California vs Illinois
California comes out ahead of Illinois on 422 of 802 statistics where one end is better, to 369 with 11 ties. California leads on Health, Agriculture and Geography and 5 more categories. Illinois leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Facts & Trivia and Travel and 4 more categories.
802 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.
- Wins
- 422
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 8
- Wins
- 369
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 7
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 12,735,249 6th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $83,390 18th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 4.6% tied 40th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 11.8% 26th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 100.0 33rd of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $60,333 17th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $71,130 16th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,274 28th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 251.0 21st of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 6,104 32nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthCalifornia · 189 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyIllinois · 36 statistics
- AgricultureCalifornia · 15 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- Facts & TriviaIllinois · 18 statistics
- TravelIllinois · 29 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 127 statistics
- EnvironmentIllinois · 40 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 75 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 293 statistics
- PopulationIllinois · 124 statistics
- LawIllinois · 70 statistics
- Tech & BusinessIllinois · 48 statistics
- EducationEven · 51 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| % of Amphibian Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 49.1% 31st of 31 | 2.6% 2nd of 31 |
| Affordability RankBest States for Fishing | 50th 50th of 51 | 3rd 3rd of 51 |
| DUI RateWorst Drivers by State | 3.5 per 1k drivers 50th of 51 | 0.6 per 1k drivers tied 2nd of 51 |
| License Cost Non ResidentsFly Fishing by State | $158 50th of 50 | $31.50 4th of 50 |
| Scenic Beauty RankMost Beautiful States | 1st 1st of 49 | 47th 46th of 49 |
| Required License FeeLCSW Requirements by State | $450 49th of 51 | $50.00 tied 3rd of 51 |
| Estimated Civil War DeathsCivil War Casualties by State | 500 tied 1st of 33 | 31,000 tied 29th of 33 |
| % of Homeless Who Are UnshelteredHomeless Population by State | 66.3% 51st of 51 | 10.3% 6th of 51 |
| % ShelteredHomeless Population by State | 33.7% 51st of 51 | 89.7% 6th of 51 |
| Crimes Per National Park (1-10)Best States for Camping | 2.04 3rd of 49 | 9.96 45th of 49 |
| Chronically HomelessHomeless Population by State | 66,548 51st of 51 | 381 8th of 51 |
| Cost Per CapitaPrisons by State | $370 49th of 50 | $163 7th of 50 |
| MPH Overall RankGreenest States | 3rd 3rd of 50 | 45th 45th of 50 |
| License Cost ResidentsFly Fishing by State | $58.58 50th of 50 | $15.00 tied 8th of 50 |
| Min RateTax Rates by State | 1% tied 2nd of 40 | 4.95% 36th of 40 |
| SSI State Budget Process ScoreMost Corrupt States | 90.6 6th of 50 | 57.8 47th of 50 |
| Shelters and Housing Support RankBest States to Be Homeless | 43rd 43rd of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Accidents Per National Park (1-10)Best States for Camping | 6.72 4th of 49 | 9.99 tied 42nd of 49 |
| Price To Income RatioHousing Shortage by State | 7.6 50th of 51 | 3.3 tied 7th of 51 |
| Accident RateWorst Drivers by State | 28.1 per 1k drivers 49th of 51 | 13.9 per 1k drivers 8th of 51 |
| Annual SalaryBSN Salary by State | $101,533 4th of 50 | $78,800 44th of 50 |
| Hourly WageBSN Salary by State | $48.81 4th of 50 | $37.88 44th of 50 |
| Hep A Related DeathsHepatitis by State | 21 27th of 32 | 1 tied 1st of 32 |
| Medical Cannabis CostMarijuana Cost by State | $257 4th of 50 | $354 42nd of 50 |
| Experience RatingBest States for Hiking | 9.1 1st of 50 | 3.4 39th of 50 |
| Total ScoreBest States for Hiking | 95 1st of 50 | 18 39th of 50 |
| Obesity Rate - WhiteMost Obese States | 25.9% 3rd of 50 | 35.4% tied 40th of 50 |
| Obesity Rate 60+Most Obese States | 25.9% 3rd of 50 | 35.4% tied 40th of 50 |
| Income Tax Minimum RateTaxes by State | 1% tied 3rd of 39 | 4.95% 33rd of 39 |
| Income Tax Maximum RateTaxes by State | 12.3% 43rd of 43 | 4.95% 11th of 43 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Illinois?
- California comes out ahead of Illinois on 422 of 802 statistics where one end is better, to 369 with 11 ties. California leads on Health, Agriculture and Geography and 5 more categories. Illinois leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Facts & Trivia and Travel 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 Illinois?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Illinois has 12,735,249 (6th of 51).
- How do California and Illinois compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Illinois $83,390 (18th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Illinois compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Illinois 4.6% (tied 40th of 51) among US states. Illinois ranks better.
- Where does California beat Illinois most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Scenic Beauty Rank (Most Beautiful States): 1st vs 47th; Estimated Civil War Deaths (Civil War Casualties by State): 500 vs 31,000; Crimes Per National Park (1-10) (Best States for Camping): 2.04 vs 9.96.
- Where does Illinois beat California most clearly?
- Illinois ranks far ahead on % of Amphibian Species at Risk (Most Biodiverse States): 2.6% vs 49.1%; Affordability Rank (Best States for Fishing): 3rd vs 50th; DUI Rate (Worst Drivers by State): 0.6 per 1k drivers vs 3.5 per 1k drivers.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Illinois.
- 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 Illinois
- Alaska vs Illinois
- Arizona vs Illinois
- Arkansas vs Illinois
- Colorado vs Illinois
- Connecticut vs Illinois
- Delaware vs Illinois
- District of Columbia vs Illinois