Which has more people, California or Washington?

California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Washington has 8,074,082 (13th of 51).

How do California and Washington compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Washington $98,141 (8th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.

How do California and Washington compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?

Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Washington 4.7% (tied 43rd of 51) among US states. Washington ranks better.

Where does California beat Washington most clearly?

California ranks far ahead on Average Annual Sunlight 1971-2000 (Best Weather by State): 5,050 kJ/m² vs 3,467 kJ/m²; Annual Cost Increase (Grocery Prices by State): 3.4% vs 8.8%; Climate Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 4th vs 44th.

Where does Washington beat California most clearly?

Washington ranks far ahead on Avg. Internet Speed (Average Internet Speed by State): 451 vs 93; Mental Health Substance Abuse - Hourly (Social Worker Salary by State): $20.73 vs $39.10; Mental Health Substance Abuse - Yearly (Social Worker Salary by State): $43,130 vs $81,330.

California vs Washington

Washington comes out ahead of California on 437 of 802 statistics where one end is better, to 347 with 18 ties. California leads on Travel, Health and Sports and 1 more category. Washington leads on Environment, Infrastructure & Energy and Education and 7 more categories.

802 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 18 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

California

Wins: 347
Avg. percentile: 54
Categories led: 4

Washington

Wins: 437
Avg. percentile: 57
Categories led: 10

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	California	Washington
Population	39,345,844 1st of 51	8,074,082 13th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$99,122 6th of 51	$98,141 8th of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	5.5% 50th of 51	4.7% tied 43rd of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	12.0% 29th of 51	9.9% 8th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	110.7 51st of 51	107.0 46th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$63,028 13th of 51	$64,421 10th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$80,690 5th of 51	$83,330 3rd of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$2,036 51st of 51	$1,760 46th of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	432.7 44th of 51	283.9 25th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	2,814 9th of 48	5,610 25th of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

EnvironmentWashington · 40 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergyWashington · 36 statistics
EducationWashington · 51 statistics
AgricultureWashington · 17 statistics
Tech & BusinessWashington · 48 statistics
Facts & TriviaWashington · 18 statistics
EconomicsWashington · 291 statistics
TravelCalifornia · 29 statistics
PopulationWashington · 124 statistics
HealthCalifornia · 189 statistics
SportsCalifornia · 16 statistics
Politics & GovernmentWashington · 124 statistics
LawCalifornia · 68 statistics
GeographyWashington · 25 statistics
CultureEven · 78 statistics
Crime & SafetyEven · 76 statistics

Biggest differences

The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.

Statistic	California	Washington
Avg. Internet SpeedAverage Internet Speed by State	93 51st of 51	451 5th of 51
Average Annual Sunlight 1971-2000Best Weather by State	5,050 kJ/m² 5th of 48	3,467 kJ/m² 48th of 48
Annual Cost IncreaseGrocery Prices by State	3.4% 2nd of 50	8.8% tied 46th of 50
Mental Health Substance Abuse - HourlySocial Worker Salary by State	$39.10 49th of 50	$20.73 5th of 50
Mental Health Substance Abuse - YearlySocial Worker Salary by State	$81,330 49th of 50	$43,130 5th of 50
InmatesFederal Prisons by State	11,235 35th of 36	644 4th of 36
Anxiety RateMental Health Statistics by State	7,857 per 100k 50th of 51	7,313 per 100k 7th of 51
Avg Retail PriceElectricity Cost by State	19.65 49th of 51	8.75 7th of 51
Individual Income Tax RankBest State To Incorporate In	49th 50th of 51	8th 8th of 51
Climate RankFarming-Friendly States	4th 4th of 50	44th 44th of 50
Wage Increase 2022-23Minimum Wage Increases by State	0.5 tied 25th of 28	1.25 tied 3rd of 28
Attractive People RankMost Attractive States	2nd 2nd of 49	42nd 41st of 49
Air Quality IndexAir Quality by State	48.8 45th of 51	31.6 6th of 51
Experienced Any Domestic Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State	30.0% 6th of 51	42.2% 45th of 51
Most Hated RankMost Hated States in the US	5th 5th worst of 50	43rd 8th best of 50
Home Health Care Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State	$480 47th of 51	$220 9th of 51
AnnualRadiation Therapist Salary by State	$82,911 41st of 50	$112,860 4th of 50
HourlyRadiation Therapist Salary by State	$39.86 41st of 50	$54.26 4th of 50
MonthlyRadiation Therapist Salary by State	$6,909 41st of 50	$9,405 4th of 50
WeeklyRadiation Therapist Salary by State	$1,594 41st of 50	$2,170 4th of 50
Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States	15.2% 2nd of 50	23.4% tied 38th of 50
Local Street Accidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State	3.5% 1st of 44	39.1% 33rd of 44
Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State	15.2% 2nd of 49	23.4% tied 37th of 49
% Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023Prison Population by State	-1,646.0% 1st of 50	669.0% 37th of 50
Air Quality Rank (US News)Air Quality by State	49th 49th of 50	13th 13th of 50
Days with Unhealthy Air Quality (US News)Air Quality by State	234 49th of 50	104 13th of 50
Academic & Work Environment RankBest States for Teachers	45th 45th of 51	9th 9th of 51
WeatherPension-Friendly States	83 tied 4th of 49	32 39th of 49
FatalitiesFloods by State	339 45th of 47	31 12th of 47
Aluminum Can PriceAluminum Can Prices by State	$1.67 per lb 43rd of 43	$0.40 per lb tied 12th of 43

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, California or Washington?: Washington comes out ahead of California on 437 of 802 statistics where one end is better, to 347 with 18 ties. California leads on Travel, Health and Sports and 1 more category. Washington leads on Environment, Infrastructure & Energy and Education 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 Washington?: California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Washington has 8,074,082 (13th of 51).
How do California and Washington compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Washington $98,141 (8th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
How do California and Washington compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Washington 4.7% (tied 43rd of 51) among US states. Washington ranks better.
Where does California beat Washington most clearly?: California ranks far ahead on Average Annual Sunlight 1971-2000 (Best Weather by State): 5,050 kJ/m² vs 3,467 kJ/m²; Annual Cost Increase (Grocery Prices by State): 3.4% vs 8.8%; Climate Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 4th vs 44th.
Where does Washington beat California most clearly?: Washington ranks far ahead on Avg. Internet Speed (Average Internet Speed by State): 451 vs 93; Mental Health Substance Abuse - Hourly (Social Worker Salary by State): $20.73 vs $39.10; Mental Health Substance Abuse - Yearly (Social Worker Salary by State): $43,130 vs $81,330.

More matchups

Other comparisons with California or Washington.

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