California vs Mississippi
California comes out ahead of Mississippi on 483 of 797 statistics where one end is better, to 306 with 8 ties. California leads on Health, Sports and Culture and 10 more categories. Mississippi leads on Agriculture and Travel.
797 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 8 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 483
- Avg. percentile
- 53
- Categories led
- 13
- Wins
- 306
- Avg. percentile
- 39
- Categories led
- 2
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 2,958,148 35th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $56,447 51st 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 | 18.9% 50th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 87.0 2nd of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $48,465 51st of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $50,810 51st of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $954 tied 4th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 226.9 15th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 2,388 5th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthCalifornia · 189 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 76 statistics
- Facts & TriviaCalifornia · 17 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 46 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 72 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 123 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 122 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 70 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 23 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 290 statistics
- EnvironmentCalifornia · 40 statistics
- AgricultureMississippi · 17 statistics
- TravelMississippi · 27 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyEven · 36 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Average Teacher SalaryTeacher Pay by State | $101,084 1st of 51 | $53,704 51st of 51 |
| Average Teacher SalaryBest States for Teachers | $103,552 1st of 51 | $54,975 51st of 51 |
| Avg SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $89,220 1st of 51 | $30,920 51st of 51 |
| Maximum Annual SalaryIBEW Pay Scale by State | $182,500 1st of 51 | $60,500 51st of 51 |
| Median Teacher SalaryTeacher Pay by State | $95,260 1st of 51 | $47,690 51st of 51 |
| Favorable Gun Laws RankBest States for Gun Owners | 50th 50th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Police Officer Avg Annual SalaryPolice Officer Salary by State | $115,400 1st of 50 | $45,610 50th of 50 |
| Political DiversityLeast Diverse States in the US | 1st 1st of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Correctional Officers Average Salary (2021)Prison Spending by State | $81.17 1st of 49 | $33.43 49th of 49 |
| Infant Mortality RateInfant Mortality Rate by State | 3.9 1st of 49 | 8.1 49th of 49 |
| Mean SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $88,550 1st of 49 | $37,000 49th of 49 |
| Annual Median WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $142,520 1st of 51 | $58,910 50th of 51 |
| Average Single-Parent Family IncomeSingle Mom Friendly States | $60,235 2nd of 51 | $31,798 51st of 51 |
| Avg Diesel PriceDiesel Fuel Prices by State | $7.49 per gallon 51st of 51 | $5.11 per gallon 2nd of 51 |
| Entry Level SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $59,260 2nd of 51 | $22,710 51st of 51 |
| Hourly Median WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $68.52 1st of 51 | $28.32 50th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 87.0 2nd of 51 |
| Avg Annual SalaryMedical Billing and Coding Salary by State | $76,695 1st of 50 | $53,548 49th of 50 |
| Avg Hourly WageMedical Billing and Coding Salary by State | $36.87 1st of 50 | $25.74 49th of 50 |
| Entertainment Rank (WH)Most Boring States | 1st 1st of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Family FunBest States to Raise a Family | 1st 1st of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Linguistic DiversityMost Diverse US States | 1st 1st of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Cost of LivingPension-Friendly States | 47 48th of 49 | 100 1st of 49 |
| Housing CostPension-Friendly States | 14 49th of 49 | 98 2nd of 49 |
| Lifestyle Habits & Health Outlook ScoreMost Unhealthy States in the U.S. | 2.13 1st of 49 | 98.28 48th of 49 |
| Maternal Mortality Rate (2018-2022)Maternal Mortality Rate by State | 10.5 per 100k Births 1st of 39 | 39.1 per 100k Births 38th of 39 |
| 25th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $74,390 2nd of 51 | $40,170 50th of 51 |
| Activity ScoreArthritis Friendly States | 42 tied 2nd of 51 | 10 51st of 51 |
| Annual Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $144,520 2nd of 51 | $77,290 50th of 51 |
| Average Cost for Advanced Life SupportAmbulance Cost by State | $2,040 49th of 51 | $1,354 1st of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Mississippi?
- California comes out ahead of Mississippi on 483 of 797 statistics where one end is better, to 306 with 8 ties. California leads on Health, Sports and Culture and 10 more categories. Mississippi leads on Agriculture and Travel. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Mississippi?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Mississippi has 2,958,148 (35th of 51).
- How do California and Mississippi compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Mississippi $56,447 (51st of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Mississippi compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Mississippi 3.8% (tied 20th of 51) among US states. Mississippi ranks better.
- Where does California beat Mississippi most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Average Teacher Salary (Teacher Pay by State): $101,084 vs $53,704; Average Teacher Salary (Best States for Teachers): $103,552 vs $54,975; Avg Salary (Correctional Officer Salary by State): $89,220 vs $30,920.
- Where does Mississippi beat California most clearly?
- Mississippi ranks far ahead on Favorable Gun Laws Rank (Best States for Gun Owners): 1st vs 50th; Avg Diesel Price (Diesel Fuel Prices by State): $5.11 per gallon vs $7.49 per gallon; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)): 87.0 vs 110.7.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Mississippi.
- 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 Mississippi
- Alaska vs Mississippi
- Arizona vs Mississippi
- Arkansas vs Mississippi
- Colorado vs Mississippi
- Connecticut vs Mississippi
- Delaware vs Mississippi
- District of Columbia vs Mississippi