California vs Oregon
California comes out ahead of Oregon on 429 of 796 statistics where one end is better, to 352 with 15 ties. California leads on Crime & Safety, Sports and Health and 8 more categories. Oregon leads on Agriculture, Environment and Infrastructure & Energy and 2 more categories.
796 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 15 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 429
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 11
- Wins
- 352
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 5
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 4,281,848 27th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $83,011 19th 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 | 11.9% 28th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 103.4 40th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $55,451 37th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $72,460 12th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,525 38th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 311.2 29th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 5,268 24th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- AgricultureOregon · 17 statistics
- EnvironmentOregon · 40 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyOregon · 33 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 76 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 189 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 62 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 119 statistics
- TravelOregon · 29 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 125 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- Facts & TriviaCalifornia · 18 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 47 statistics
- EconomicsOregon · 288 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Can PriceAluminum Can Prices by State | $1.67 per lb 43rd of 43 | $0.10 per lb 2nd of 43 |
| Anxiety RateMental Health Statistics by State | 7,857 per 100k 50th of 51 | 7,212 per 100k 3rd of 51 |
| Cancer CasesHealthiest States | 7.1 tied 3rd of 50 | 11.1 tied last of 50 |
| Governor's SalaryGovernor Salary by State | $242,295 3rd of 50 | $98,600 48th of 50 |
| Opportunity and Competition RankBest State To Be a Police Officer | 5th 5th of 51 | 50th 50th of 51 |
| Domestic Violence with IPV-Related Impact in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State | 24.1% 4th of 51 | 40.5% 49th of 51 |
| Depression RatesHealthiest States | 17.8 4th of 50 | 27.3 48th of 50 |
| Food Wasted RankFood Waste by State | 1st worst of 50 | 45th 6th best of 50 |
| Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States | 15.2% 2nd of 50 | 24.6% tied 45th of 50 |
| Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 15.2% 2nd of 49 | 24.6% tied 44th of 49 |
| Overall Score (Higher is Better)Best State To Be a Police Officer | 61.87 1st of 51 | 34.5 45th of 51 |
| Sales Tax RankBest State To Incorporate In | 47th 48th of 51 | 4th 4th of 51 |
| Average New Car Price With Tax And FeesCar Registration Fees by State | $53,936 47th of 50 | $50,519 4th of 50 |
| Age-Adjusted Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 15.3% 2nd of 49 | 25.3% tied 43rd of 49 |
| Average Annual Sunlight 1971-2000Best Weather by State | 5,050 kJ/m² 5th of 48 | 3,830 kJ/m² 45th of 48 |
| Experienced Any Domestic Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State | 30.0% 6th of 51 | 44.2% 48th of 51 |
| SSI Pension Fund Management ScoreMost Corrupt States | 93.8 2nd of 50 | 48.8 43rd of 50 |
| Adults Diagnosed With DepressionDepression Rates by State | 17.0% 5th of 48 | 25.8% tied 43rd of 48 |
| Employment Per 1000 JobsVeterinarian Salary by State | 0.44 44th of 50 | 0.82 4th of 50 |
| State Integrity Investigation (SII) Total ScoreMost Corrupt States | 73 2nd of 50 | 59 tied 39th of 50 |
| Richest Person AgeRichest Person by State | 40 46th of 47 | 86 tied 8th of 47 |
| Air Quality IndexAir Quality by State | 48.8 45th of 51 | 30.3 5th of 51 |
| Deadliest 10 Miles Deaths 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State | 118 48th of 50 | 30 9th of 50 |
| SSI Political Financing ScoreMost Corrupt States | 71 10th of 50 | 36.5 49th of 50 |
| Min RateTax Rates by State | 1% tied 2nd of 40 | 4.75% tied 33rd of 40 |
| Average Engagement Ring CostEngagement Ring Cost by State | $9,482 50th of 51 | $5,126 11th of 51 |
| Training Requirements RankBest State To Be a Police Officer | 2nd 2nd of 51 | 41st 41st of 51 |
| Quality of LifePension-Friendly States | 21 48th of 49 | 71 tied 10th of 49 |
| FTE Reporter RankMost Corrupt States | 9th tied 9th worst of 49 | 45th 4th best of 49 |
| Avg Retail PriceElectricity Cost by State | 19.65 49th of 51 | 8.95 11th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Oregon?
- California comes out ahead of Oregon on 429 of 796 statistics where one end is better, to 352 with 15 ties. California leads on Crime & Safety, Sports and Health and 8 more categories. Oregon leads on Agriculture, Environment and Infrastructure & Energy and 2 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Oregon?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Oregon has 4,281,848 (27th of 51).
- How do California and Oregon compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Oregon $83,011 (19th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Oregon compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Oregon 5.2% (tied 46th of 51) among US states. Oregon ranks better.
- Where does California beat Oregon most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Cancer Cases (Healthiest States): 7.1 vs 11.1; Governor's Salary (Governor Salary by State): $242,295 vs $98,600; Opportunity and Competition Rank (Best State To Be a Police Officer): 5th vs 50th.
- Where does Oregon beat California most clearly?
- Oregon ranks far ahead on Aluminum Can Price (Aluminum Can Prices by State): $0.10 per lb vs $1.67 per lb; Anxiety Rate (Mental Health Statistics by State): 7,212 per 100k vs 7,857 per 100k; Food Wasted Rank (Food Waste by State): 45th vs 1st.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Oregon.
- 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 Oregon
- Alaska vs Oregon
- Arizona vs Oregon
- Arkansas vs Oregon
- Colorado vs Oregon
- Connecticut vs Oregon
- Delaware vs Oregon
- District of Columbia vs Oregon