Iowa vs West Virginia
Iowa comes out ahead of West Virginia on 518 of 799 statistics where one end is better, to 263 with 18 ties. Iowa leads on Health, Facts & Trivia and Education and 12 more categories. West Virginia leads on Travel.
799 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.
- Wins
- 518
- Avg. percentile
- 54
- Categories led
- 15
- Wins
- 263
- Avg. percentile
- 39
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Iowa | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,246,320 32nd of 51 | 1,764,892 39th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $75,059 32nd of 51 | $59,608 50th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 3.5% tied 15th of 51 | 4.2% tied 30th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 11.1% 21st of 51 | 16.7% 48th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 87.8 3rd of 51 | 89.5 9th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $60,144 19th of 51 | $50,051 50th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $59,830 42nd of 51 | $56,470 49th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $972 7th of 51 | $872 1st of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 233.9 16th of 51 | 241.7 20th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 6,821 36th of 48 | 5,067 22nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthIowa · 189 statistics
- Facts & TriviaIowa · 18 statistics
- EducationIowa · 50 statistics
- AgricultureIowa · 17 statistics
- Crime & SafetyIowa · 70 statistics
- PopulationIowa · 124 statistics
- TravelWest Virginia · 29 statistics
- EnvironmentIowa · 38 statistics
- CultureIowa · 79 statistics
- EconomicsIowa · 298 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyIowa · 36 statistics
- Tech & BusinessIowa · 48 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentIowa · 127 statistics
- LawIowa · 67 statistics
- GeographyIowa · 25 statistics
- SportsIowa · 17 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Iowa | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Amphetamine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 231.94 1st of 51 | 628.47 51st of 51 |
| Drug Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States | 14.4 3rd of 51 | 77.8 51st of 51 |
| Opioid Death RateOpioid Epidemic by State | 13.7 per 1k pop. 3rd of 51 | 48.9 per 1k pop. 51st of 51 |
| Depression RateMental Health Statistics by State | 3,911 per 100k 4th of 51 | 6,299 per 100k 51st of 51 |
| Depression Rate Ages 0-14Mental Health Statistics by State | 1,147 per 100k 4th of 51 | 1,980 per 100k 51st of 51 |
| Participation RateLabor Force Participation Rate by State | 67.3% 4th of 51 | 54.3% 51st of 51 |
| Local Street Accidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State | 58.8% 42nd of 44 | 5.26% 2nd of 44 |
| Opioid Use Rate (Per 100k)Opioid Epidemic by State | 1,352.08 5th of 51 | 4,203.17 51st of 51 |
| Total Drug Use RateDrug Use by State | 2,705 per 100k 5th of 51 | 6,297 per 100k 51st of 51 |
| Excessive DrinkersHealthiest States | 21.4% 48th of 50 | 14.0% 3rd of 50 |
| Combined 7 SeriesVaccination Rates by State | 77.5% 4th of 51 | 64.8% 49th of 51 |
| Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 44.03 4th of 51 | 78.32 49th of 51 |
| Costs RankFarming-Friendly States | 45th 45th of 50 | 1st 1st of 50 |
| Forest Coverage (1-10)Best States for Camping | 0.76 46th of 49 | 8.81 3rd of 49 |
| CAS Legal Judicial Corruption Level (1-5)Most Corrupt States | 1 tied 1st of 48 | 4 tied last of 48 |
| Lowest- Cost Bronze Premium (Avg)Obamacare Prices by State | $359 5th of 51 | $775 49th of 51 |
| Forest CoverageOff-Grid Living Legal States | 8.43% 46th of 50 | 79.0% 3rd of 50 |
| Household Income DiversityMost Diverse US States | 6th 6th of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Money-RelatedMost Stressed States | 49th 2nd best of 50 | 6th 6th worst of 50 |
| Lowest- Cost Gold Premium (Avg)Obamacare Prices by State | $466 tied 4th of 51 | $961 48th of 51 |
| Cocaine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 405.46 6th of 51 | 810.73 49th of 51 |
| Education Racial Integration RankLeast Racist States | 46th 46th of 51 | 3rd 3rd of 51 |
| Excessive Drinking RateAlcohol Consumption by State | 21.0% 44th of 50 | 11.4% 2nd of 50 |
| Healthcare Cost and QualityPension-Friendly States | 82 2nd of 50 | 24 44th of 50 |
| Work Environment RankSaddest States | 6th 6th of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| Experienced Any Domestic Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State | 28.3% 5th of 51 | 44.1% 47th of 51 |
| Avg Monthly CostInternet Costs by State | $93.15 50th of 51 | $72.78 tied 8th of 51 |
| Heroin Use Past MonthDrug Use by State | 0.25% tied 6th of 51 | 0.62% 49th of 51 |
| Average Total SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State | 1,211 9th of 51 | 911 50th of 51 |
| Difference from National Average SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State | 182 9th of 51 | -118 50th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Iowa or West Virginia?
- Iowa comes out ahead of West Virginia on 518 of 799 statistics where one end is better, to 263 with 18 ties. Iowa leads on Health, Facts & Trivia and Education and 12 more categories. West Virginia leads on Travel. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Iowa or West Virginia?
- Iowa has a population of 3,246,320 (32nd of 51 US states) and West Virginia has 1,764,892 (39th of 51).
- How do Iowa and West Virginia compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Iowa $75,059 (32nd of 51), West Virginia $59,608 (50th of 51) among US states. Iowa ranks better.
- How do Iowa and West Virginia compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Iowa 3.5% (tied 15th of 51), West Virginia 4.2% (tied 30th of 51) among US states. Iowa ranks better.
- Where does Iowa beat West Virginia most clearly?
- Iowa ranks far ahead on Amphetamine Use Rate (Per 100k) (Drug Use by State): 231.94 vs 628.47; Drug Deaths Per 100k (Healthiest States): 14.4 vs 77.8; Opioid Death Rate (Opioid Epidemic by State): 13.7 per 1k pop. vs 48.9 per 1k pop..
- Where does West Virginia beat Iowa most clearly?
- West Virginia ranks far ahead on Local Street Accidents 2018-2022 (Jaywalking Laws By State): 5.26% vs 58.8%; Excessive Drinkers (Healthiest States): 14.0% vs 21.4%; Costs Rank (Farming-Friendly States): 1st vs 45th.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Iowa or West Virginia.
- Alabama vs Iowa
- Alaska vs Iowa
- Arizona vs Iowa
- Arkansas vs Iowa
- California vs Iowa
- Colorado vs Iowa
- Connecticut vs Iowa
- Delaware vs Iowa
- 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