Michigan vs West Virginia

Michigan comes out ahead of West Virginia on 491 of 802 statistics where one end is better, to 286 with 25 ties. Michigan leads on Sports, Facts & Trivia and Health and 9 more categories. West Virginia leads on Agriculture, Travel and Crime & Safety and 1 more category.

802 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 25 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Wins
491
Avg. percentile
47
Categories led
12
Wins
286
Avg. percentile
39
Categories led
4

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

StatisticMichiganWest Virginia
Population
10,155,806
10th of 51
1,764,892
39th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
$72,875
36th of 51
$59,608
50th of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)
5.2%
tied 46th of 51
4.2%
tied 30th of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
13.2%
36th of 51
16.7%
48th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)
96.2
24th of 51
89.5
9th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State
$53,569
41st of 51
$50,051
50th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)
$64,920
26th of 51
$56,470
49th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
$1,129
20th of 51
$872
1st of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)
416.2
40th of 51
241.7
20th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)
6,745
35th of 48
5,067
22nd of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • SportsMichigan · 17 statistics
  • Facts & TriviaMichigan · 18 statistics
  • HealthMichigan · 190 statistics
  • EnvironmentMichigan · 37 statistics
  • EducationMichigan · 51 statistics
  • Tech & BusinessMichigan · 48 statistics
  • PopulationMichigan · 123 statistics
  • LawMichigan · 68 statistics
  • AgricultureWest Virginia · 17 statistics
  • EconomicsMichigan · 298 statistics
  • CultureMichigan · 79 statistics
  • TravelWest Virginia · 29 statistics
  • Crime & SafetyWest Virginia · 72 statistics
  • GeographyMichigan · 25 statistics
  • Infrastructure & EnergyWest Virginia · 36 statistics
  • Politics & GovernmentMichigan · 127 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticMichiganWest Virginia
Fatality RateFloods by State
0.06
3rd of 47
1.68
45th of 47
Mean Wind Speed at 33 ftWindiest States in the U.S.
7.1 mph
3rd of 51
2.79 mph
tied 48th of 51
SSI Executive Accountability ScoreMost Corrupt States
26.8
50th of 50
72.7
6th of 50
SSI Pension Fund Management ScoreMost Corrupt States
30.4
50th of 50
80
6th of 50
InterstateAccidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State
3.38%
1st of 42
21.1%
37th of 42
SSI Legislative Accountability ScoreMost Corrupt States
36.3
50th of 50
71.3
tied 8th of 50
Avg Cost per MbpsInternet Costs by State
$0.75
7th of 51
$1.88
49th of 51
Access RankBest States for Fishing
3rd
3rd of 51
43rd
43rd of 51
SSI Ethics Enforcement Agencies ScoreMost Corrupt States
38.9
47th of 50
68.8
8th of 50
Affordability ScoreArthritis Friendly States
3
tied last of 50
27
tied 7th of 50
Excessive Drinking RateAlcohol Consumption by State
20.0%
41st of 50
11.4%
2nd of 50
WH Environmental QualityGreenest States
9th
9th of 50
48th
48th of 50
Lowest- Cost Bronze Premium (Avg)Obamacare Prices by State
$384
tied 9th of 51
$775
49th of 51
% of Hate Crimes with Racial/Ethnic/Ancestry BiasMost Racist States
60.8%
44th of 51
43.3%
5th of 51
Meth Use Past MonthDrug Use by State
0.79%
12th of 51
2.69%
51st of 51
Skin Cancer Death RatesSkin Cancer Rates by State
1.8
tied 8th of 48
3
47th of 48
Education Racial Integration RankLeast Racist States
41st
41st of 51
3rd
3rd of 51
Opioid Death RateOpioid Epidemic by State
19.1 per 1k pop.
13th of 51
48.9 per 1k pop.
51st of 51
School Safety RankPublic School Rankings by State
4th
4th of 50
41st
41st of 50
Lowest- Cost Silver Premium (Avg)Obamacare Prices by State
$513
tied 11th of 51
$1,036
49th of 51
Annual SalaryFirefighter Salary by State
$39,208
46th of 50
$47,887
10th of 50
Hourly WageFirefighter Salary by State
$18.85
46th of 50
$23.02
10th of 50
Mitigation Efforts RankFood Waste by State
40th
11th best of 50
4th
4th worst of 50
Monthly PayFirefighter Salary by State
$3,267
46th of 50
$3,990
10th of 50
WH 2023 Total ScoreGreenest States
66.08
14th of 50
19.3
50th of 50
Lake Surface Area (mi)Bass Fishing by State
430
8th of 50
4.1
tied 43rd of 50
Medical Cannabis CostMarijuana Cost by State
$290
12th of 50
$363
tied 47th of 50
SSI Electoral Oversight ScoreMost Corrupt States
81.3
5th of 50
56.9
tied 40th of 50
Weekly PayFirefighter Salary by State
$754
46th of 50
$920
tied 10th of 50
US HighwayAccidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State
7.77%
9th of 44
47.4%
40th of 44
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, Michigan or West Virginia?
Michigan comes out ahead of West Virginia on 491 of 802 statistics where one end is better, to 286 with 25 ties. Michigan leads on Sports, Facts & Trivia and Health and 9 more categories. West Virginia leads on Agriculture, Travel and Crime & Safety and 1 more category. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Michigan or West Virginia?
Michigan has a population of 10,155,806 (10th of 51 US states) and West Virginia has 1,764,892 (39th of 51).
How do Michigan and West Virginia compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Michigan $72,875 (36th of 51), West Virginia $59,608 (50th of 51) among US states. Michigan ranks better.
How do Michigan and West Virginia compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
Unemployment Rate (%): Michigan 5.2% (tied 46th of 51), West Virginia 4.2% (tied 30th of 51) among US states. West Virginia ranks better.
Where does Michigan beat West Virginia most clearly?
Michigan ranks far ahead on Fatality Rate (Floods by State): 0.06 vs 1.68; Mean Wind Speed at 33 ft (Windiest States in the U.S.): 7.1 mph vs 2.79 mph; InterstateAccidents 2018-2022 (Jaywalking Laws By State): 3.38% vs 21.1%.
Where does West Virginia beat Michigan most clearly?
West Virginia ranks far ahead on SSI Executive Accountability Score (Most Corrupt States): 72.7 vs 26.8; SSI Pension Fund Management Score (Most Corrupt States): 80 vs 30.4; SSI Legislative Accountability Score (Most Corrupt States): 71.3 vs 36.3.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Michigan or West Virginia.