California vs Wyoming
California comes out ahead of Wyoming on 417 of 790 statistics where one end is better, to 361 with 12 ties. California leads on Health, Tech & Business and Crime & Safety and 2 more categories. Wyoming leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Facts & Trivia and Agriculture and 7 more categories.
790 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.
- Wins
- 417
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 5
- Wins
- 361
- Avg. percentile
- 51
- Categories led
- 10
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | California | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,345,844 1st of 51 | 590,784 51st of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $99,122 6th of 51 | $76,176 30th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.5% 50th of 51 | 3.4% tied 10th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 12.0% 29th of 51 | 10.5% 15th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 110.7 51st of 51 | 92.7 16th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,028 13th of 51 | $75,501 2nd of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $80,690 5th of 51 | $61,560 36th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $2,036 51st of 51 | $992 8th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 432.7 44th of 51 | 179.9 5th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,814 9th of 48 | 8,224 45th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Infrastructure & EnergyWyoming · 36 statistics
- HealthCalifornia · 184 statistics
- Tech & BusinessCalifornia · 48 statistics
- Facts & TriviaWyoming · 18 statistics
- Crime & SafetyCalifornia · 70 statistics
- AgricultureWyoming · 17 statistics
- LawCalifornia · 70 statistics
- EnvironmentWyoming · 39 statistics
- EducationWyoming · 51 statistics
- TravelWyoming · 27 statistics
- SportsWyoming · 16 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentCalifornia · 121 statistics
- EconomicsWyoming · 287 statistics
- PopulationWyoming · 122 statistics
- CultureWyoming · 77 statistics
- GeographyEven · 25 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | California | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Gun Law Rank (Giffords)Gun Laws by State | 1st 1st of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Gun Laws Strength RankStrictest Gun Laws by State | 1st 1st of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Costs RankFarming-Friendly States | 50th 50th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Mitigation Efforts RankFood Waste by State | 50th best of 50 | 2nd 2nd worst of 50 |
| Related Groups per Capita RankBest States to Homeschool | 50th 50th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Access ScoreArthritis Friendly States | 39 2nd of 51 | 6 tied last of 51 |
| Favorable Gun Laws RankBest States for Gun Owners | 50th 50th of 50 | 2nd tied 2nd of 50 |
| State Integrity Investigation (SII) Total ScoreMost Corrupt States | 73 2nd of 50 | 51 tied last of 50 |
| Chronically HomelessHomeless Population by State | 66,548 51st of 51 | 94 3rd of 51 |
| Political DiversityLeast Diverse States in the US | 1st 1st of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| Individual Income Tax RankBest State To Incorporate In | 49th 50th of 51 | 1st tied 1st of 51 |
| Overall RankBest State To Incorporate In | 48th tied 48th of 51 | 1st 1st of 51 |
| Local Taxes RankBest States to Retire | 48th 48th of 50 | 1st tied 1st of 50 |
| Minimum WageOvertime Laws by State | 15.5 3rd of 46 | 5.15 tied last of 46 |
| Avg Retail PriceElectricity Cost by State | 19.65 49th of 51 | 8.25 2nd of 51 |
| SWAMP Index ScoreMost Corrupt States | 75.24 4th of 51 | 19.57 51st of 51 |
| Total RankBicycle Laws by State | 4th 4th of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Educational Attainment DiversityMost Diverse US States | 2nd 3rd of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| SSI Lobbying Disclosure ScoreMost Corrupt States | 87.9 2nd of 50 | 40 48th of 50 |
| Median Annual WageClinical Psychologist Salary by State | $120,520 3rd of 49 | $60,840 48th of 49 |
| Clothing Sales Tax RateSales Tax on Clothing by State | 7.25% 39th of 39 | 4% tied 2nd of 39 |
| Sales TaxTaxes by State | 7.25% 46th of 46 | 4% tied 2nd of 46 |
| State Sales Tax RateInternet Sales Tax by State | 7.25% 46th of 46 | 4% tied 2nd of 46 |
| State Sales TaxCar Registration Fees by State | 7.25% 45th of 45 | 4% tied 2nd of 45 |
| % of Pop. with Less Than High School DiplomaMost Educated U.S. States | 15.1% 51st of 51 | 5.5% tied 4th of 51 |
| Average Wind SpeedWindiest States in the U.S. | 13.54 mph 50th of 51 | 20.88 mph 4th of 51 |
| Taxes Paid To Own State Per CapitaTax Burden by State | $8,711 48th of 51 | $2,647 2nd of 51 |
| Local Effective Tax RateHighest Taxed States | 11.0% 47th of 50 | 5.79% 2nd of 50 |
| Regulatory Policy RankMost Free States | 50th 50th of 50 | 5th 5th of 50 |
| Attractive People RankMost Attractive States | 2nd 2nd of 49 | 47th 46th of 49 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, California or Wyoming?
- California comes out ahead of Wyoming on 417 of 790 statistics where one end is better, to 361 with 12 ties. California leads on Health, Tech & Business and Crime & Safety and 2 more categories. Wyoming leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Facts & Trivia and Agriculture 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 Wyoming?
- California has a population of 39,345,844 (1st of 51 US states) and Wyoming has 590,784 (51st of 51).
- How do California and Wyoming compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: California $99,122 (6th of 51), Wyoming $76,176 (30th of 51) among US states. California ranks better.
- How do California and Wyoming compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): California 5.5% (50th of 51), Wyoming 3.4% (tied 10th of 51) among US states. Wyoming ranks better.
- Where does California beat Wyoming most clearly?
- California ranks far ahead on Gun Law Rank (Giffords) (Gun Laws by State): 1st vs 50th; Gun Laws Strength Rank (Strictest Gun Laws by State): 1st vs 50th; Mitigation Efforts Rank (Food Waste by State): 50th vs 2nd.
- Where does Wyoming beat California most clearly?
- Wyoming ranks far ahead on Costs Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 2nd vs 50th; Related Groups per Capita Rank (Best States to Homeschool): 2nd vs 50th; Favorable Gun Laws Rank (Best States for Gun Owners): 2nd vs 50th.
More matchups
Other comparisons with California or Wyoming.
- 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 Wyoming
- Alaska vs Wyoming
- Arizona vs Wyoming
- Arkansas vs Wyoming
- Colorado vs Wyoming
- Connecticut vs Wyoming
- Delaware vs Wyoming
- District of Columbia vs Wyoming