

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.
| Statistic | Michigan | West 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.
| Statistic | Michigan | West 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 |
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.
- Alabama vs Michigan
- Alaska vs Michigan
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- California vs Michigan
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- Arizona vs West Virginia
- Arkansas vs West Virginia
- California vs West Virginia
- Colorado vs West Virginia
- Connecticut vs West Virginia
- Delaware vs West Virginia