California vs South Dakota
California comes out ahead of South Dakota on 403 of 791 statistics where one end is better, to 374 with 14 ties. California leads on Health, Sports and Crime & Safety and 6 more categories. South Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Facts & Trivia and Environment and 4 more categories.
791 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 14 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 403
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 9
- Wins
- 374
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 7
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 943,078 46th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $75,081 31st of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 2.1% 1st of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 11.9% 27th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 88.6 6th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $69,153 5th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $57,610 45th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $946 2nd of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 307.5 28th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 7,633 42nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 184 statistics
- Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 18 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 73 statistics
- EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 38 statistics
- AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 122 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- GeographySouth Dakota · 25 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 289 statistics
- TravelSouth Dakota · 29 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 67 statistics
- PopulationSouth Dakota · 124 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $133,340 1st of 51 | $64,500 51st of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $64.10 1st of 51 | $31.01 51st of 51 |
| RN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $137,690 1st of 51 | $69,030 51st of 51 |
| RN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $66.20 1st of 51 | $33.19 51st of 51 |
| Mitigation Efforts RankFood Waste by State | 50th best of 50 | 1st worst of 50 |
| 75th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $103,880 2nd of 51 | $52,100 51st of 51 |
| Annual Mean WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $108,960 2nd of 51 | $64,030 51st of 51 |
| Annual Median WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $105,290 2nd of 51 | $62,780 51st of 51 |
| Average Engagement Ring CostEngagement Ring Cost by State | $9,482 50th of 51 | $3,005 1st of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $52.39 2nd of 51 | $30.78 51st of 51 |
| Hourly Median WageSpeech Pathologist Salary by State | $50.62 2nd of 51 | $30.18 51st of 51 |
| Mean Annual WageOT Salary by State | $109,220 1st of 51 | $76,900 50th of 51 |
| Mean Hourly WageOT Salary by State | $52.51 1st of 51 | $36.97 50th of 51 |
| Median Annual WageOT Salary by State | $104,380 1st of 51 | $76,400 50th of 51 |
| Median Hourly WageOT Salary by State | $50.19 1st of 51 | $36.73 50th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $946 2nd of 51 |
| Median Teacher SalaryTeacher Pay by State | $95,260 1st of 51 | $48,010 50th of 51 |
| RN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State | $133,990 1st of 51 | $67,030 50th of 51 |
| RN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State | $64.42 1st of 51 | $32.23 50th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 2.1% 1st of 51 |
| Annual Cost IncreaseGrocery Prices by State | 3.4% 2nd of 50 | 12.6% 50th of 50 |
| Attractive People RankMost Attractive States | 2nd 2nd of 49 | 50th 49th of 49 |
| % of Vascular Plant Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 30.7% 50th of 51 | 0.9% tied 1st of 51 |
| 90th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $128,680 3rd of 51 | $59,840 51st of 51 |
| Annual Mean WageSonographer Salary by State | $114,480 1st of 51 | $65,110 49th of 51 |
| Average Wind SpeedWindiest States in the U.S. | 13.54 mph 50th of 51 | 21.32 mph 2nd of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageSonographer Salary by State | $55.04 1st of 51 | $31.30 49th of 51 |
| U-6 Unemployment Rate Q2 2022U6 Employment Rate | 10.2% 50th of 51 | 4.2% 2nd of 51 |
| U-6 Unemployment Rate Q3 2021U6 Employment Rate | 14.0% 49th of 51 | 4.8% 1st of 51 |
| SSI Lobbying Disclosure ScoreMost Corrupt States | 87.9 2nd of 50 | 39.6 49th of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or South Dakota?
- California comes out ahead of South Dakota on 403 of 791 statistics where one end is better, to 374 with 14 ties. California leads on Health, Sports and Crime & Safety and 6 more categories. South Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Facts & Trivia and Environment and 4 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or South Dakota?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).
- How do California and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
- Where does California beat South Dakota most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Annual Mean Wage (Nurse Salary by State): $133,340 vs $64,500; Hourly Mean Wage (Nurse Salary by State): $64.10 vs $31.01; RN Annual Mean (Nurses Pay by State): $137,690 vs $69,030.
- Where does South Dakota beat California most clearly?
- South Dakota ranks far ahead on Average Engagement Ring Cost (Engagement Ring Cost by State): $3,005 vs $9,482; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)): $946 vs $2,036; Unemployment Rate (%) (Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)): 2.1% vs 5.5%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or South 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 South Dakota
- Alaska vs South Dakota
- Arizona vs South Dakota
- Arkansas vs South Dakota
- Colorado vs South Dakota
- Connecticut vs South Dakota
- Delaware vs South Dakota
- District of Columbia vs South Dakota