Massachusetts vs West Virginia
Massachusetts comes out ahead of West Virginia on 519 of 791 statistics where one end is better, to 255 with 17 ties. Massachusetts leads on Health, Education and Population and 11 more categories. West Virginia leads on Agriculture and Travel.
791 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 17 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 519
- Avg. percentile
- 61
- Categories led
- 14
- Wins
- 255
- Avg. percentile
- 38
- Categories led
- 2
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | Massachusetts | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,169,608 16th of 51 | 1,764,892 39th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $103,960 2nd of 51 | $59,608 50th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.5% tied 37th of 51 | 4.2% tied 30th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 10.0% 10th of 51 | 16.7% 48th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 105.8 45th of 51 | 89.5 9th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $71,629 4th of 51 | $50,051 50th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $85,610 2nd of 51 | $56,470 49th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,762 48th of 51 | $872 1st of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 302.7 27th of 51 | 241.7 20th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 6,134 33rd of 48 | 5,067 22nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthMassachusetts · 187 statistics
- EducationMassachusetts · 51 statistics
- PopulationMassachusetts · 122 statistics
- Facts & TriviaMassachusetts · 18 statistics
- CultureMassachusetts · 79 statistics
- EnvironmentMassachusetts · 38 statistics
- Crime & SafetyMassachusetts · 70 statistics
- Tech & BusinessMassachusetts · 48 statistics
- GeographyMassachusetts · 25 statistics
- EconomicsMassachusetts · 291 statistics
- SportsMassachusetts · 17 statistics
- AgricultureWest Virginia · 17 statistics
- LawMassachusetts · 67 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyMassachusetts · 36 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentMassachusetts · 123 statistics
- TravelWest Virginia · 28 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | Massachusetts | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| % of Residents with a College DegreeBest States for Education | 44.5% 1st of 50 | 21.3% 50th of 50 |
| Educational Attainment RankMost Educated U.S. States | 1st 1st of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Obesity Rate 18-39Most Obese States | 21.4% 1st of 50 | 39.7% 50th of 50 |
| Overall Education RankLeast Educated States | 1st 1st of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Overall Education ScoreMost Educated U.S. States | 78.41 1st of 50 | 24.35 50th of 50 |
| Educational Attainment DiversityMost Diverse US States | 1st tied 1st of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| % of Pop. with Graduate or Professional DegreeMost Educated U.S. States | 22.6% 2nd of 51 | 9.6% 51st of 51 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 47.3% 2nd of 51 | 24.1% 51st of 51 |
| COLI Overall IndexLeast Expensive States | 145.9 50th of 51 | 84.1 1st of 51 |
| Gross Earnings of Top 1%Percentage of Households Making Over $250,000 by State | $1.12M 1st of 51 | $417,440 50th of 51 |
| Livable Wage w/ No Children (Annual)Living Wage by State | $63,610 50th of 51 | $40,627 1st of 51 |
| Livable Wage w/ No Children (Hourly)Living Wage by State | $30.58 50th of 51 | $19.53 1st of 51 |
| Premature Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States | 5,760 1st of 51 | 12,053 50th of 51 |
| % of Median Income Spent On GroceriesGrocery Prices by State | 6.13% 1st of 50 | 10.1% 49th of 50 |
| Education and Health (WalletHub)Best States to Live In | 1st 1st of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Intermediate 2-4 YearsHVAC Salary by State | $65,300 1st of 50 | $51,300 49th of 50 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing Shortage by State | $99,858 2nd of 50 | $55,948 50th of 50 |
| Disease Factors & Prevalence ScoreMost Unhealthy States in the U.S. | 2.86 1st of 49 | 93.07 48th of 49 |
| Housing CostPension-Friendly States | 37 48th of 49 | 100 1st of 49 |
| NAEP Math ScoresBest States for Education | 283 tied 1st of 50 | 261 49th of 50 |
| Annual Cost Of Comfortable RetirementAverage Retirement Income by State | $100,201 49th of 51 | $58,190 1st of 51 |
| Average Literacy ScoreU.S. Literacy Rates by State | 225 1st of 51 | 206 49th of 51 |
| COLI Housing Costs IndexLeast Expensive States | 218.8 49th of 51 | 59.9 1st of 51 |
| Cost of Living Index (Housing)Average Rent by State | 218.8 49th of 51 | 59.9 1st of 51 |
| Female Life Expectancy (HALE)Life Expectancy by State | 67.39 yrs 3rd of 51 | 60.96 yrs 51st of 51 |
| Five Percent Income ThresholdTop 1 Percent Threshold by State | $349,399 2nd of 51 | $181,271 50th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $103,960 2nd of 51 | $59,608 50th of 51 |
| Median Income - Two Person HouseholdMedian Household Income by State | $110,054 2nd of 51 | $64,510 50th of 51 |
| One Percent Income ThresholdTop 1 Percent Threshold by State | $891,118 3rd of 51 | $384,369 51st of 51 |
| Avg Annual SalaryMedical Billing and Coding Salary by State | $72,510 3rd of 50 | $52,556 50th of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Massachusetts or West Virginia?
- Massachusetts comes out ahead of West Virginia on 519 of 791 statistics where one end is better, to 255 with 17 ties. Massachusetts leads on Health, Education and Population and 11 more categories. West Virginia leads on Agriculture and Travel. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Massachusetts or West Virginia?
- Massachusetts has a population of 7,169,608 (16th of 51 US states) and West Virginia has 1,764,892 (39th of 51).
- How do Massachusetts and West Virginia compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Massachusetts $103,960 (2nd of 51), West Virginia $59,608 (50th of 51) among US states. Massachusetts ranks better.
- How do Massachusetts and West Virginia compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): Massachusetts 4.5% (tied 37th of 51), West Virginia 4.2% (tied 30th of 51) among US states. West Virginia ranks better.
- Where does Massachusetts beat West Virginia most clearly?
- Massachusetts ranks far ahead on % of Residents with a College Degree (Best States for Education): 44.5% vs 21.3%; Educational Attainment Rank (Most Educated U.S. States): 1st vs 50th; Obesity Rate 18-39 (Most Obese States): 21.4% vs 39.7%.
- Where does West Virginia beat Massachusetts most clearly?
- West Virginia ranks far ahead on COLI Overall Index (Least Expensive States): 84.1 vs 145.9; Livable Wage w/ No Children (Annual) (Living Wage by State): $40,627 vs $63,610; Livable Wage w/ No Children (Hourly) (Living Wage by State): $19.53 vs $30.58.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Massachusetts or West Virginia.
- 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 West Virginia
- Alaska vs West Virginia
- Arizona vs West Virginia
- Arkansas vs West Virginia
- California vs West Virginia
- Colorado vs West Virginia
- Connecticut vs West Virginia
- Delaware vs West Virginia