California vs South Carolina
California comes out ahead of South Carolina on 471 of 803 statistics where one end is better, to 320 with 12 ties. California leads on Health, Education and Crime & Safety and 10 more categories. South Carolina leads on Infrastructure & Energy and Travel.
803 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 12 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 471
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 13
- Wins
- 320
- Avg. percentile
- 42
- Categories led
- 2
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 5,650,232 23rd of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $69,324 43rd of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 4.5% tied 37th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 14.1% 42nd of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 93.7 19th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $52,463 45th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $59,280 43rd of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,180 22nd of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 387.6 38th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 2,586 6th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthCalifornia · 186 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 75 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 289 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 47 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergySouth Carolina · 36 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 68 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 125 statistics
- AgricultureCalifornia · 17 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 123 statistics
- TravelSouth Carolina · 29 statistics
- Facts & TriviaCalifornia · 18 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- EnvironmentEven · 40 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Total ScoreBest States for Hiking | 95 1st of 50 | 2 tied last of 50 |
| AccessibilityBest States for Hiking | 9 1st of 50 | 3 tied 47th of 50 |
| License Cost ResidentsFly Fishing by State | $58.58 50th of 50 | $10.00 3rd of 50 |
| Billionaires' Net WorthMost Billionaires by State | $532.4B 1st of 42 | $1.8B 40th of 42 |
| Experience RatingBest States for Hiking | 9.1 1st of 50 | 1.9 tied 46th of 50 |
| Access ScoreArthritis Friendly States | 39 2nd of 51 | 8 49th of 51 |
| Annual Median WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $142,520 1st of 51 | $104,260 48th of 51 |
| Hourly Median WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $68.52 1st of 51 | $50.13 48th of 51 |
| Regular Gas, Avg Price per GallonGas Price by State | $5.87 51st of 51 | $3.69 4th of 51 |
| Required License FeeLCSW Requirements by State | $450 49th of 51 | $45.00 2nd of 51 |
| Cost Per CapitaPrisons by State | $370 49th of 50 | $156 4th of 50 |
| Costs RankFarming-Friendly States | 50th 50th of 50 | 5th 5th of 50 |
| Final ScoreArthritis Friendly States | 93 4th of 51 | 38 tied 49th of 51 |
| Avg Annual SalaryDental Hygienists Salary by State | $108,200 2nd of 51 | $65,440 47th of 51 |
| Avg Hourly WageDental Hygienists Salary by State | $52.02 2nd of 51 | $31.46 47th of 51 |
| Maximum Annual SalaryIBEW Pay Scale by State | $182,500 1st of 51 | $68,000 46th of 51 |
| Mid-Grade Gas, Avg Price per GallonGas Price by State | $6.09 51st of 51 | $4.14 6th of 51 |
| Premium Gas, Avg Price per GallonGas Price by State | $6.28 51st of 51 | $4.55 6th of 51 |
| US HighwayAccidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State | 3.72% 4th of 44 | 51.8% 42nd of 44 |
| Annual Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $144,520 2nd of 51 | $106,200 46th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $69.48 2nd of 51 | $51.06 46th of 51 |
| LPN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $161,540 1st of 51 | $116,940 45th of 51 |
| LPN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State | $164,050 1st of 51 | $112,510 45th of 51 |
| LPN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $77.66 1st of 51 | $56.22 45th of 51 |
| LPN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State | $78.87 1st of 51 | $54.09 45th of 51 |
| Taxes Paid To Own State Per CapitaTax Burden by State | $8,711 48th of 51 | $3,365 4th of 51 |
| Governor's SalaryGovernor Salary by State | $242,295 3rd of 50 | $106,078 46th of 50 |
| License Cost Non ResidentsFly Fishing by State | $158 50th of 50 | $35.00 tied 6th of 50 |
| 10th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $60,640 2nd of 51 | $39,040 45th of 51 |
| Average Single-Parent Family IncomeSingle Mom Friendly States | $60,235 2nd of 51 | $38,616 45th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or South Carolina?
- California comes out ahead of South Carolina on 471 of 803 statistics where one end is better, to 320 with 12 ties. California leads on Health, Education and Crime & Safety and 10 more categories. South Carolina leads on Infrastructure & Energy and Travel. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or South Carolina?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and South Carolina has 5,650,232 (23rd of 51).
- How do California and South Carolina compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), South Carolina $69,324 (43rd of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and South Carolina compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), South Carolina 4.5% (tied 37th of 51) among US states. South Carolina ranks better.
- Where does California beat South Carolina most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Total Score (Best States for Hiking): 95 vs 2; Accessibility (Best States for Hiking): 9 vs 3; Billionaires' Net Worth (Most Billionaires by State): $532.4B vs $1.8B.
- Where does South Carolina beat California most clearly?
- South Carolina ranks far ahead on License Cost Residents (Fly Fishing by State): $10.00 vs $58.58; Regular Gas, Avg Price per Gallon (Gas Price by State): $3.69 vs $5.87; Required License Fee (LCSW Requirements by State): $45.00 vs $450.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or South Carolina.
- 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 South Carolina
- Alaska vs South Carolina
- Arizona vs South Carolina
- Arkansas vs South Carolina
- Colorado vs South Carolina
- Connecticut vs South Carolina
- Delaware vs South Carolina
- District of Columbia vs South Carolina