Massachusetts vs South Dakota
Massachusetts comes out ahead of South Dakota on 465 of 778 statistics where one end is better, to 298 with 15 ties. Massachusetts leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Population and 10 more categories. South Dakota leads on Agriculture, Infrastructure & Energy and Facts & Trivia.
778 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.
- Wins
- 465
- Avg. percentile
- 62
- Categories led
- 13
- Wins
- 298
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 3
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Massachusetts | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,169,608 16th of 51 | 943,078 46th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $103,960 2nd of 51 | $75,081 31st of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.5% tied 37th of 51 | 2.1% 1st of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 10.0% 10th of 51 | 11.9% 27th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 105.8 45th of 51 | 88.6 6th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $71,629 4th of 51 | $69,153 5th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $85,610 2nd of 51 | $57,610 45th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,762 48th of 51 | $946 2nd of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 302.7 27th of 51 | 307.5 28th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 6,134 33rd of 48 | 7,633 42nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
- Crime & SafetyMassachusetts · 72 statistics
- HealthMassachusetts · 183 statistics
- PopulationMassachusetts · 122 statistics
- EducationMassachusetts · 51 statistics
- Tech & BusinessMassachusetts · 48 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
- CultureMassachusetts · 78 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentMassachusetts · 119 statistics
- EconomicsMassachusetts · 286 statistics
- Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 18 statistics
- SportsMassachusetts · 16 statistics
- EnvironmentMassachusetts · 38 statistics
- LawMassachusetts · 62 statistics
- TravelMassachusetts · 28 statistics
- GeographyMassachusetts · 25 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Massachusetts | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health Care Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State | $751 50th of 51 | $123 1st of 51 |
| Mitigation Efforts RankFood Waste by State | 49th 2nd best of 50 | 1st worst of 50 |
| Fatality RateFloods by State | 0.03 2nd of 47 | 5.99 47th of 47 |
| Annual Child Care Cost for InfantChild Care Cost by State | $26,709 50th of 51 | $8,680 3rd of 51 |
| Annual Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $104,150 4th of 51 | $64,500 51st of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $50.07 4th of 51 | $31.01 51st of 51 |
| Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 77.63 48th of 51 | 42.07 1st of 51 |
| Female Prisoner RatePrison Population by State | 7 per 100k 2nd of 50 | 125 per 100k 48th of 50 |
| 75th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $100,150 5th of 51 | $52,100 51st of 51 |
| Average (Minutes)Commute Time by State | 30 47th of 51 | 17.3 1st of 51 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 29.1 47th of 51 | 17.8 1st of 51 |
| Median Income - Seven-or-More Person HouseholdMedian Household Income by State | $184,430 5th of 51 | $73,826 51st of 51 |
| % of Pop. with Associates DegreeMost Educated U.S. States | 7.1% 48th of 51 | 13.2% 2nd of 51 |
| Annual CostAssisted Living Costs by State | $78,000 48th of 51 | $40,200 2nd of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,762 48th of 51 | $946 2nd of 51 |
| Total RankBicycle Laws by State | 1st 1st of 50 | 46th 46th of 50 |
| Average Commute Time (Minutes)Single Mom Friendly States | 30 tied 46th of 51 | 17 1st of 51 |
| Misc Costs IndexCost of Living Index by State | 120.7 50th of 51 | 92.2 tied 4th of 51 |
| 90th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $111,040 6th of 51 | $59,840 51st of 51 |
| Livable Wage w/ No Children (Annual)Living Wage by State | $63,610 50th of 51 | $42,706 5th of 51 |
| Livable Wage w/ No Children (Hourly)Living Wage by State | $30.58 50th of 51 | $20.53 5th of 51 |
| Median Teacher SalaryTeacher Pay by State | $79,460 5th of 51 | $48,010 50th of 51 |
| RN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $108,850 6th of 51 | $69,030 51st of 51 |
| RN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $52.33 6th of 51 | $33.19 51st of 51 |
| Healthcare RankWorst States to Live in | 49th 2nd best of 50 | 5th 5th worst of 50 |
| Veteran Unemployment RateVeterans Unemployment Benefits by State | 6.94 48th of 50 | 2.43 4th of 50 |
| Infant Mortality RateInfant Mortality Rate by State | 3.9 2nd of 49 | 7.3 45th of 49 |
| DTaP 4 DosesVaccination Rates by State | 89.1% 1st of 51 | 77.0% tied 45th of 51 |
| COLI Utilities Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 150.0 49th of 51 | 83.5 5th of 51 |
| Crematory FeeAverage Funeral Cost by State | $343 5th of 51 | $712 49th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Massachusetts or South Dakota?
- Massachusetts comes out ahead of South Dakota on 465 of 778 statistics where one end is better, to 298 with 15 ties. Massachusetts leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Population and 10 more categories. South Dakota leads on Agriculture, Infrastructure & Energy and Facts & Trivia. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Massachusetts or South Dakota?
- Massachusetts has a population of 7,169,608 (16th of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).
- How do Massachusetts and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Massachusetts $103,960 (2nd of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. Massachusetts ranks better.
- How do Massachusetts and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Massachusetts 4.5% (tied 37th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
- Where does Massachusetts beat South Dakota most clearly?
- Massachusetts ranks far ahead on Mitigation Efforts Rank (Food Waste by State): 49th vs 1st; Fatality Rate (Floods by State): 0.03 vs 5.99; Annual Mean Wage (Nurse Salary by State): $104,150 vs $64,500.
- Where does South Dakota beat Massachusetts most clearly?
- South Dakota ranks far ahead on Home Health Care Cost per Capita (Health Care Costs by State): $123 vs $751; Annual Child Care Cost for Infant (Child Care Cost by State): $8,680 vs $26,709; Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k) (Drug Use by State): 42.07 vs 77.63.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Massachusetts or South Dakota.
- 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 South Dakota
- Alaska vs South Dakota
- Arizona vs South Dakota
- Arkansas vs South Dakota
- California vs South Dakota
- Colorado vs South Dakota
- Connecticut vs South Dakota
- Delaware vs South Dakota