Which has more people, California or Wisconsin?

California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Wisconsin has 5,988,406 (21st of 51).

How do California and Wisconsin compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Wisconsin $77,485 (26th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.

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

Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Wisconsin 3.2% (tied 7th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.

Where does California beat Wisconsin most clearly?

California ranks far ahead on Homeless Youth Support Rank (Best States to Be Homeless): 1st vs 49th; Obesity Rate - White (Most Obese States): 25.9% vs 37.9%; Obesity Rate 60+ (Most Obese States): 25.9% vs 37.9%.

Where does Wisconsin beat California most clearly?

Wisconsin ranks far ahead on Weekly Grocery Cost (Grocery Prices by State): $221.46 vs $297.72; % of Homeless Who Are Unsheltered (Homeless Population by State): 10.1% vs 66.3%; % Sheltered (Homeless Population by State): 89.9% vs 33.7%.

California vs Wisconsin

California comes out ahead of Wisconsin on 412 of 801 statistics where one end is better, to 377 with 12 ties. California leads on Health, Travel and Population and 3 more categories. Wisconsin leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Sports and Facts & Trivia and 3 more categories.

801 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.

California

Wins: 412
Avg. percentile: 54
Categories led: 6

Wisconsin

Wins: 377
Avg. percentile: 53
Categories led: 6

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	California	Wisconsin
Population	39,345,844 1st of 51	5,988,406 21st of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$99,122 6th of 51	$77,485 26th of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	5.5% 50th of 51	3.2% tied 7th of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	12.0% 29th of 51	10.6% 16th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	110.7 51st of 51	94.1 20th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$63,028 13th of 51	$58,273 26th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$80,690 5th of 51	$64,270 30th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$2,036 51st of 51	$1,087 19th of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	432.7 44th of 51	240.3 19th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	2,814 9th of 48	7,528 41st of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Infrastructure & EnergyWisconsin · 36 statistics
HealthCalifornia · 188 statistics
SportsWisconsin · 16 statistics
Facts & TriviaWisconsin · 18 statistics
TravelCalifornia · 29 statistics
EnvironmentWisconsin · 38 statistics
EducationWisconsin · 51 statistics
GeographyWisconsin · 25 statistics
PopulationCalifornia · 124 statistics
CultureCalifornia · 78 statistics
Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 125 statistics
Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 76 statistics
LawEven · 70 statistics
EconomicsEven · 293 statistics
Tech & BusinessEven · 48 statistics
AgricultureEven · 17 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	California	Wisconsin
Homeless Youth Support RankBest States to Be Homeless	1st 1st of 50	49th 49th of 50
Weekly Grocery CostGrocery Prices by State	$297.72 49th of 51	$221.46 1st of 51
Obesity Rate - WhiteMost Obese States	25.9% 3rd of 50	37.9% 50th of 50
Obesity Rate 60+Most Obese States	25.9% 3rd of 50	37.9% 50th of 50
% Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023Prison Population by State	-1,646.0% 1st of 50	1,545.0% 47th of 50
% of Homeless Who Are UnshelteredHomeless Population by State	66.3% 51st of 51	10.1% tied 4th of 51
% ShelteredHomeless Population by State	33.7% 51st of 51	89.9% tied 4th of 51
Wasted Instead of ReusedFood Waste by State	49th 2nd best of 50	4th 4th worst of 50
Best States for Living with a Disability - Total ScoreDisability Benefits by State	43.1 47th of 51	57.05 2nd of 51
Avg. Annual Retirement Income (MZ)Average Retirement Income by State	$35,615 4th of 51	$23,844 49th of 51
Avg. Monthly Retirement Income (MZ)Average Retirement Income by State	$2,968 4th of 51	$1,987 49th of 51
Eggflation (Cost Increase Per Dozen)Egg Prices by State	31.0% 4th of 50	118.0% 48th of 50
Avg. Cost of Car Repair PartsAuto Repair Rates by State	$416 49th of 51	$361 5th of 51
Chronically HomelessHomeless Population by State	66,548 51st of 51	357 7th of 51
Mean Annual WageOT Salary by State	$109,220 1st of 51	$82,080 45th of 51
Mean Hourly WageOT Salary by State	$52.51 1st of 51	$39.46 45th of 51
Weather RankBest States to Retire	1st 1st of 50	44th 44th of 50
Avg. Cost of Car Repair LaborAuto Repair Rates by State	$271 50th of 51	$222 7th of 51
Gini CoefficientWealth Inequality by State	0.49 tied 47th of 51	0.44 tied 3rd of 51
Opportunity and Competition RankBest State To Be a Police Officer	5th 5th of 51	48th 48th of 51
Opportunity RankWorst States to Live in	1st worst of 50	42nd 8th best of 50
Attractive People RankMost Attractive States	2nd 2nd of 49	44th 43rd of 49
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	5.5% 50th of 51	3.2% tied 7th of 51
Regulatory Policy RankMost Free States	50th 50th of 50	9th 9th of 50
Deadliest 10 Miles Deaths 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State	118 48th of 50	24 7th of 50
Deadliest 10 Miles Fatal Crashes 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State	108 48th of 50	24 7th of 50
Cost of LivingPension-Friendly States	47 48th of 49	95 tied 6th of 49
% of Pop. with Less Than High School DiplomaMost Educated U.S. States	15.1% 51st of 51	6.3% tied 9th of 51
% of Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States	29.0% 50th of 51	3% tied 5th of 51
Average Teacher Starting SalaryTeacher Pay by State	$58,409 2nd of 51	$42,259 43rd of 51

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 Wisconsin?: California comes out ahead of Wisconsin on 412 of 801 statistics where one end is better, to 377 with 12 ties. California leads on Health, Travel and Population and 3 more categories. Wisconsin leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Sports and Facts & Trivia and 3 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, California or Wisconsin?: California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Wisconsin has 5,988,406 (21st of 51).
How do California and Wisconsin compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Wisconsin $77,485 (26th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
How do California and Wisconsin compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Wisconsin 3.2% (tied 7th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.
Where does California beat Wisconsin most clearly?: California ranks far ahead on Homeless Youth Support Rank (Best States to Be Homeless): 1st vs 49th; Obesity Rate - White (Most Obese States): 25.9% vs 37.9%; Obesity Rate 60+ (Most Obese States): 25.9% vs 37.9%.
Where does Wisconsin beat California most clearly?: Wisconsin ranks far ahead on Weekly Grocery Cost (Grocery Prices by State): $221.46 vs $297.72; % of Homeless Who Are Unsheltered (Homeless Population by State): 10.1% vs 66.3%; % Sheltered (Homeless Population by State): 89.9% vs 33.7%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with California or Wisconsin.

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