California vs Tennessee
California comes out ahead of Tennessee on 446 of 786 statistics where one end is better, to 326 with 14 ties. California leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Culture and 10 more categories. Tennessee leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Travel and Agriculture.
786 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
- 446
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 13
- Wins
- 326
- Avg. percentile
- 45
- Categories led
- 3
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 7,378,861 15th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $69,595 42nd of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 3.5% tied 15th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 13.8% 39th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 91.9 14th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $58,582 25th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $60,800 40th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,189 23rd of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 492.3 46th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 3,753 14th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthCalifornia · 174 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyTennessee · 36 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 76 statistics
- CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
- EducationCalifornia · 51 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 70 statistics
- TravelTennessee · 29 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 47 statistics
- SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
- Facts & TriviaCalifornia · 18 statistics
- PopulationCalifornia · 115 statistics
- GeographyCalifornia · 25 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 288 statistics
- AgricultureTennessee · 15 statistics
- EnvironmentCalifornia · 40 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 120 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| LPN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $161,540 1st of 51 | $103,720 51st of 51 |
| LPN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $77.66 1st of 51 | $49.86 51st of 51 |
| Maternal Mortality Rate (2018-2022)Maternal Mortality Rate by State | 10.5 per 100k Births 1st of 39 | 41.1 per 100k Births 39th of 39 |
| Maternal Mortality Total Deaths (2019-2023)Maternal Mortality Rate by State | 10.1 1st of 39 | 42.1 39th of 39 |
| COLI Transportation Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 136.7 51st of 51 | 89.1 2nd of 51 |
| LPN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State | $164,050 1st of 51 | $105,420 50th of 51 |
| LPN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State | $78.87 1st of 51 | $50.68 50th of 51 |
| Transportation Costs IndexCost of Living Index by State | 135.9 50th of 51 | 88.9 2nd of 51 |
| MidwifeNursing Pay by State | $154,500 1st of 37 | $90,070 35th of 37 |
| Livable Annual Wage w/ 3 ChildrenLiving Wage by State | $188,579 49th of 51 | $106,717 2nd of 51 |
| Livable Hourly Wage w/ 3 ChildrenLiving Wage by State | $90.66 49th of 51 | $51.31 2nd of 51 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 158.9 50th of 51 | 72.1 3rd of 51 |
| # Dentists per 1k jobsDentist Salary by State | 1.04 4th of 50 | 0.42 50th of 50 |
| % Change in Prison Pop. 2021-2022Prison Population by State | -3,833.0% 1st of 50 | 1,740.0% 47th of 50 |
| Lifestyle Habits & Health Outlook ScoreMost Unhealthy States in the U.S. | 2.13 1st of 49 | 92.55 46th of 49 |
| Annual Median WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $142,520 1st of 51 | $104,400 47th of 51 |
| Hourly Median WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $68.52 1st of 51 | $50.19 47th of 51 |
| Female Life Expectancy (HALE)Life Expectancy by State | 67.65 yrs 2nd of 51 | 62.56 yrs 48th of 51 |
| Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States | 15.2% 2nd of 50 | 25.2% 47th of 50 |
| Renewable Energy IncentivesOff-Grid Living Legal States | 158 1st of 50 | 17 46th of 50 |
| Age-Adjusted Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 15.3% 2nd of 49 | 26.0% 46th of 49 |
| Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 15.2% 2nd of 49 | 25.2% 46th of 49 |
| Annual Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $144,520 2nd of 51 | $106,110 47th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WagePhysician Assistant Salary by State | $69.48 2nd of 51 | $51.01 47th of 51 |
| Regular Gas, Avg Price per GallonGas Price by State | $5.87 51st of 51 | $3.73 6th of 51 |
| Taxes Paid To Own State Per CapitaTax Burden by State | $8,711 48th of 51 | $3,082 3rd of 51 |
| Fiscal Freedom RankMost Libertarian States | 48th 48th of 50 | 4th 4th of 50 |
| Freedom RankMost Free States | 48th 48th of 50 | 4th 4th of 50 |
| State Freedom ScoreState Powers | -0.474 48th of 50 | 0.441 4th of 50 |
| Adults Diagnosed With DepressionDepression Rates by State | 17.0% 5th of 48 | 27.3% 47th of 48 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Tennessee?
- California comes out ahead of Tennessee on 446 of 786 statistics where one end is better, to 326 with 14 ties. California leads on Health, Crime & Safety and Culture and 10 more categories. Tennessee leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Travel and Agriculture. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Tennessee?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Tennessee has 7,378,861 (15th of 51).
- How do California and Tennessee compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Tennessee $69,595 (42nd of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Tennessee compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Tennessee 3.5% (tied 15th of 51) among US states. Tennessee ranks better.
- Where does California beat Tennessee most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on LPN Annual Mean (Nurses Pay by State): $161,540 vs $103,720; LPN Hourly Mean (Nurses Pay by State): $77.66 vs $49.86; Maternal Mortality Rate (2018-2022) (Maternal Mortality Rate by State): 10.5 per 100k Births vs 41.1 per 100k Births.
- Where does Tennessee beat California most clearly?
- Tennessee ranks far ahead on COLI Transportation Costs Index (Least Expensive States): 89.1 vs 136.7; Transportation Costs Index (Cost of Living Index by State): 88.9 vs 135.9; Livable Annual Wage w/ 3 Children (Living Wage by State): $106,717 vs $188,579.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Tennessee.
- 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 Tennessee
- Alaska vs Tennessee
- Arizona vs Tennessee
- Arkansas vs Tennessee
- Colorado vs Tennessee
- Connecticut vs Tennessee
- Delaware vs Tennessee
- District of Columbia vs Tennessee