Illinois vs West Virginia
Illinois comes out ahead of West Virginia on 471 of 796 statistics where one end is better, to 313 with 12 ties. Illinois leads on Facts & Trivia, Education and Health and 10 more categories. West Virginia leads on Politics & Government, Travel and Infrastructure & Energy.
796 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
- 471
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 13
- Wins
- 313
- Avg. percentile
- 39
- Categories led
- 3
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Illinois | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,735,249 6th of 51 | 1,764,892 39th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $83,390 18th of 51 | $59,608 50th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.6% tied 40th of 51 | 4.2% tied 30th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 11.8% 26th of 51 | 16.7% 48th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 100.0 33rd of 51 | 89.5 9th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $60,333 17th of 51 | $50,051 50th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $71,130 16th of 51 | $56,470 49th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,274 28th of 51 | $872 1st of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 251.0 21st of 51 | 241.7 20th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 6,104 32nd of 48 | 5,067 22nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Facts & TriviaIllinois · 18 statistics
- EducationIllinois · 51 statistics
- HealthIllinois · 187 statistics
- SportsIllinois · 17 statistics
- PopulationIllinois · 123 statistics
- Tech & BusinessIllinois · 48 statistics
- CultureIllinois · 79 statistics
- EnvironmentIllinois · 39 statistics
- EconomicsIllinois · 294 statistics
- LawIllinois · 68 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentWest Virginia · 128 statistics
- Crime & SafetyIllinois · 71 statistics
- GeographyIllinois · 25 statistics
- TravelWest Virginia · 29 statistics
- AgricultureIllinois · 15 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyWest Virginia · 36 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Illinois | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Costs RankFarming-Friendly States | 48th 48th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Emotional Physical Well Being RankSaddest States | 3rd 3rd of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Attractive People RankMost Attractive States | 1st 1st of 49 | 48th 47th of 49 |
| Family FunBest States to Raise a Family | 4th 4th of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| 5G Max Download SpeedStates that have Banned 5G | 216.9 4th of 50 | 89.7 49th of 50 |
| Age-Adjusted Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 17.3% tied 5th of 49 | 29.0% 49th of 49 |
| Overall Score (Higher is Better)Best State To Be a Police Officer | 60.38 2nd of 51 | 33.26 47th of 51 |
| Binged Alcohol Past MonthDrug Use by State | 27.6% 49th of 51 | 20.7% 4th of 51 |
| Excessive Drinking RateAlcohol Consumption by State | 21.2% 46th of 50 | 11.4% 2nd of 50 |
| Median Property TaxesProperty Taxes by State | $5,298 46th of 50 | $865 2nd of 50 |
| Avg Income of 99.9th–99.99th Percentile FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $564,312 7th of 51 | $295,291 51st of 51 |
| Avg Income of 99th–99.5th Percentile FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $564,312 7th of 51 | $295,291 51st of 51 |
| Avg. Annual Property TaxStates with No Property Tax | $5,189 46th of 51 | $835 2nd of 51 |
| Entertainment Rank (WH)Most Boring States | 7th 7th of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Police Officer Avg Annual SalaryPolice Officer Salary by State | $101,530 3rd of 50 | $54,570 46th of 50 |
| Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States | 17.0% tied 6th of 50 | 27.5% 50th of 50 |
| Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 17.0% tied 6th of 49 | 27.5% 49th of 49 |
| Forest Coverage (1-10)Best States for Camping | 1.36 45th of 49 | 8.81 3rd of 49 |
| Average EarningsLawyer-Friendly States | $152,980 5th of 48 | $98,360 46th of 48 |
| Property Tax BurdenTax Burden by State | 1.97% 50th of 51 | 0.53% tied 6th of 51 |
| Five Percent Income Tax RateTop 1 Percent Threshold by State | 23.7% 44th of 51 | 20.0% 1st of 51 |
| Foreclosure RateForeclosure Rates by State | 762 1st of 51 | 4,054 44th of 51 |
| Socioeconomic DiversityLeast Diverse States in the US | 8th 8th of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Total Happiness ScoreSaddest States | 58.59 8th of 50 | 33.83 50th of 50 |
| Forest CoverageOff-Grid Living Legal States | 13.6% 45th of 50 | 79.0% 3rd of 50 |
| Least Juvenile Incarceration RankWorst Prisons by State | 7th tied 7th of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Amphetamine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 273.68 9th of 51 | 628.47 51st of 51 |
| Average Annual Property TaxTaxes by State | $4,942 50th of 51 | $1,269 8th of 51 |
| Avg Income of 99.5th–99.9th Percentile FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $1.1M 9th of 51 | $508,234 51st of 51 |
| Real Estate TaxesTaxes by State | 2.27% 50th of 51 | 0.58% 8th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Illinois or West Virginia?
- Illinois comes out ahead of West Virginia on 471 of 796 statistics where one end is better, to 313 with 12 ties. Illinois leads on Facts & Trivia, Education and Health and 10 more categories. West Virginia leads on Politics & Government, Travel and Infrastructure & Energy. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Illinois or West Virginia?
- Illinois has a population of 12,735,249 (6th of 51 US states) and West Virginia has 1,764,892 (39th of 51).
- How do Illinois and West Virginia compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Illinois $83,390 (18th of 51), West Virginia $59,608 (50th of 51) among US states. Illinois ranks better.
- How do Illinois and West Virginia compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Illinois 4.6% (tied 40th of 51), West Virginia 4.2% (tied 30th of 51) among US states. West Virginia ranks better.
- Where does Illinois beat West Virginia most clearly?
- Illinois ranks far ahead on Emotional Physical Well Being Rank (Saddest States): 3rd vs 50th; Attractive People Rank (Most Attractive States): 1st vs 48th; Family Fun (Best States to Raise a Family): 4th vs 50th.
- Where does West Virginia beat Illinois most clearly?
- West Virginia ranks far ahead on Costs Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 1st vs 48th; Binged Alcohol Past Month (Drug Use by State): 20.7% vs 27.6%; Excessive Drinking Rate (Alcohol Consumption by State): 11.4% vs 21.2%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Illinois or West Virginia.
- Alabama vs Illinois
- Alaska vs Illinois
- Arizona vs Illinois
- Arkansas vs Illinois
- California vs Illinois
- Colorado vs Illinois
- Connecticut vs Illinois
- Delaware vs Illinois
- Alabama vs West Virginia
- Alaska vs West Virginia
- Arizona vs West Virginia
- Arkansas vs West Virginia
- California vs West Virginia
- Colorado vs West Virginia
- Connecticut vs West Virginia
- Delaware vs West Virginia