California vs New Mexico
California comes out ahead of New Mexico on 468 of 800 statistics where one end is better, to 316 with 16 ties. California leads on Crime & Safety, Education and Tech & Business and 11 more categories. New Mexico leads on Agriculture and Infrastructure & Energy.
800 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 16 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 468
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 14
- Wins
- 316
- Avg. percentile
- 45
- Categories led
- 2
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 2,124,222 36th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $64,059 45th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 4.2% tied 30th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 17.8% 49th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 92.2 15th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $51,121 49th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $62,330 33rd of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,067 16th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 621.6 49th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 4,462 17th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- AgricultureNew Mexico · 17 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 75 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 185 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 124 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyNew Mexico · 36 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- Facts & TriviaCalifornia · 17 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 288 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 125 statistics
- TravelCalifornia · 29 statistics
- EnvironmentCalifornia · 40 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 71 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability RankDisability Benefits by State | 51st 51st of 51 | 1st 1st of 51 |
| Gas Tax (¢/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | 70.92 ￠/gallon 51st of 51 | 18.88 ￠/gallon 3rd of 51 |
| Gas Tax ($/gallon)Gas Taxes by State | $0.709/gallon 51st of 51 | $0.189/gallon 3rd of 51 |
| Costs RankFarming-Friendly States | 50th 50th of 50 | 3rd 3rd of 50 |
| Anxiety Rate Ages 0-14Mental Health Statistics by State | 2,550 per 100k 4th of 51 | 2,865 per 100k 51st of 51 |
| Median IncomeSafest Cities by State | $160,808 4th of 48 | $27,266 48th of 48 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 93.5% 3rd of 51 | 86.5% 49th of 51 |
| Yearly Salary 40 Hour Week MaxLIUNA Pay Scale by State | $94,000 2nd of 50 | $37,500 47th of 50 |
| Farmland Price Per AcreAcre Value by State | $13,100 42nd of 46 | $671 1st of 46 |
| COLI Transportation Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 136.7 51st of 51 | 90.1 tied 5th of 51 |
| One Percent Income ThresholdTop 1 Percent Threshold by State | $853,930 4th of 51 | $416,987 49th of 51 |
| Wasted Instead of ReusedFood Waste by State | 49th 2nd best of 50 | 5th 5th worst of 50 |
| Mean SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $88,550 1st of 49 | $42,660 44th of 49 |
| Deaths in 1918Spanish Flu Deaths by State | 16,773 45th of 49 | 1,000 2nd of 49 |
| Local Street Accidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State | 3.5% 1st of 44 | 53.2% 39th of 44 |
| Cost of LivingOff-Grid Living Legal States | $53,171 48th of 50 | $34,501 5th of 50 |
| Quality of Education RankMost Educated U.S. States | 7th 7th of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Well-Being Index Score 2022Well-Being Index by State | 67 6th of 50 | 49 tied 48th of 50 |
| Car Sales Tax RateCar Sales Tax by State | 7.25% 44th of 45 | 4% tied 4th of 45 |
| Varicella 2 Doses (Disease History)Vaccination Rates by State | 6.2% tied 35th of 41 | 11.8% 1st of 41 |
| Average Gross IncomePercentage of Households Making Over $100,000 | $134,268 6th of 51 | $84,625 49th of 51 |
| Avg Income of 99.5th–99.9th Percentile FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $1.26M 6th of 51 | $556,635 49th of 51 |
| Avg Income of 99.9th–99.99th Percentile FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $628,703 6th of 51 | $307,694 49th of 51 |
| Avg Income of 99th–99.5th Percentile FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $628,703 6th of 51 | $307,694 49th of 51 |
| Avg Income of Top 0.01% FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $45.54M 5th of 51 | $9.52M 48th of 51 |
| Five Percent Income Tax RateTop 1 Percent Threshold by State | 24.5% 46th of 51 | 20.1% 3rd of 51 |
| Five Percent Income ThresholdTop 1 Percent Threshold by State | $325,984 6th of 51 | $194,904 49th of 51 |
| Gun Death RateGun Deaths by State | 7.0 per 100k 7th of 51 | 26.6 per 100k 50th of 51 |
| Governor's SalaryGovernor Salary by State | $242,295 3rd of 50 | $110,000 45th of 50 |
| Gun Death RankStrictest Gun Laws by State | 44th 7th best of 50 | 2nd 2nd worst of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or New Mexico?
- California comes out ahead of New Mexico on 468 of 800 statistics where one end is better, to 316 with 16 ties. California leads on Crime & Safety, Education and Tech & Business and 11 more categories. New Mexico leads on Agriculture and Infrastructure & Energy. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or New Mexico?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and New Mexico has 2,124,222 (36th of 51).
- How do California and New Mexico compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), New Mexico $64,059 (45th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and New Mexico compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), New Mexico 4.2% (tied 30th of 51) among US states. New Mexico ranks better.
- Where does California beat New Mexico most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Anxiety Rate Ages 0-14 (Mental Health Statistics by State): 2,550 per 100k vs 2,865 per 100k; Median Income (Safest Cities by State): $160,808 vs $27,266; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)): 93.5% vs 86.5%.
- Where does New Mexico beat California most clearly?
- New Mexico ranks far ahead on Affordability Rank (Disability Benefits by State): 1st vs 51st; Gas Tax (¢/gallon) (Gas Taxes by State): 18.88 ￠/gallon vs 70.92 ￠/gallon; Gas Tax ($/gallon) (Gas Taxes by State): $0.189/gallon vs $0.709/gallon.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or New Mexico.
- 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 Mexico
- Alaska vs New Mexico
- Arizona vs New Mexico
- Arkansas vs New Mexico
- Colorado vs New Mexico
- Connecticut vs New Mexico
- Delaware vs New Mexico
- District of Columbia vs New Mexico