Kentucky vs New Jersey
New Jersey comes out ahead of Kentucky on 473 of 801 statistics where one end is better, to 312 with 16 ties. Kentucky leads on Agriculture, Infrastructure & Energy and Travel and 3 more categories. New Jersey leads on Health, Education and Facts & Trivia and 7 more categories.
801 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 16 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 312
- Avg. percentile
- 43
- Categories led
- 6
- Wins
- 473
- Avg. percentile
- 56
- Categories led
- 10
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Kentucky | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,629,682 25th of 51 | 9,590,076 11th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $63,726 47th of 51 | $103,556 4th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.6% tied 40th of 51 | 5.2% tied 46th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 16.1% 47th of 51 | 9.72% 6th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 90.2 12th of 51 | 108.8 48th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $52,290 46th of 51 | $63,142 12th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $58,990 44th of 51 | $78,040 6th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $967 6th of 51 | $1,720 45th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 212.1 9th of 51 | 193.8 6th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 4,396 16th of 48 | 5,168 23rd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- AgricultureKentucky · 17 statistics
- HealthNew Jersey · 184 statistics
- EducationNew Jersey · 51 statistics
- Facts & TriviaNew Jersey · 18 statistics
- PopulationNew Jersey · 122 statistics
- CultureNew Jersey · 79 statistics
- Crime & SafetyNew Jersey · 76 statistics
- Tech & BusinessNew Jersey · 48 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyKentucky · 35 statistics
- EnvironmentNew Jersey · 39 statistics
- GeographyNew Jersey · 25 statistics
- EconomicsNew Jersey · 293 statistics
- TravelKentucky · 29 statistics
- LawKentucky · 69 statistics
- SportsKentucky · 17 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentKentucky · 125 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Kentucky | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Depression RatesHealthiest States | 28.3 49th of 50 | 13.3 1st of 50 |
| Life Expectancy, Both Sexes (HALE)Life Expectancy by State | 60.97 yrs 50th of 51 | 66.52 yrs 2nd of 51 |
| Emotional Physical Well Being RankSaddest States | 49th 49th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| % of Pop. with Bachelors DegreeMost Educated U.S. States | 16.2% 50th of 51 | 26.4% 3rd of 51 |
| Cancer Rate: MortalityCancer Rates by State | 175.2 per 100k Pop. 51st of 51 | 121.5 per 100k Pop. 4th of 51 |
| Life Expectancy, Both SexesLife Expectancy by State | 74.83 49th of 51 | 81.08 2nd of 51 |
| Business CostsEntrepreneur-Friendly States | 10 tied last of 50 | 3 tied 2nd of 50 |
| Gun Law Rank (Giffords)Gun Laws by State | 48th 48th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Gun Laws Strength RankStrictest Gun Laws by State | 48th 48th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| Mean SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $40,830 47th of 49 | $81,900 2nd of 49 |
| Avg Income of 90th–95th Percentile FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $122,430 47th of 51 | $192,645 1st of 51 |
| Age-Adjusted Death RateDeath Rate by State | 969 per 100k 49th of 51 | 636 per 100k 3rd of 51 |
| Average Credit Card DebtDebt by State | $3,140 2nd of 51 | $5,160 48th of 51 |
| Avg Income of 95th–99th Percentile FamiliesIncome Inequality by State | $180,401 48th of 51 | $335,564 2nd of 51 |
| Female Life ExpectancyLife Expectancy by State | 77.47 49th of 51 | 83.37 3rd of 51 |
| Female Life Expectancy (HALE)Life Expectancy by State | 62.03 yrs 50th of 51 | 67.37 yrs 4th of 51 |
| Meth Use Past MonthDrug Use by State | 1.88% 49th of 51 | 0.49% 3rd of 51 |
| Black to White Disparity (x to 1)Incarceration Rates by State | 2.9 5th of 50 | 12.5 50th of 50 |
| Correctional Officers Average Salary (2021)Prison Spending by State | $36.75 46th of 49 | $73.49 2nd of 49 |
| State Rank State GovtPublic Land by State | 47th 46th of 49 | 3rd 2nd of 49 |
| Favorable Gun Laws RankBest States for Gun Owners | 4th tied 4th of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| LPN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State | $109,530 47th of 51 | $142,950 2nd of 51 |
| LPN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State | $52.66 47th of 51 | $68.73 2nd of 51 |
| Male Life ExpectancyLife Expectancy by State | 72.31 46th of 51 | 78.73 1st of 51 |
| Avg SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State | $34,830 49th of 51 | $74,120 4th of 51 |
| Five Percent Income ThresholdTop 1 Percent Threshold by State | $198,685 48th of 51 | $338,942 3rd of 51 |
| LPN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $110,370 49th of 51 | $145,030 4th of 51 |
| LPN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $53.06 49th of 51 | $69.73 4th of 51 |
| Male Life Expectancy (HALE)Life Expectancy by State | 59.95 yrs 48th of 51 | 65.63 yrs 3rd of 51 |
| % of Median Income Spent On GroceriesGrocery Prices by State | 9.67% 46th of 50 | 6.15% 2nd of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Kentucky or New Jersey?
- New Jersey comes out ahead of Kentucky on 473 of 801 statistics where one end is better, to 312 with 16 ties. Kentucky leads on Agriculture, Infrastructure & Energy and Travel and 3 more categories. New Jersey leads on Health, Education and Facts & Trivia and 7 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Kentucky or New Jersey?
- Kentucky has a population of 4,629,682 (25th of 51 US states) and New Jersey has 9,590,076 (11th of 51).
- How do Kentucky and New Jersey compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Kentucky $63,726 (47th of 51), New Jersey $103,556 (4th of 51) among US states. New Jersey ranks better.
- How do Kentucky and New Jersey compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Kentucky 4.6% (tied 40th of 51), New Jersey 5.2% (tied 46th of 51) among US states. Kentucky ranks better.
- Where does Kentucky beat New Jersey most clearly?
- Kentucky ranks far ahead on Average Credit Card Debt (Debt by State): $3,140 vs $5,160; Black to White Disparity (x to 1) (Incarceration Rates by State): 2.9 vs 12.5; Favorable Gun Laws Rank (Best States for Gun Owners): 4th vs 49th.
- Where does New Jersey beat Kentucky most clearly?
- New Jersey ranks far ahead on Depression Rates (Healthiest States): 13.3 vs 28.3; Life Expectancy, Both Sexes (HALE) (Life Expectancy by State): 66.52 yrs vs 60.97 yrs; Emotional Physical Well Being Rank (Saddest States): 2nd vs 49th.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Kentucky or New Jersey.
- Alabama vs Kentucky
- Alaska vs Kentucky
- Arizona vs Kentucky
- Arkansas vs Kentucky
- California vs Kentucky
- Colorado vs Kentucky
- Connecticut vs Kentucky
- Delaware vs Kentucky
- Alabama vs New Jersey
- Alaska vs New Jersey
- Arizona vs New Jersey
- Arkansas vs New Jersey
- California vs New Jersey
- Colorado vs New Jersey
- Connecticut vs New Jersey
- Delaware vs New Jersey