California vs Maryland
Maryland comes out ahead of California on 422 of 803 statistics where one end is better, to 368 with 13 ties. California leads on Agriculture, Crime & Safety and Politics & Government and 4 more categories. Maryland leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Facts & Trivia and Environment and 6 more categories.
803 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 13 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 368
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 7
- Wins
- 422
- Avg. percentile
- 55
- Categories led
- 9
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 6,285,380 19th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $103,678 3rd of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 4% tied 25th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 9.45% 5th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 105.0 44th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $61,111 16th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $77,580 7th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,705 44th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 358.0 34th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 4,564 19th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Infrastructure & EnergyMaryland · 36 statistics
- AgricultureCalifornia · 17 statistics
- Facts & TriviaMaryland · 18 statistics
- EnvironmentMaryland · 40 statistics
- EducationMaryland · 51 statistics
- TravelMaryland · 29 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 70 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 119 statistics
- PopulationMaryland · 125 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 190 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 72 statistics
- GeographyMaryland · 25 statistics
- CultureMaryland · 78 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- EconomicsMaryland · 290 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Internet SpeedAverage Internet Speed by State | 93 51st of 51 | 506.7 1st of 51 |
| Urban Pavement RoughnessRoad Quality by State | 44.0% 50th of 50 | 1% 1st of 50 |
| Richest Person AgeRichest Person by State | 40 46th of 47 | 94 1st of 47 |
| License Cost Non ResidentsFly Fishing by State | $158 50th of 50 | $30.50 3rd of 50 |
| Crime Cost per CapitaMost Dangerous Cities by State | $324 3rd of 45 | $7,542 45th of 45 |
| Violent Crime Rate per 100kMost Dangerous Cities by State | 87 3rd of 45 | 1,572 45th of 45 |
| Median Doc FeeCar Dealer Fees by State | $85.00 2nd of 51 | $800 tied 48th of 51 |
| Average Wind SpeedWindiest States in the U.S. | 13.54 mph 50th of 51 | 19.74 mph 7th of 51 |
| Medical Cannabis CostMarijuana Cost by State | $257 4th of 50 | $361 46th of 50 |
| Heroin Use Past MonthDrug Use by State | 0.25% tied 6th of 51 | 0.77% 50th of 51 |
| Academic & Work Environment RankBest States for Teachers | 45th 45th of 51 | 3rd 3rd of 51 |
| Total Forest AreaLumber Production by State | 31.6M acres 1st of 51 | 2.4M acres 42nd of 51 |
| Experienced Any Domestic Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State | 30.0% 6th of 51 | 43.3% 46th of 51 |
| % of Amphibian Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 49.1% 31st of 31 | 5% 7th of 31 |
| Domestic Violence with IPV-Related Impact in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State | 24.1% 4th of 51 | 38.0% 44th of 51 |
| Air Quality Rank (US News)Air Quality by State | 49th 49th of 50 | 10th 10th of 50 |
| Days with Unhealthy Air Quality (US News)Air Quality by State | 234 49th of 50 | 97 10th of 50 |
| % of Freshwater Fish Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 50.0% 47th of 51 | 4.5% tied 7th of 51 |
| Health Care RankDisability Benefits by State | 42nd tied 42nd of 51 | 3rd 3rd of 51 |
| Best States for Living with a Disability - Total ScoreDisability Benefits by State | 43.1 47th of 51 | 56.02 8th of 51 |
| % of Bird Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 4.8% 49th of 51 | 1.3% tied 9th of 51 |
| GDP Growth by State | 2.5% tied 7th of 50 | 0.7% 46th of 50 |
| % of Homeless Who Are UnshelteredHomeless Population by State | 66.3% 51st of 51 | 17.1% 13th of 51 |
| % ShelteredHomeless Population by State | 33.7% 51st of 51 | 82.9% 13th of 51 |
| Annual Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $144,520 2nd of 51 | $113,340 40th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $69.48 2nd of 51 | $54.49 40th of 51 |
| Minimum Annual SalaryIBEW Pay Scale by State | $98,900 7th of 51 | $57,600 45th of 51 |
| Shelters and Housing Support RankBest States to Be Homeless | 43rd 43rd of 50 | 6th 6th of 50 |
| InmatesFederal Prisons by State | 11,235 35th of 36 | 1,067 9th of 36 |
| Opportunity and Competition RankBest State To Be a Police Officer | 5th 5th of 51 | 42nd 42nd of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Maryland?
- Maryland comes out ahead of California on 422 of 803 statistics where one end is better, to 368 with 13 ties. California leads on Agriculture, Crime & Safety and Politics & Government and 4 more categories. Maryland leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Facts & Trivia and Environment and 6 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Maryland?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Maryland has 6,285,380 (19th of 51).
- How do California and Maryland compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Maryland $103,678 (3rd of 51) among US states. Maryland ranks better.
- How do California and Maryland compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Maryland 4% (tied 25th of 51) among US states. Maryland ranks better.
- Where does California beat Maryland most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Crime Cost per Capita (Most Dangerous Cities by State): $324 vs $7,542; Violent Crime Rate per 100k (Most Dangerous Cities by State): 87 vs 1,572; Median Doc Fee (Car Dealer Fees by State): $85.00 vs $800.
- Where does Maryland beat California most clearly?
- Maryland ranks far ahead on Avg. Internet Speed (Average Internet Speed by State): 506.7 vs 93; Urban Pavement Roughness (Road Quality by State): 1% vs 44.0%; Richest Person Age (Richest Person by State): 94 vs 40.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Maryland.
- 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 Maryland
- Alaska vs Maryland
- Arizona vs Maryland
- Arkansas vs Maryland
- Colorado vs Maryland
- Connecticut vs Maryland
- Delaware vs Maryland
- District of Columbia vs Maryland