

New Jersey vs Pennsylvania
New Jersey comes out ahead of Pennsylvania on 461 of 807 statistics where one end is better, to 325 with 21 ties. New Jersey leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Education and 5 more categories. Pennsylvania leads on Agriculture, Sports and Law and 4 more categories.
807 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 21 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 461
- Avg. percentile
- 56
- Categories led
- 8
- Wins
- 325
- Avg. percentile
- 51
- Categories led
- 7
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | New Jersey | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,590,076 11th of 51 | 13,073,016 5th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $103,556 4th of 51 | $77,971 24th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 5.2% tied 46th of 51 | 4.3% tied 33rd of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 9.72% 6th of 51 | 11.7% 25th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 108.8 48th of 51 | 97.6 28th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $63,142 12th of 51 | $58,620 24th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $78,040 6th of 51 | $65,730 25th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,720 45th of 51 | $1,209 24th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 193.8 6th of 51 | 226.8 14th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 5,168 23rd of 48 | 5,700 28th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyNew Jersey · 76 statistics
- HealthNew Jersey · 184 statistics
- AgriculturePennsylvania · 17 statistics
- SportsPennsylvania · 17 statistics
- LawPennsylvania · 73 statistics
- EducationNew Jersey · 51 statistics
- GeographyNew Jersey · 25 statistics
- PopulationNew Jersey · 120 statistics
- EconomicsNew Jersey · 296 statistics
- EnvironmentNew Jersey · 39 statistics
- Tech & BusinessNew Jersey · 48 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergyPennsylvania · 36 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentPennsylvania · 127 statistics
- Facts & TriviaPennsylvania · 18 statistics
- TravelPennsylvania · 29 statistics
- CultureEven · 79 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | New Jersey | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Laws and Regulations RankBest States to Homeschool | 1st 1st of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Avg Annual WageClinical Psychologist Salary by State | $164,110 1st of 49 | $73,700 47th of 49 |
| Avg Hourly WageClinical Psychologist Salary by State | 78.9 1st of 49 | 35.43 47th of 49 |
| Annual SalaryIUOE Pay Scale by State | $58,438 1st of 50 | $44,692 45th of 50 |
| Hourly WageIUOE Pay Scale by State | $28.10 1st of 50 | $21.49 45th of 50 |
| Monthly PayIUOE Pay Scale by State | $4,869 1st of 50 | $3,724 45th of 50 |
| Capital Gains RateCapital Gains Tax by State | 10.8% tied 40th of 43 | 3.07% 3rd of 43 |
| Weekly PayIUOE Pay Scale by State | $1,123 tied 1st of 50 | $859 45th of 50 |
| County Road Accidents 2018-2022Jaywalking Laws By State | 21.8% 25th of 27 | 0.67% 2nd of 27 |
| Income Tax Maximum RateTaxes by State | 10.8% 40th of 43 | 3.07% 3rd of 43 |
| Lake Surface Area (acres)Bass Fishing by State | 2,560 45th of 50 | 6,342,400 tied 1st of 50 |
| Lake Surface Area (mi)Bass Fishing by State | 4 45th of 50 | 9,910 tied 1st of 50 |
| AnnualBCBA Salary by State | $83,183 1st of 49 | $61,973 43rd of 49 |
| HourlyBCBA Salary by State | $39.99 1st of 49 | $29.80 43rd of 49 |
| MonthlyBCBA Salary by State | $6,931 1st of 49 | $5,164 43rd of 49 |
| WeeklyBCBA Salary by State | $1,599 1st of 49 | $1,191 43rd of 49 |
| Taxes Charged on Lottery WinningsTaxes on Lottery Winnings by State | 8% tied 33rd of 37 | 3.07% 2nd of 37 |
| Max RateTax Rates by State | 10.8% tied 40th of 44 | 3.07% 3rd of 44 |
| SSI Civil Service Management ScoreMost Corrupt States | 71.5 2nd of 50 | 54 44th of 50 |
| Driving IncidentsWorst Drivers by State | 58.8 per 1k drivers 50th of 51 | 26.5 per 1k drivers 8th of 51 |
| % Change in Prison Pop. 2022 to 2023Prison Population by State | -982.0% 2nd of 50 | 950.0% 43rd of 50 |
| Combined 7 SeriesVaccination Rates by State | 66.3% 47th of 51 | 77.1% 6th of 51 |
| Experienced Any Domestic Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State | 21.0% 1st of 51 | 41.3% 42nd of 51 |
| Median Annual WageClinical Psychologist Salary by State | $145,810 1st of 49 | $68,800 40th of 49 |
| VaricellaVaccination Rates by State | 88.8% 43rd of 51 | 94.3% tied 2nd of 51 |
| Accident RateWorst Drivers by State | 31.5 per 1k drivers 51st of 51 | 14.7 per 1k drivers 11th of 51 |
| Average IVF CostIVF Cost by State | $9,350 6th of 51 | $11,976 46th of 51 |
| Crime Cost per CapitaMost Dangerous Cities by State | $376 5th of 45 | $2,240 40th of 45 |
| Domestic Violence with IPV-Related Impact in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State | 18.6% 1st of 51 | 37.0% 40th of 51 |
| Best Education Rank (USNews)Best States for Education | 1st 1st of 50 | 39th 39th of 50 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, New Jersey or Pennsylvania?
- New Jersey comes out ahead of Pennsylvania on 461 of 807 statistics where one end is better, to 325 with 21 ties. New Jersey leads on Crime & Safety, Health and Education and 5 more categories. Pennsylvania leads on Agriculture, Sports and Law and 4 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, New Jersey or Pennsylvania?
- New Jersey has a population of 9,590,076 (11th of 51 US states) and Pennsylvania has 13,073,016 (5th of 51).
- How do New Jersey and Pennsylvania compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: New Jersey $103,556 (4th of 51), Pennsylvania $77,971 (24th of 51) among US states. New Jersey ranks better.
- How do New Jersey and Pennsylvania compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): New Jersey 5.2% (tied 46th of 51), Pennsylvania 4.3% (tied 33rd of 51) among US states. Pennsylvania ranks better.
- Where does New Jersey beat Pennsylvania most clearly?
- New Jersey ranks far ahead on Laws and Regulations Rank (Best States to Homeschool): 1st vs 50th; Avg Annual Wage (Clinical Psychologist Salary by State): $164,110 vs $73,700; Avg Hourly Wage (Clinical Psychologist Salary by State): 78.9 vs 35.43.
- Where does Pennsylvania beat New Jersey most clearly?
- Pennsylvania ranks far ahead on Capital Gains Rate (Capital Gains Tax by State): 3.07% vs 10.8%; County Road Accidents 2018-2022 (Jaywalking Laws By State): 0.67% vs 21.8%; Income Tax Maximum Rate (Taxes by State): 3.07% vs 10.8%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
- Alabama vs New Jersey
- Alaska vs New Jersey
- Arizona vs New Jersey
- Arkansas vs New Jersey
- California vs New Jersey
- Colorado vs New Jersey
- Connecticut vs New Jersey
- Delaware vs New Jersey
- Alabama vs Pennsylvania
- Alaska vs Pennsylvania
- Arizona vs Pennsylvania
- Arkansas vs Pennsylvania
- California vs Pennsylvania
- Colorado vs Pennsylvania
- Connecticut vs Pennsylvania
- Delaware vs Pennsylvania