California vs Vermont
Vermont comes out ahead of California on 389 of 778 statistics where one end is better, to 379 with 10 ties. California leads on Tech & Business, Agriculture and Health and 2 more categories. Vermont leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Environment and Population and 7 more categories.
778 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 10 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 379
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 5
- Wins
- 389
- Avg. percentile
- 53
- Categories led
- 10
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 642,805 50th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $81,203 20th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 2.7% 4th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 10.1% 12th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 98.0 29th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $58,893 22nd of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $69,050 19th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $1,234 26th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 214.4 10th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 8,059 44th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Infrastructure & EnergyVermont · 36 statistics
- EnvironmentVermont · 38 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 47 statistics
- AgricultureCalifornia · 17 statistics
- PopulationVermont · 123 statistics
- GeographyVermont · 25 statistics
- Facts & TriviaVermont · 17 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 184 statistics
- TravelVermont · 29 statistics
- Crime & SafetyVermont · 65 statistics
- EconomicsCalifornia · 289 statistics
- LawVermont · 65 statistics
- EducationVermont · 51 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 126 statistics
- SportsVermont · 16 statistics
- CultureEven · 77 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Opportunity RankWorst States to Live in | 1st worst of 50 | 50th best of 50 |
| OpportunityBest States to Live In | 50th 49th of 49 | 1st 1st of 49 |
| % of Homeless Who Are UnshelteredHomeless Population by State | 66.3% 51st of 51 | 4.8% 2nd of 51 |
| % ShelteredHomeless Population by State | 33.7% 51st of 51 | 95.2% 2nd of 51 |
| Racial & Ethnic DiversityMost Diverse US States | 2nd 2nd of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| ROI Potential RankFarming-Friendly States | 1st 1st of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Yearly Salary 40 Hour Week MaxLIUNA Pay Scale by State | $94,000 2nd of 50 | $30,031 50th of 50 |
| % of Bird Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 4.8% 49th of 51 | 0.4% 1st of 51 |
| % of Pop. with Less Than High School DiplomaMost Educated U.S. States | 15.1% 51st of 51 | 5.3% 3rd of 51 |
| Maximum Annual SalaryIBEW Pay Scale by State | $182,500 1st of 51 | $63,800 49th of 51 |
| Cultural DiversityLeast Diverse States in the US | 1st 1st of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| Cultural Diversity RankMost Diverse US States | 1st 1st of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| Higher Education QualityPublic School Rankings by State | 2nd 2nd of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 316.7 48th of 51 | 47.8 1st of 51 |
| Road Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US | 47th 47th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Deadliest 10 Miles Deaths 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State | 118 48th of 50 | 13 2nd of 50 |
| Deadliest 10 Miles Fatal Crashes 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State | 108 48th of 50 | 12 2nd of 50 |
| Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States | 15.2% 2nd of 50 | 25.4% 48th of 50 |
| Age-Adjusted Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 15.3% 2nd of 49 | 26.6% 47th of 49 |
| Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 15.2% 2nd of 49 | 25.4% 47th of 49 |
| SSI Ethics Enforcement Agencies ScoreMost Corrupt States | 73 tied 4th of 50 | 24 50th of 50 |
| Mean Annual WageOT Salary by State | $109,220 1st of 51 | $81,710 47th of 51 |
| Mean Hourly WageOT Salary by State | $52.51 1st of 51 | $39.28 47th of 51 |
| Median Annual WageOT Salary by State | $104,380 1st of 51 | $79,920 47th of 51 |
| Median Hourly WageOT Salary by State | $50.19 1st of 51 | $38.42 47th of 51 |
| Anxiety RateMental Health Statistics by State | 7,857 per 100k 50th of 51 | 7,282 per 100k 4th of 51 |
| Theft RateStolen Cars by State | 511 per 100k 49th of 51 | 96 per 100k 3rd of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 2.7% 4th of 51 |
| Family FunBest States to Raise a Family | 1st 1st of 50 | 46th 46th of 50 |
| Food Wasted RankFood Waste by State | 1st worst of 50 | 46th 5th best of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Vermont?
- Vermont comes out ahead of California on 389 of 778 statistics where one end is better, to 379 with 10 ties. California leads on Tech & Business, Agriculture and Health and 2 more categories. Vermont leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Environment and Population and 7 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, California or Vermont?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Vermont has 642,805 (50th of 51).
- How do California and Vermont compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Vermont $81,203 (20th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Vermont compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Vermont 2.7% (4th of 51) among US states. Vermont ranks better.
- Where does California beat Vermont most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Racial & Ethnic Diversity (Most Diverse US States): 2nd vs 50th; ROI Potential Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 1st vs 49th; Yearly Salary 40 Hour Week Max (LIUNA Pay Scale by State): $94,000 vs $30,031.
- Where does Vermont beat California most clearly?
- Vermont ranks far ahead on Opportunity Rank (Worst States to Live in): 50th vs 1st; Opportunity (Best States to Live In): 1st vs 50th; % of Homeless Who Are Unsheltered (Homeless Population by State): 4.8% vs 66.3%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Vermont.
- 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 Vermont
- Alaska vs Vermont
- Arizona vs Vermont
- Arkansas vs Vermont
- Colorado vs Vermont
- Connecticut vs Vermont
- Delaware vs Vermont
- District of Columbia vs Vermont