Which has more people, Maryland or South Dakota?

Maryland has a population of 6,285,380 (19th of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).

How do Maryland and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Maryland $103,678 (3rd of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. Maryland ranks better.

How do Maryland and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?

Unemployment Rate (%): Maryland 4% (tied 25th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

Where does Maryland beat South Dakota most clearly?

Maryland ranks far ahead on Avg. Internet Speed (Average Internet Speed by State): 506.7 vs 191.7; Foreclosure Rate (Foreclosure Rates by State): 897 vs 15,535; Median Federal Employee Income (Federal Government Employees by State): $137,624 vs $77,390.

Where does South Dakota beat Maryland most clearly?

South Dakota ranks far ahead on Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k) (Drug Use by State): 42.07 vs 88.77; Average (Minutes) (Commute Time by State): 17.3 vs 33; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)): 17.8 vs 31.1.

Maryland vs South Dakota

Maryland comes out ahead of South Dakota on 416 of 786 statistics where one end is better, to 356 with 14 ties. Maryland leads on Health, Education and Sports and 7 more categories. South Dakota leads on Agriculture, Infrastructure & Energy and Law and 1 more category.

786 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 14 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Maryland

Wins: 416
Avg. percentile: 55
Categories led: 10

South Dakota

Wins: 356
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 4

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	Maryland	South Dakota
Population	6,285,380 19th of 51	943,078 46th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$103,678 3rd of 51	$75,081 31st of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	4% tied 25th of 51	2.1% 1st of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	9.45% 5th of 51	11.9% 27th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	105.0 44th of 51	88.6 6th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$61,111 16th of 51	$69,153 5th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$77,580 7th of 51	$57,610 45th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$1,705 44th of 51	$946 2nd of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	358.0 34th of 51	307.5 28th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	4,564 19th of 48	7,633 42nd of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
HealthMaryland · 187 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
EducationMaryland · 51 statistics
SportsMaryland · 16 statistics
Crime & SafetyMaryland · 67 statistics
TravelMaryland · 29 statistics
LawSouth Dakota · 66 statistics
PopulationMaryland · 124 statistics
CultureMaryland · 78 statistics
EconomicsMaryland · 289 statistics
GeographySouth Dakota · 25 statistics
Facts & TriviaMaryland · 18 statistics
EnvironmentMaryland · 38 statistics
Tech & BusinessEven · 48 statistics
Politics & GovernmentEven · 116 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Maryland	South Dakota
Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State	88.77 51st of 51	42.07 1st of 51
Average (Minutes)Commute Time by State	33 50th of 51	17.3 1st of 51
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	31.1 50th of 51	17.8 1st of 51
Average Commute Time (Minutes)Single Mom Friendly States	32 tied 49th of 51	17 1st of 51
Avg. Internet SpeedAverage Internet Speed by State	506.7 1st of 51	191.7 49th of 51
% of Pop. with Associates DegreeMost Educated U.S. States	6.6% tied 49th of 51	13.2% 2nd of 51
Foreclosure RateForeclosure Rates by State	897 4th of 51	15,535 51st of 51
HIV Death RateHIV Statistics by State	11.5 49th of 51	1.1 2nd of 51
Student Loan Average Borrower DebtStudent Loan Debt by State	$42,861 50th of 51	$30,954 3rd of 51
Median Federal Employee IncomeFederal Government Employees by State	$137,624 1st of 50	$77,390 tied 45th of 50
Health Care RankDisability Benefits by State	3rd 3rd of 51	49th 49th of 51
Annual Cost IncreaseGrocery Prices by State	4.2% tied 5th of 50	12.6% 50th of 50
Local Taxes RankBest States to Retire	46th 46th of 50	1st tied 1st of 50
Median Annual WageOT Salary by State	$98,280 5th of 51	$76,400 50th of 51
Median Hourly WageOT Salary by State	$47.25 5th of 51	$36.73 50th of 51
Regulatory Policy RankMost Libertarian States	47th 47th of 50	3rd 3rd of 50
Overall RankBest State To Incorporate In	46th 46th of 51	2nd 2nd of 51
Overall Racial Integration ScoreLeast Racist States	68.97 6th of 51	50 49th of 51
SSI Civil Service Management ScoreMost Corrupt States	69.5 5th of 50	50.7 47th of 50
% of Insured Adult Males Age 18-64 Who Undergo Circumcision Each Year (NCBI 2015-2018)Circumcision Rates by State	0.0574 43rd of 50	0.195 1st of 50
Overall Freedom RankMost Libertarian States	45th 45th of 50	3rd 3rd of 50
Overall Freedom ScoreMost Libertarian States	-0.34 45th of 50	0.52 3rd of 50
Rates of Circumcision in Insured Adult Males Age 18-64 (NCBI 2015-2018)Circumcision Rates by State	57.4 per 100k person-years 43rd of 50	194.8 per 100k person-years 1st of 50
SSI Lobbying Disclosure ScoreMost Corrupt States	74.2 7th of 50	39.6 49th of 50
Individual Income Tax RankBest State To Incorporate In	45th 45th of 51	1st tied 1st of 51
Cocaine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State	709.77 45th of 51	385.47 3rd of 51
Median Income - Seven-or-More Person HouseholdMedian Household Income by State	$148,583 9th of 51	$73,826 51st of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$1,705 44th of 51	$946 2nd of 51
Freedom RankMost Free States	45th 46th of 50	5th 5th of 50
Regulatory Policy RankMost Free States	47th 47th of 50	6th 6th 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, Maryland or South Dakota?: Maryland comes out ahead of South Dakota on 416 of 786 statistics where one end is better, to 356 with 14 ties. Maryland leads on Health, Education and Sports and 7 more categories. South Dakota leads on Agriculture, Infrastructure & Energy and Law and 1 more category. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Maryland or South Dakota?: Maryland has a population of 6,285,380 (19th of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).
How do Maryland and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Maryland $103,678 (3rd of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. Maryland ranks better.
How do Maryland and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): Maryland 4% (tied 25th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
Where does Maryland beat South Dakota most clearly?: Maryland ranks far ahead on Avg. Internet Speed (Average Internet Speed by State): 506.7 vs 191.7; Foreclosure Rate (Foreclosure Rates by State): 897 vs 15,535; Median Federal Employee Income (Federal Government Employees by State): $137,624 vs $77,390.
Where does South Dakota beat Maryland most clearly?: South Dakota ranks far ahead on Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k) (Drug Use by State): 42.07 vs 88.77; Average (Minutes) (Commute Time by State): 17.3 vs 33; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)): 17.8 vs 31.1.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Maryland or South Dakota.

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