California vs North Dakota
North Dakota comes out ahead of California on 389 of 782 statistics where one end is better, to 384 with 9 ties. California leads on Travel, Health and Sports and 4 more categories. North Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Facts & Trivia and 5 more categories.
782 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 9 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 384
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 7
- Wins
- 389
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 8
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 805,329 47th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $76,657 28th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 2.6% 3rd of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 10.8% 20th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 89.0 8th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $65,271 7th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $64,050 31st 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 | 238.1 18th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 9,184 48th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Infrastructure & EnergyNorth Dakota · 36 statistics
- AgricultureNorth Dakota · 17 statistics
- TravelCalifornia · 28 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 184 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- Facts & TriviaNorth Dakota · 17 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- LawNorth Dakota · 65 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentNorth Dakota · 119 statistics
- EnvironmentNorth Dakota · 38 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 63 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- Tech & BusinessNorth Dakota · 48 statistics
- EconomicsNorth Dakota · 293 statistics
- PopulationEven · 125 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Median Annual WageOT Salary by State | $104,380 1st of 51 | $75,640 51st of 51 |
| Median Hourly WageOT Salary by State | $50.19 1st of 51 | $36.36 51st of 51 |
| Income Tax Maximum RateTaxes by State | 12.3% 43rd of 43 | 2.9% 1st of 43 |
| U-6 Unemployment Rate Q2 2022U6 Employment Rate | 10.2% 50th of 51 | 4.1% 1st of 51 |
| U-6 Unemployment Rate Q3 2022U6 Employment Rate | 9.2% 50th of 51 | 3.6% 1st of 51 |
| Average Net WorthWealth Inequality by State | $884,003 2nd of 50 | $339,955 50th of 50 |
| Max RateTax Rates by State | 13.3% 44th of 44 | 2.9% 2nd of 44 |
| Capital Gains RateCapital Gains Tax by State | 13.3% 43rd of 43 | 2.9% 2nd of 43 |
| % of Vascular Plant Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 30.7% 50th of 51 | 0.9% tied 1st of 51 |
| Mean Annual WageOT Salary by State | $109,220 1st of 51 | $78,020 49th of 51 |
| Mean Hourly WageOT Salary by State | $52.51 1st of 51 | $37.51 49th of 51 |
| Species Diversity Rank (01-51)Most Biodiverse States | 1st 1st of 51 | 49th 49th of 51 |
| Deadliest 10 Miles Deaths 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State | 118 48th of 50 | 9 1st of 50 |
| Deadliest 10 Miles Fatal Crashes 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State | 108 48th of 50 | 9 1st of 50 |
| Opportunity RankWorst States to Live in | 1st worst of 50 | 47th 3rd best of 50 |
| Weather RankBest States to Retire | 1st 1st of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| % of Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 29.0% 50th of 51 | 2% tied 1st of 51 |
| Renewable Energy IncentivesOff-Grid Living Legal States | 158 1st of 50 | 16 tied 47th of 50 |
| Affordability RankDisability Benefits by State | 51st 51st of 51 | 4th 4th of 51 |
| Annual Mean WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $108,960 2nd of 51 | $70,980 49th of 51 |
| Annual Median WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $105,290 2nd of 51 | $63,930 49th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $52.39 2nd of 51 | $34.12 49th of 51 |
| Hourly Median WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $50.62 2nd of 51 | $30.74 49th of 51 |
| Total Forest AreaLumber Production by State | 31.6M acres 1st of 51 | 823.4K acres 48th of 51 |
| Training Requirements RankBest State To Be a Police Officer | 2nd 2nd of 51 | 49th 49th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 2.6% 3rd of 51 |
| Medical Cannabis CostMarijuana Cost by State | $257 4th of 50 | $384 50th of 50 |
| Political DiversityLeast Diverse States in the US | 1st 1st of 50 | 47th 47th of 50 |
| Viability RankFarming-Friendly States | 48th 48th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Wasted Instead of ReusedFood Waste by State | 49th 2nd best of 50 | 3rd 3rd worst of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or North Dakota?
- North Dakota comes out ahead of California on 389 of 782 statistics where one end is better, to 384 with 9 ties. California leads on Travel, Health and Sports and 4 more categories. North Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Facts & Trivia and 5 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or North Dakota?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and North Dakota has 805,329 (47th of 51).
- How do California and North Dakota compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), North Dakota $76,657 (28th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and North Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), North Dakota 2.6% (3rd of 51) among US states. North Dakota ranks better.
- Where does California beat North Dakota most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Median Annual Wage (OT Salary by State): $104,380 vs $75,640; Median Hourly Wage (OT Salary by State): $50.19 vs $36.36; Average Net Worth (Wealth Inequality by State): $884,003 vs $339,955.
- Where does North Dakota beat California most clearly?
- North Dakota ranks far ahead on Income Tax Maximum Rate (Taxes by State): 2.9% vs 12.3%; U-6 Unemployment Rate Q2 2022 (U6 Employment Rate): 4.1% vs 10.2%; U-6 Unemployment Rate Q3 2022 (U6 Employment Rate): 3.6% vs 9.2%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or North Dakota.
- 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 North Dakota
- Alaska vs North Dakota
- Arizona vs North Dakota
- Arkansas vs North Dakota
- Colorado vs North Dakota
- Connecticut vs North Dakota
- Delaware vs North Dakota
- District of Columbia vs North Dakota