Which has more people, Kentucky or Wisconsin?

Kentucky has a population of 4,629,682 (25th of 51 US states) and Wisconsin has 5,988,406 (21st of 51).

How do Kentucky and Wisconsin compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Kentucky $63,726 (47th of 51), Wisconsin $77,485 (26th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.

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

Unemployment Rate (%): Kentucky 4.6% (tied 40th of 51), Wisconsin 3.2% (tied 7th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.

Where does Kentucky beat Wisconsin most clearly?

Kentucky ranks far ahead on Binged Alcohol Past Month (Drug Use by State): 20.3% vs 30.4%; % Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023 (Prison Population by State): -569.0% vs 1,545.0%; Black to White Disparity (x to 1) (Incarceration Rates by State): 2.9 vs 11.9.

Where does Wisconsin beat Kentucky most clearly?

Wisconsin ranks far ahead on McDonalds Happy Meal (Fast Food Prices by State): $3.93 vs $2.82; LPC License Fee (LPC Requirements by State): $62.00 vs $1,500; Financial Safety Rank WalletHub (Safest States in the US): 6th vs 46th.

Kentucky vs Wisconsin

Wisconsin comes out ahead of Kentucky on 497 of 799 statistics where one end is better, to 287 with 15 ties. Kentucky leads on Travel, Agriculture and Infrastructure & Energy. Wisconsin leads on Facts & Trivia, Sports and Health and 10 more categories.

799 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 15 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Kentucky

Wins: 287
Avg. percentile: 43
Categories led: 3

Wisconsin

Wins: 497
Avg. percentile: 53
Categories led: 13

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	Kentucky	Wisconsin
Population	4,629,682 25th of 51	5,988,406 21st of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$63,726 47th of 51	$77,485 26th of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	4.6% tied 40th of 51	3.2% tied 7th of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	16.1% 47th of 51	10.6% 16th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	90.2 12th of 51	94.1 20th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$52,290 46th of 51	$58,273 26th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$58,990 44th of 51	$64,270 30th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$967 6th of 51	$1,087 19th of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	212.1 9th of 51	240.3 19th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	4,396 16th of 48	7,528 41st of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Facts & TriviaWisconsin · 18 statistics
SportsWisconsin · 17 statistics
TravelKentucky · 29 statistics
HealthWisconsin · 185 statistics
AgricultureKentucky · 17 statistics
EducationWisconsin · 51 statistics
CultureWisconsin · 79 statistics
EnvironmentWisconsin · 38 statistics
Tech & BusinessWisconsin · 48 statistics
GeographyWisconsin · 25 statistics
Crime & SafetyWisconsin · 76 statistics
EconomicsWisconsin · 295 statistics
PopulationWisconsin · 121 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergyKentucky · 35 statistics
LawWisconsin · 67 statistics
Politics & GovernmentWisconsin · 126 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Kentucky	Wisconsin
Binged Alcohol Past MonthDrug Use by State	20.3% 2nd of 51	30.4% 50th of 51
% Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023Prison Population by State	-569.0% 4th of 50	1,545.0% 47th of 50
Black to White Disparity (x to 1)Incarceration Rates by State	2.9 5th of 50	11.9 48th of 50
McDonalds Happy MealFast Food Prices by State	$2.82 tied 43rd of 50	$3.93 1st of 50
LPC License FeeLPC Requirements by State	$1,500 46th of 46	$62.00 8th of 46
# Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023Prison Population by State	-2.9 tied 4th of 49	7.4 45th of 49
Overall Racial Integration ScoreLeast Racist States	68.49 9th of 51	36.76 50th of 51
Equality in Jailing RankWorst Prisons by State	10th 10th of 50	50th 50th of 50
Financial Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US	46th 46th of 50	6th 6th of 50
Homeless Youth Support RankBest States to Be Homeless	9th 9th of 50	49th 49th of 50
SSI Civil Service Management ScoreMost Corrupt States	68 8th of 50	50.5 48th of 50
Maternal Mortality Rate (2018-2022)Maternal Mortality Rate by State	34.6 per 100k Births 34th of 39	13.2 per 100k Births 3rd of 39
Exp. Stalking in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State	16.4% tied 37th of 46	6.1% 1st of 46
Alcohol Use Past MonthDrug Use by State	46.3% tied 7th of 51	61.8% 48th of 51
Economy RankQuality of Life by State	49th 49th of 50	10th 10th of 50
CAS Illegal Legislative Corruption Level (1-5)Most Corrupt States	5 tied last of 48	2 tied 3rd of 48
Urban Pavement RoughnessRoad Quality by State	7% tied 7th of 50	29.0% 46th of 50
Education Racial Integration RankLeast Racist States	10th 10th of 51	49th 49th of 51
Employment and Wealth Racial Integration RankLeast Racist States	11th 11th of 51	50th 50th of 51
Household Income DiversityMost Diverse US States	39th 39th of 50	1st 1st of 50
Overall Best (WalletHub)Best States to Live In	41st 41st of 50	3rd 3rd of 50
Total Score (WalletHub)Best States to Live In	47.59 41st of 50	59.32 3rd of 50
Prisoners, American Indian/Alaskan NativePrison Population by State	19 6th of 49	904 43rd of 49
State Rank State GovtPublic Land by State	47th 46th of 49	10th 9th of 49
Annual Median WageSonographer Salary by State	$72,910 44th of 51	$95,680 6th of 51
Hourly Median WageSonographer Salary by State	$35.05 44th of 51	$46.00 6th of 51
Mean SalaryCorrectional Officer Salary by State	$40,830 47th of 49	$61,590 11th of 49
Excessive DrinkersHealthiest States	14.8% tied 8th of 50	20.4% 45th of 50
Personal InjuryStatute of Limitations by State	1 tied 1st of 50	3 tied 29th of 50
SSI Legislative Accountability ScoreMost Corrupt States	73.5 5th of 50	56.8 tied 40th of 50

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, Kentucky or Wisconsin?: Wisconsin comes out ahead of Kentucky on 497 of 799 statistics where one end is better, to 287 with 15 ties. Kentucky leads on Travel, Agriculture and Infrastructure & Energy. Wisconsin leads on Facts & Trivia, Sports and Health and 10 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Kentucky or Wisconsin?: Kentucky has a population of 4,629,682 (25th of 51 US states) and Wisconsin has 5,988,406 (21st of 51).
How do Kentucky and Wisconsin compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Kentucky $63,726 (47th of 51), Wisconsin $77,485 (26th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.
How do Kentucky and Wisconsin compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): Kentucky 4.6% (tied 40th of 51), Wisconsin 3.2% (tied 7th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.
Where does Kentucky beat Wisconsin most clearly?: Kentucky ranks far ahead on Binged Alcohol Past Month (Drug Use by State): 20.3% vs 30.4%; % Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023 (Prison Population by State): -569.0% vs 1,545.0%; Black to White Disparity (x to 1) (Incarceration Rates by State): 2.9 vs 11.9.
Where does Wisconsin beat Kentucky most clearly?: Wisconsin ranks far ahead on McDonalds Happy Meal (Fast Food Prices by State): $3.93 vs $2.82; LPC License Fee (LPC Requirements by State): $62.00 vs $1,500; Financial Safety Rank WalletHub (Safest States in the US): 6th vs 46th.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Kentucky or Wisconsin.

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