to 380 with 18 ties. California leads on Health, Tech & Business and Sports and 6 more categories. Idaho leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Environment and Agriculture and 3 more categories.
801 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
- 403
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 9
- Wins
- 380
- Avg. percentile
- 51
- Categories led
- 6
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 2,058,594 37th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $77,800 25th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 3.7% tied 18th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 10.6% 17th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 95.5 23rd of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $52,816 44th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $61,170 37th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,238 27th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 217.3 11th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 6,869 37th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Infrastructure & EnergyIdaho · 36 statistics
- EnvironmentIdaho · 39 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 186 statistics
- AgricultureIdaho · 17 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- GeographyIdaho · 25 statistics
- Facts & TriviaIdaho · 18 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 123 statistics
- TravelIdaho · 29 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 294 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 70 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 124 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- Crime & SafetyEven · 73 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 158.9 50th of 51 | 70.4 1st of 51 |
| Political DiversityLeast Diverse States in the US | 1st 1st of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Favorable Gun Laws RankBest States for Gun Owners | 50th 50th of 50 | 2nd tied 2nd of 50 |
| Avg Retail PriceElectricity Cost by State | 19.65 49th of 51 | 8.17 1st of 51 |
| % of Mammal Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 16.4% 48th of 50 | 1% 1st of 50 |
| Related Groups per Capita RankBest States to Homeschool | 50th 50th of 50 | 3rd 3rd of 50 |
| FatalitiesFloods by State | 339 45th of 47 | 2 1st of 47 |
| Entry LevelHVAC Salary by State | $53,100 1st of 50 | $42,900 tied 47th of 50 |
| Utilities Costs IndexCost of Living Index by State | 142.0 48th of 51 | 75.1 1st of 51 |
| Regulatory Policy RankMost Free States | 50th 50th of 50 | 4th 4th of 50 |
| Senior 4-6 YearsHVAC Salary by State | $71,900 1st of 50 | $58,100 47th of 50 |
| Supervisor 7+ YearsHVAC Salary by State | $96,400 1st of 50 | $77,800 47th of 50 |
| Min RateTax Rates by State | 1% tied 2nd of 40 | 5.8% tied last of 40 |
| % of Bird Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 4.8% 49th of 51 | 0.7% tied 2nd of 51 |
| Gun Law Rank (Giffords)Gun Laws by State | 1st 1st of 50 | 46th tied 46th of 50 |
| Gun Laws Strength RankStrictest Gun Laws by State | 1st 1st of 50 | 46th tied 46th of 50 |
| Aluminum Can PriceAluminum Can Prices by State | $1.67 per lb 43rd of 43 | $0.15 per lb 4th of 43 |
| COLI Utilities Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 139.8 47th of 51 | 77.9 1st of 51 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 316.7 48th of 51 | 52.6 2nd of 51 |
| SWAMP Index ScoreMost Corrupt States | 75.24 4th of 51 | 21.24 50th of 51 |
| Intermediate 2-4 YearsHVAC Salary by State | $64,200 2nd of 50 | $51,800 47th of 50 |
| Gini CoefficientWealth Inequality by State | 0.49 tied 47th of 51 | 0.43 2nd of 51 |
| SSI Ethics Enforcement Agencies ScoreMost Corrupt States | 73 tied 4th of 50 | 37.8 49th of 50 |
| Access ScoreArthritis Friendly States | 39 2nd of 51 | 10 47th of 51 |
| Annual Mean WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $108,960 2nd of 51 | $74,060 47th of 51 |
| Average Wind SpeedWindiest States in the U.S. | 13.54 mph 50th of 51 | 20.59 mph 5th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $52.39 2nd of 51 | $35.61 47th of 51 |
| Estimated Max PriceRadio Ad Prices by State | $899 48th of 51 | $25.00 tied 1st of 51 |
| Theft RateStolen Cars by State | 511 per 100k 49th of 51 | 97 per 100k 4th of 51 |
| Homeless Youth Support RankBest States to Be Homeless | 1st 1st of 50 | 45th 45th of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Idaho?
- California comes out ahead of Idaho on 403 of 801 statistics where one end is better, to 380 with 18 ties. California leads on Health, Tech & Business and Sports and 6 more categories. Idaho leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Environment and Agriculture and 3 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Idaho?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Idaho has 2,058,594 (37th of 51).
- How do California and Idaho compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Idaho $77,800 (25th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Idaho compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Idaho 3.7% (tied 18th of 51) among US states. Idaho ranks better.
- Where does California beat Idaho most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Political Diversity (Least Diverse States in the US): 1st vs 49th; Entry Level (HVAC Salary by State): $53,100 vs $42,900; Senior 4-6 Years (HVAC Salary by State): $71,900 vs $58,100.
- Where does Idaho beat California most clearly?
- Idaho ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)): 70.4 vs 158.9; Favorable Gun Laws Rank (Best States for Gun Owners): 2nd vs 50th; Avg Retail Price (Electricity Cost by State): 8.17 vs 19.65.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Idaho.
- 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 Idaho
- Alaska vs Idaho
- Arizona vs Idaho
- Arkansas vs Idaho
- Colorado vs Idaho
- Connecticut vs Idaho
- Delaware vs Idaho
- District of Columbia vs Idaho