California vs New Jersey
New Jersey comes out ahead of California on 427 of 810 statistics where one end is better, to 376 with 7 ties. California leads on Agriculture, Sports and Law and 2 more categories. New Jersey leads on Education, Population and Infrastructure & Energy and 8 more categories.
810 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 7 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 376
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 5
- Wins
- 427
- Avg. percentile
- 56
- Categories led
- 11
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 9,590,076 11th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $103,556 4th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 5.2% tied 46th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 9.72% 6th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 108.8 48th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $63,142 12th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $78,040 6th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,720 45th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 193.8 6th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 5,168 23rd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- AgricultureCalifornia · 17 statistics
- EducationNew Jersey · 51 statistics
- PopulationNew Jersey · 124 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyNew Jersey · 36 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 73 statistics
- EnvironmentNew Jersey · 39 statistics
- TravelNew Jersey · 29 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 126 statistics
- Tech & BusinessNew Jersey · 48 statistics
- GeographyNew Jersey · 25 statistics
- Crime & SafetyNew Jersey · 76 statistics
- Facts & TriviaNew Jersey · 18 statistics
- EconomicsNew Jersey · 296 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 189 statistics
- CultureNew Jersey · 78 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Homeless Youth Support RankBest States to Be Homeless | 1st 1st of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| ROI Potential RankFarming-Friendly States | 1st 1st of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| License Cost Non ResidentsFly Fishing by State | $158 50th of 50 | $34.00 5th of 50 |
| Average Documentation FeeCar Registration Fees by State | $85.00 1st of 50 | $695 45th of 50 |
| Bad Driving IndexWorst Drivers by State | 90.58 47th of 49 | 24.64 4th of 49 |
| % of Freshwater Fish Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 50.0% 47th of 51 | 3% 3rd of 51 |
| % of Homeless Who Are UnshelteredHomeless Population by State | 66.3% 51st of 51 | 13.8% 8th of 51 |
| % ShelteredHomeless Population by State | 33.7% 51st of 51 | 86.2% 8th of 51 |
| Avg. Internet SpeedAverage Internet Speed by State | 93 51st of 51 | 427.8 8th of 51 |
| Education and Child CareBest States to Raise a Family | 45th 45th of 50 | 3rd 3rd of 50 |
| School Safety RankPublic School Rankings by State | 43rd 43rd of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Prisoners, American Indian/Alaskan NativePrison Population by State | 1,111 44th of 49 | 7 3rd of 49 |
| % of Reptile Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 16.3% 38th of 42 | 2.4% 3rd of 42 |
| Single Family (Max Appraisal Fees in State)Appraisal Fees by State | $1,000 tied 42nd of 51 | $650 tied 1st of 51 |
| Total Forest AreaLumber Production by State | 31.6M acres 1st of 51 | 2M acres 43rd of 51 |
| Insured DriversWorst Drivers by State | 83.4 42nd of 50 | 96.9 1st of 50 |
| Scenic Beauty RankMost Beautiful States | 1st 1st of 49 | 41st 41st of 49 |
| Change in Meth Death Rate 2015-2019Meth Use by State | 85.0% 8th of 43 | 733.0% 43rd of 43 |
| Median Doc FeeCar Dealer Fees by State | $85.00 2nd of 51 | $587 43rd of 51 |
| Personal & Residential Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US | 47th 47th of 50 | 7th 7th of 50 |
| Cocaine Use Past MonthDrug Use by State | 2.42% 43rd of 51 | 1.45% 3rd of 51 |
| Shelters and Housing Support RankBest States to Be Homeless | 43rd 43rd of 50 | 4th 4th of 50 |
| Academic & Work Environment RankBest States for Teachers | 45th 45th of 51 | 6th 6th of 51 |
| Cancer Rate New Cases 2018 to 2022Cancer Rates by State | 405.4 per 100k Pop. 5th of 51 | 477.1 per 100k Pop. 44th of 51 |
| Road Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US | 47th 47th of 50 | 9th 9th of 50 |
| Avg Monthly CostInternet Costs by State | $82.89 39th of 51 | $65.43 1st of 51 |
| Cancer Rate: New CasesCancer Rates by State | 420.6 per 100k 8th of 51 | 497.1 per 100k 46th of 51 |
| Theft RateStolen Cars by State | 511 per 100k 49th of 51 | 160 per 100k 11th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 193.8 6th of 51 |
| Wage Increase 2022-23Minimum Wage Increases by State | 0.5 tied 25th of 28 | 1.13 5th of 28 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or New Jersey?
- New Jersey comes out ahead of California on 427 of 810 statistics where one end is better, to 376 with 7 ties. California leads on Agriculture, Sports and Law and 2 more categories. New Jersey leads on Education, Population and Infrastructure & Energy and 8 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or New Jersey?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and New Jersey has 9,590,076 (11th of 51).
- How do California and New Jersey compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), New Jersey $103,556 (4th of 51) among US states. New Jersey ranks better.
- How do California and New Jersey compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), New Jersey 5.2% (tied 46th of 51) among US states. New Jersey ranks better.
- Where does California beat New Jersey most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Homeless Youth Support Rank (Best States to Be Homeless): 1st vs 48th; ROI Potential Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 1st vs 48th; Average Documentation Fee (Car Registration Fees by State): $85.00 vs $695.
- Where does New Jersey beat California most clearly?
- New Jersey ranks far ahead on License Cost Non Residents (Fly Fishing by State): $34.00 vs $158; Bad Driving Index (Worst Drivers by State): 24.64 vs 90.58; % of Freshwater Fish Species at Risk (Most Biodiverse States): 3% vs 50.0%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or New Jersey.
- 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 New Jersey
- Alaska vs New Jersey
- Arizona vs New Jersey
- Arkansas vs New Jersey
- Colorado vs New Jersey
- Connecticut vs New Jersey
- Delaware vs New Jersey
- District of Columbia vs New Jersey