Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania
Massachusetts comes out ahead of Pennsylvania on 497 of 789 statistics where one end is better, to 278 with 14 ties. Massachusetts leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Population and 9 more categories. Pennsylvania leads on Agriculture, Sports and Travel.
789 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.
- Wins
- 497
- Avg. percentile
- 61
- Categories led
- 12
- Wins
- 278
- Avg. percentile
- 51
- Categories led
- 3
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Massachusetts | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,169,608 16th of 51 | 13,073,016 5th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $103,960 2nd of 51 | $77,971 24th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.5% tied 37th of 51 | 4.3% tied 33rd of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 10.0% 10th of 51 | 11.7% 25th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 105.8 45th of 51 | 97.6 28th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $71,629 4th of 51 | $58,620 24th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $85,610 2nd of 51 | $65,730 25th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,762 48th of 51 | $1,209 24th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 302.7 27th of 51 | 226.8 14th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 6,134 33rd of 48 | 5,700 28th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyMassachusetts · 73 statistics
- HealthMassachusetts · 183 statistics
- PopulationMassachusetts · 118 statistics
- EnvironmentMassachusetts · 39 statistics
- GeographyMassachusetts · 25 statistics
- AgriculturePennsylvania · 17 statistics
- EducationMassachusetts · 51 statistics
- SportsPennsylvania · 17 statistics
- EconomicsMassachusetts · 291 statistics
- Tech & BusinessMassachusetts · 48 statistics
- CultureMassachusetts · 79 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyMassachusetts · 36 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentMassachusetts · 123 statistics
- LawMassachusetts · 67 statistics
- TravelPennsylvania · 28 statistics
- Facts & TriviaEven · 18 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Massachusetts | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability RankBest States to Retire | 47th 47th of 50 | 2nd 2nd of 50 |
| FatalitiesFloods by State | 11 tied 2nd of 47 | 277 44th of 47 |
| Annual SalaryPhysical Therapist Salary by State | $104,435 1st of 50 | $77,735 44th of 50 |
| Health Care RankBest States to Retire | 2nd 2nd of 50 | 45th 45th of 50 |
| Hourly WagePhysical Therapist Salary by State | $50.21 1st of 50 | $37.37 44th of 50 |
| Monthly PayPhysical Therapist Salary by State | $8,702 1st of 50 | $6,477 44th of 50 |
| Weekly PayPhysical Therapist Salary by State | $2,008 1st of 50 | $1,494 44th of 50 |
| % of Pop. with High School Diploma or EquivalentMost Educated U.S. States | 22.2% 47th of 51 | 32.4% 4th of 51 |
| COLI Health Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 125.7 50th of 51 | 90.6 7th of 51 |
| SSI Political Financing ScoreMost Corrupt States | 92 1st of 50 | 41.1 43rd of 50 |
| SSI Electoral Oversight ScoreMost Corrupt States | 80.6 tied 6th of 50 | 41 48th of 50 |
| Health Costs IndexCost of Living Index by State | 122.2 49th of 51 | 91.6 7th of 51 |
| AnnualBCBA Salary by State | $78,612 3rd of 49 | $61,973 43rd of 49 |
| HourlyBCBA Salary by State | $37.79 3rd of 49 | $29.80 43rd of 49 |
| MonthlyBCBA Salary by State | $6,551 3rd of 49 | $5,164 43rd of 49 |
| WeeklyBCBA Salary by State | $1,511 3rd of 49 | $1,191 43rd of 49 |
| Annual SalaryIUOE Pay Scale by State | $56,725 5th of 50 | $44,692 45th of 50 |
| Hourly WageIUOE Pay Scale by State | $27.27 5th of 50 | $21.49 45th of 50 |
| Monthly PayIUOE Pay Scale by State | $4,727 5th of 50 | $3,724 45th of 50 |
| Weekly PayIUOE Pay Scale by State | $1,090 5th of 50 | $859 45th of 50 |
| Capital Gains RateCapital Gains Tax by State | 9% 37th of 43 | 3.07% 3rd of 43 |
| InmatesFederal Prisons by State | 785 5th of 36 | 8,578 33rd of 36 |
| EconomyBest States to Live In | 8th 8th of 49 | 47th 46th of 49 |
| Max RateTax Rates by State | 9% 37th of 44 | 3.07% 3rd of 44 |
| Cost Per CapitaPrisons by State | $139 tied 1st of 50 | $289 40th of 50 |
| InterstateAccidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State | 17.0% 33rd of 42 | 3.67% 2nd of 42 |
| Minimum WageOvertime Laws by State | 15 4th of 46 | 7.25 tied 32nd of 46 |
| Natural Environment RankWorst States to Live in | 48th 3rd best of 50 | 11th 11th worst of 50 |
| Median Price: TownhousesMedian Home Price by State | $543,700 38th of 44 | $293,300 6th of 44 |
| SSI Public Access to Information ScoreMost Corrupt States | 34.4 40th of 50 | 67.8 4th of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Massachusetts or Pennsylvania?
- Massachusetts comes out ahead of Pennsylvania on 497 of 789 statistics where one end is better, to 278 with 14 ties. Massachusetts leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Population and 9 more categories. Pennsylvania leads on Agriculture, Sports and Travel. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Massachusetts or Pennsylvania?
- Massachusetts has a population of 7,169,608 (16th of 51 US states) and Pennsylvania has 13,073,016 (5th of 51).
- How do Massachusetts and Pennsylvania compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Massachusetts $103,960 (2nd of 51), Pennsylvania $77,971 (24th of 51) among US states. Massachusetts ranks better.
- How do Massachusetts and Pennsylvania compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Massachusetts 4.5% (tied 37th of 51), Pennsylvania 4.3% (tied 33rd of 51) among US states. Pennsylvania ranks better.
- Where does Massachusetts beat Pennsylvania most clearly?
- Massachusetts ranks far ahead on Fatalities (Floods by State): 11 vs 277; Annual Salary (Physical Therapist Salary by State): $104,435 vs $77,735; Health Care Rank (Best States to Retire): 2nd vs 45th.
- Where does Pennsylvania beat Massachusetts most clearly?
- Pennsylvania ranks far ahead on Affordability Rank (Best States to Retire): 2nd vs 47th; % of Pop. with High School Diploma or Equivalent (Most Educated U.S. States): 32.4% vs 22.2%; COLI Health Costs Index (Least Expensive States): 90.6 vs 125.7.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Massachusetts or Pennsylvania.
- Alabama vs Massachusetts
- Alaska vs Massachusetts
- Arizona vs Massachusetts
- Arkansas vs Massachusetts
- California vs Massachusetts
- Colorado vs Massachusetts
- Connecticut vs Massachusetts
- Delaware vs Massachusetts
- Alabama vs Pennsylvania
- Alaska vs Pennsylvania
- Arizona vs Pennsylvania
- Arkansas vs Pennsylvania
- California vs Pennsylvania
- Colorado vs Pennsylvania
- Connecticut vs Pennsylvania
- Delaware vs Pennsylvania