California vs Kansas
California comes out ahead of Kansas on 446 of 801 statistics where one end is better, to 338 with 17 ties. California leads on Sports, Health and Tech & Business and 8 more categories. Kansas leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Facts & Trivia and 2 more categories.
801 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.
- Wins
- 446
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 11
- Wins
- 338
- Avg. percentile
- 48
- Categories led
- 5
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 2,989,188 34th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $74,275 35th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 3.8% tied 20th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 11.3% 23rd of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 90.1 10th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $59,172 21st of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $60,640 41st of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,060 13th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 457.2 45th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 4,878 20th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 189 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyKansas · 36 statistics
- AgricultureKansas · 17 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 67 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- Facts & TriviaKansas · 18 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 124 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 75 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 125 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- EnvironmentKansas · 39 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 294 statistics
- TravelKansas · 29 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Policy RankMost Free States | 50th 50th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Regulatory Policy RankMost Libertarian States | 49th 49th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Renewable Energy IncentivesOff-Grid Living Legal States | 158 1st of 50 | 12 49th of 50 |
| Scenic Beauty RankMost Beautiful States | 1st 1st of 49 | 49th 48th of 49 |
| Premium Gas, Avg Price per GallonGas Price by State | $6.28 51st of 51 | $4.47 tied 2nd of 51 |
| Annual Cost Of Comfortable RetirementAverage Retirement Income by State | $100,687 50th of 51 | $60,620 3rd of 51 |
| Opportunity RankWorst States to Live in | 1st worst of 50 | 46th 4th best of 50 |
| Price To Income RatioHousing Shortage by State | 7.6 50th of 51 | 3.1 tied 3rd of 51 |
| Crimes Per National Park (1-10)Best States for Camping | 2.04 3rd of 49 | 10 tied last of 49 |
| Cost of LivingPension-Friendly States | 47 48th of 49 | 97 tied 3rd of 49 |
| Avg Diesel PriceDiesel Fuel Prices by State | $7.49 per gallon 51st of 51 | $5.17 per gallon 5th of 51 |
| Mid-Grade Gas, Avg Price per GallonGas Price by State | $6.09 51st of 51 | $4.13 5th of 51 |
| COLI Overall IndexLeast Expensive States | 144.8 49th of 51 | 87.0 3rd of 51 |
| Groceries Costs IndexCost of Living Index by State | 109.8 49th of 51 | 95.5 3rd of 51 |
| Trail DiversityBest States for Hiking | 9 tied 1st of 50 | 3 tied last of 50 |
| Accidents Per National Park (1-10)Best States for Camping | 6.72 4th of 49 | 10 tied last of 49 |
| COLI Transportation Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 136.7 51st of 51 | 90.1 tied 5th of 51 |
| Average Cost for Basic Life SupportAmbulance Cost by State | $1,854 50th of 51 | $1,296 5th of 51 |
| Cost of Living IndexCost of Living Index by State | 142.3 50th of 51 | 88.8 5th of 51 |
| Richest Person AgeRichest Person by State | 40 46th of 47 | 88 tied 4th of 47 |
| COLI Misc. Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 115.3 tied 47th of 51 | 90.8 3rd of 51 |
| Annual Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $133,340 1st of 51 | $71,990 45th of 51 |
| Annual Median WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $142,520 1st of 51 | $108,090 45th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $64.10 1st of 51 | $34.61 45th of 51 |
| Hourly Median WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $68.52 1st of 51 | $51.97 45th of 51 |
| RN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $137,690 1st of 51 | $76,240 45th of 51 |
| RN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State | $133,990 1st of 51 | $75,780 45th of 51 |
| RN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $66.20 1st of 51 | $36.65 45th of 51 |
| RN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State | $64.42 1st of 51 | $36.43 45th of 51 |
| COLI Housing Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 208.7 48th of 51 | 72.4 4th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Kansas?
- California comes out ahead of Kansas on 446 of 801 statistics where one end is better, to 338 with 17 ties. California leads on Sports, Health and Tech & Business and 8 more categories. Kansas leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Facts & Trivia and 2 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Kansas?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Kansas has 2,989,188 (34th of 51).
- How do California and Kansas compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Kansas $74,275 (35th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Kansas compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Kansas 3.8% (tied 20th of 51) among US states. Kansas ranks better.
- Where does California beat Kansas most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Renewable Energy Incentives (Off-Grid Living Legal States): 158 vs 12; Scenic Beauty Rank (Most Beautiful States): 1st vs 49th; Crimes Per National Park (1-10) (Best States for Camping): 2.04 vs 10.
- Where does Kansas beat California most clearly?
- Kansas ranks far ahead on Regulatory Policy Rank (Most Free States): 1st vs 50th; Regulatory Policy Rank (Most Libertarian States): 1st vs 49th; Premium Gas, Avg Price per Gallon (Gas Price by State): $4.47 vs $6.28.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Kansas.
- 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 Kansas
- Alaska vs Kansas
- Arizona vs Kansas
- Arkansas vs Kansas
- Colorado vs Kansas
- Connecticut vs Kansas
- Delaware vs Kansas
- District of Columbia vs Kansas