Which has more people, California or Massachusetts?

California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Massachusetts has 7,169,608 (16th of 51).

How do California and Massachusetts compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Massachusetts $103,960 (2nd of 51) among US states. Massachusetts ranks better.

How do California and Massachusetts compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?

Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Massachusetts 4.5% (tied 37th of 51) among US states. Massachusetts ranks better.

Where does California beat Massachusetts most clearly?

California ranks far ahead on Industrial Diversity (Most Diverse US States): 4th vs 50th; Personnel Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 1st vs 47th; ROI Potential Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 1st vs 45th.

Where does Massachusetts beat California most clearly?

Massachusetts ranks far ahead on Cost Per Capita (Prisons by State): $139 vs $370; % of Homeless Who Are Unsheltered (Homeless Population by State): 5.6% vs 66.3%; % Sheltered (Homeless Population by State): 94.4% vs 33.7%.

California vs Massachusetts

Massachusetts comes out ahead of California on 434 of 794 statistics where one end is better, to 346 with 14 ties. California leads on Agriculture and Sports. Massachusetts leads on Population, Infrastructure & Energy and Environment and 11 more categories.

794 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.

California

Wins: 346
Avg. percentile: 54
Categories led: 2

Massachusetts

Wins: 434
Avg. percentile: 61
Categories led: 14

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	California	Massachusetts
Population	39,345,844 1st of 51	7,169,608 16th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$99,122 6th of 51	$103,960 2nd of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	5.5% 50th of 51	4.5% tied 37th of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	12.0% 29th of 51	10.0% 10th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	110.7 51st of 51	105.8 45th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$63,028 13th of 51	$71,629 4th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$80,690 5th of 51	$85,610 2nd of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$2,036 51st of 51	$1,762 48th of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	432.7 44th of 51	302.7 27th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	2,814 9th of 48	6,134 33rd of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

AgricultureCalifornia · 17 statistics
PopulationMassachusetts · 123 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergyMassachusetts · 36 statistics
EnvironmentMassachusetts · 39 statistics
EducationMassachusetts · 51 statistics
Crime & SafetyMassachusetts · 73 statistics
Tech & BusinessMassachusetts · 48 statistics
CultureMassachusetts · 78 statistics
GeographyMassachusetts · 25 statistics
Facts & TriviaMassachusetts · 18 statistics
SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
EconomicsMassachusetts · 290 statistics
HealthMassachusetts · 189 statistics
TravelMassachusetts · 28 statistics
LawMassachusetts · 66 statistics
Politics & GovernmentMassachusetts · 121 statistics

Biggest differences

The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.

Statistic	California	Massachusetts
Cost Per CapitaPrisons by State	$370 49th of 50	$139 tied 1st of 50
% of Homeless Who Are UnshelteredHomeless Population by State	66.3% 51st of 51	5.6% 3rd of 51
% ShelteredHomeless Population by State	33.7% 51st of 51	94.4% 3rd of 51
Average IQ ScoreAverage IQ by State	95.5 48th of 50	104.3 1st of 50
Food Wasted RankFood Waste by State	1st worst of 50	48th 3rd best of 50
Primary Care Physicians Per 100kHealthiest States	239 49th of 51	400 2nd of 51
Industrial DiversityMost Diverse US States	4th 4th of 50	50th 50th of 50
Personnel RankFarming-Friendly States	1st 1st of 50	47th 47th of 50
FatalitiesFloods by State	339 45th of 47	11 tied 2nd of 47
Personal & Residential Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US	47th 47th of 50	3rd 3rd of 50
ROI Potential RankFarming-Friendly States	1st 1st of 50	45th 45th of 50
Combined 7 SeriesVaccination Rates by State	66.4% 46th of 51	79.9% 2nd of 51
Theft RateStolen Cars by State	511 per 100k 49th of 51	100 per 100k 5th of 51
Road Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US	47th 47th of 50	4th 4th of 50
Education and Child CareBest States to Raise a Family	45th 45th of 50	2nd 2nd of 50
Min RateTax Rates by State	1% tied 2nd of 40	5% 37th of 40
Best States for Living with a Disability - Total ScoreDisability Benefits by State	43.1 47th of 51	56.74 4th of 51
Financial Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US	45th 45th of 50	3rd 3rd of 50
InmatesFederal Prisons by State	11,235 35th of 36	785 5th of 36
Income Tax Minimum RateTaxes by State	1% tied 3rd of 39	5% tied 35th of 39
% of Freshwater Fish Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States	50.0% 47th of 51	4.3% tied 5th of 51
Community RankBest States for Fishing	4th 4th of 51	45th 45th of 51
VaricellaVaccination Rates by State	89.1% 42nd of 51	95.4% 1st of 51
Violent Crime Rate per 100kMost Dangerous Cities by State	87 3rd of 45	479 39th of 45
Higher Education QualityPublic School Rankings by State	2nd 2nd of 50	42nd 42nd of 50
Insured DriversWorst Drivers by State	83.4 42nd of 50	96.5 2nd of 50
License Cost Non ResidentsFly Fishing by State	$158 50th of 50	$37.50 10th of 50
Work Environment RankHappiest States	45th 45th of 50	6th 5th of 50
Heroin Use Past MonthDrug Use by State	0.25% tied 6th of 51	0.59% 48th of 51
Academic & Work Environment RankBest States for Teachers	45th 45th of 51	5th 5th of 51

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, California or Massachusetts?: Massachusetts comes out ahead of California on 434 of 794 statistics where one end is better, to 346 with 14 ties. California leads on Agriculture and Sports. Massachusetts leads on Population, Infrastructure & Energy and Environment and 11 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, California or Massachusetts?: California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Massachusetts has 7,169,608 (16th of 51).
How do California and Massachusetts compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Massachusetts $103,960 (2nd of 51) among US states. Massachusetts ranks better.
How do California and Massachusetts compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Massachusetts 4.5% (tied 37th of 51) among US states. Massachusetts ranks better.
Where does California beat Massachusetts most clearly?: California ranks far ahead on Industrial Diversity (Most Diverse US States): 4th vs 50th; Personnel Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 1st vs 47th; ROI Potential Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 1st vs 45th.
Where does Massachusetts beat California most clearly?: Massachusetts ranks far ahead on Cost Per Capita (Prisons by State): $139 vs $370; % of Homeless Who Are Unsheltered (Homeless Population by State): 5.6% vs 66.3%; % Sheltered (Homeless Population by State): 94.4% vs 33.7%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with California or Massachusetts.

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