California vs Kentucky
California comes out ahead of Kentucky on 466 of 800 statistics where one end is better, to 329 with 5 ties. California leads on Health, Culture and Facts & Trivia and 10 more categories. Kentucky leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Travel.
800 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 5 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 466
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 13
- Wins
- 329
- Avg. percentile
- 43
- Categories led
- 3
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 4,629,682 25th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $63,726 47th 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 | 16.1% 47th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 90.2 12th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $52,290 46th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $58,990 44th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $967 6th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 212.1 9th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 4,396 16th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthCalifornia · 184 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyKentucky · 35 statistics
- AgricultureKentucky · 17 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- Facts & TriviaCalifornia · 18 statistics
- TravelKentucky · 29 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 75 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 291 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 121 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 67 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 122 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- EnvironmentCalifornia · 40 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Avg SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $89,220 1st of 51 | $34,830 49th of 51 |
| Female Life Expectancy (HALE)Life Expectancy by State | 67.65 yrs 2nd of 51 | 62.03 yrs 50th of 51 |
| LPN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $161,540 1st of 51 | $110,370 49th of 51 |
| LPN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $77.66 1st of 51 | $53.06 49th of 51 |
| Gun Law Rank (Giffords)Gun Laws by State | 1st 1st of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| Gun Laws Strength RankStrictest Gun Laws by State | 1st 1st of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States | 15.2% 2nd of 50 | 27.0% 49th of 50 |
| Smoking RateHealthiest States | 7.6% 2nd of 50 | 17.2% 49th of 50 |
| Mean SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $88,550 1st of 49 | $40,830 47th of 49 |
| Age-Adjusted Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 15.3% 2nd of 49 | 27.6% 48th of 49 |
| Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 15.2% 2nd of 49 | 27.0% 48th of 49 |
| Correctional Officers Average Salary (2021)Prison Spending by State | $81.17 1st of 49 | $36.75 46th of 49 |
| Life Expectancy, Both Sexes (HALE)Life Expectancy by State | 66.48 yrs tied 3rd of 51 | 60.97 yrs 50th of 51 |
| Favorable Gun Laws RankBest States for Gun Owners | 50th 50th of 50 | 4th tied 4th of 50 |
| Cancer Rate New Cases 2018 to 2022Cancer Rates by State | 405.4 per 100k Pop. 5th of 51 | 518.9 per 100k Pop. 51st of 51 |
| LPN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State | $164,050 1st of 51 | $109,530 47th of 51 |
| LPN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State | $78.87 1st of 51 | $52.66 47th of 51 |
| Activity ScoreArthritis Friendly States | 42 tied 2nd of 51 | 14 tied 48th of 51 |
| Annual Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $144,520 2nd of 51 | $105,980 48th of 51 |
| Average Teacher Starting SalaryTeacher Pay by State | $58,409 2nd of 51 | $40,161 48th of 51 |
| Avg Annual SalaryDental Hygienists Salary by State | $108,200 2nd of 51 | $61,500 48th of 51 |
| Avg Hourly WageDental Hygienists Salary by State | $52.02 2nd of 51 | $29.57 48th of 51 |
| Entry Level SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $59,260 2nd of 51 | $26,000 48th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $69.48 2nd of 51 | $50.95 48th of 51 |
| Livable Annual Wage w/ 1 ChildLiving Wage by State | $111,362 48th of 51 | $69,720 2nd of 51 |
| Livable Hourly Wage w/ 1 ChildLiving Wage by State | $53.54 48th of 51 | $33.52 2nd of 51 |
| Livable Wage w/ 2 Children (Annual)Living Wage by State | $146,627 48th of 51 | $88,455 2nd of 51 |
| Livable Wage w/ 2 Children (Hourly)Living Wage by State | $70.49 48th of 51 | $42.53 2nd of 51 |
| Livable Wage w/ No Children (Annual)Living Wage by State | $63,402 49th of 51 | $42,040 3rd of 51 |
| Livable Wage w/ No Children (Hourly)Living Wage by State | $30.48 49th of 51 | $20.21 3rd of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Kentucky?
- California comes out ahead of Kentucky on 466 of 800 statistics where one end is better, to 329 with 5 ties. California leads on Health, Culture and Facts & Trivia and 10 more categories. Kentucky leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Travel. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Kentucky?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Kentucky has 4,629,682 (25th of 51).
- How do California and Kentucky compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Kentucky $63,726 (47th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Kentucky compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Kentucky 4.6% (tied 40th of 51) among US states. Kentucky ranks better.
- Where does California beat Kentucky most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Avg Salary (Correctional Officer Salary by State): $89,220 vs $34,830; Female Life Expectancy (HALE) (Life Expectancy by State): 67.65 yrs vs 62.03 yrs; LPN Annual Mean (Nurses Pay by State): $161,540 vs $110,370.
- Where does Kentucky beat California most clearly?
- Kentucky ranks far ahead on Favorable Gun Laws Rank (Best States for Gun Owners): 4th vs 50th; Livable Annual Wage w/ 1 Child (Living Wage by State): $69,720 vs $111,362; Livable Hourly Wage w/ 1 Child (Living Wage by State): $33.52 vs $53.54.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Kentucky.
- 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 Kentucky
- Alaska vs Kentucky
- Arizona vs Kentucky
- Arkansas vs Kentucky
- Colorado vs Kentucky
- Connecticut vs Kentucky
- Delaware vs Kentucky
- District of Columbia vs Kentucky