California vs Iowa
California comes out ahead of Iowa on 405 of 796 statistics where one end is better, to 377 with 14 ties. California leads on Sports, Health and Geography and 4 more categories. Iowa leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Crime & Safety and 5 more categories.
796 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 14 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 405
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 7
- Wins
- 377
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 8
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 3,246,320 32nd of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $75,059 32nd of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 3.5% tied 15th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 11.1% 21st of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 87.8 3rd of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $60,144 19th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $59,830 42nd of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $972 7th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 233.9 16th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 6,821 36th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Infrastructure & EnergyIowa · 36 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 188 statistics
- AgricultureIowa · 17 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- Crime & SafetyIowa · 73 statistics
- EnvironmentIowa · 39 statistics
- TravelCalifornia · 29 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 50 statistics
- Facts & TriviaIowa · 18 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentIowa · 124 statistics
- PopulationIowa · 125 statistics
- EconomicsIowa · 293 statistics
- LawEven · 66 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Median Price: All Home TypesMedian Home Price by State | $854,000 51st of 51 | $250,700 1st of 51 |
| Food Wasted RankFood Waste by State | 1st worst of 50 | 50th best of 50 |
| Scenic Beauty RankMost Beautiful States | 1st 1st of 49 | 50th 49th of 49 |
| OpportunityBest States to Live In | 50th 49th of 49 | 2nd 2nd of 49 |
| Cost Per CapitaPrisons by State | $370 49th of 50 | $139 tied 1st of 50 |
| Median Price: Single Family HomesMedian Home Price by State | $891,000 49th of 51 | $253,300 1st of 51 |
| Mid-Grade Gas, Avg Price per GallonGas Price by State | $6.09 51st of 51 | $4.09 3rd of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 87.8 3rd of 51 |
| Price To Income RatioHousing Shortage by State | 7.6 50th of 51 | 3.0 2nd of 51 |
| Regulatory Policy RankMost Free States | 50th 50th of 50 | 3rd 3rd of 50 |
| Regulatory Policy RankMost Libertarian States | 49th 49th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Local Street Accidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State | 3.5% 1st of 44 | 58.8% 42nd of 44 |
| Average Cost for Advanced Life SupportAmbulance Cost by State | $2,040 49th of 51 | $1,355 2nd of 51 |
| Avg. Cost of Car Repair LaborAuto Repair Rates by State | $271 50th of 51 | $214 3rd of 51 |
| RN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $137,690 1st of 51 | $74,610 48th of 51 |
| RN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State | $133,990 1st of 51 | $71,570 48th of 51 |
| RN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $66.20 1st of 51 | $35.87 48th of 51 |
| RN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State | $64.42 1st of 51 | $34.41 48th of 51 |
| Weekly Grocery CostGrocery Prices by State | $297.72 49th of 51 | $227.32 2nd of 51 |
| Eggflation (Cost Increase Per Dozen)Egg Prices by State | 31.0% 4th of 50 | 153.0% 50th of 50 |
| Weekly Grocery Cost (GoBanking)Grocery Prices by State | $127 48th of 50 | $111 tied 1st of 50 |
| Annual Grocery Cost (GoBanking)Grocery Prices by State | $6,586 47th of 49 | $5,793 tied 2nd of 49 |
| Crimes Per National Park (1-10)Best States for Camping | 2.04 3rd of 49 | 10 tied last of 49 |
| Annual Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $133,340 1st of 51 | $69,370 47th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $64.10 1st of 51 | $33.35 47th of 51 |
| Weather RankBest States to Retire | 1st 1st of 50 | 46th 46th of 50 |
| Viability RankFarming-Friendly States | 48th 48th of 50 | 3rd 3rd of 50 |
| Cancer Rate New Cases 2018 to 2022Cancer Rates by State | 405.4 per 100k Pop. 5th of 51 | 498.5 per 100k Pop. 50th of 51 |
| Avg. Cost of Car Repair PartsAuto Repair Rates by State | $416 49th of 51 | $360 4th of 51 |
| % of Mammal Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 16.4% 48th of 50 | 1.5% tied 3rd of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Iowa?
- California comes out ahead of Iowa on 405 of 796 statistics where one end is better, to 377 with 14 ties. California leads on Sports, Health and Geography and 4 more categories. Iowa leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Crime & Safety and 5 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Iowa?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Iowa has 3,246,320 (32nd of 51).
- How do California and Iowa compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Iowa $75,059 (32nd of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Iowa compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Iowa 3.5% (tied 15th of 51) among US states. Iowa ranks better.
- Where does California beat Iowa most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Scenic Beauty Rank (Most Beautiful States): 1st vs 50th; Local Street Accidents 2018-2022 (Jaywalking Laws By State): 3.5% vs 58.8%; RN Annual Mean (Nurses Pay by State): $137,690 vs $74,610.
- Where does Iowa beat California most clearly?
- Iowa ranks far ahead on Median Price: All Home Types (Median Home Price by State): $250,700 vs $854,000; Food Wasted Rank (Food Waste by State): 50th vs 1st; Opportunity (Best States to Live In): 2nd vs 50th.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Iowa.
- 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 Iowa
- Alaska vs Iowa
- Arizona vs Iowa
- Arkansas vs Iowa
- Colorado vs Iowa
- Connecticut vs Iowa
- Delaware vs Iowa
- District of Columbia vs Iowa