North Dakota vs West Virginia

North Dakota comes out ahead of West Virginia on 495 of 784 statistics where one end is better, to 275 with 14 ties. North Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Health and Agriculture and 12 more categories. West Virginia leads on Travel.

784 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 14 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Wins
495
Avg. percentile
55
Categories led
15
Wins
275
Avg. percentile
39
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

StatisticNorth DakotaWest Virginia
Population
805,329
47th of 51
1,764,892
39th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
$76,657
28th of 51
$59,608
50th of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)
2.6%
3rd of 51
4.2%
tied 30th of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
10.8%
20th of 51
16.7%
48th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)
89.0
8th of 51
89.5
9th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State
$65,271
7th of 51
$50,051
50th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)
$64,050
31st of 51
$56,470
49th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
$954
tied 4th of 51
$872
1st of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)
238.1
18th of 51
241.7
20th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)
9,184
48th of 48
5,067
22nd of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Facts & TriviaNorth Dakota · 17 statistics
  • HealthNorth Dakota · 186 statistics
  • AgricultureNorth Dakota · 17 statistics
  • EducationNorth Dakota · 51 statistics
  • Infrastructure & EnergyNorth Dakota · 36 statistics
  • TravelWest Virginia · 28 statistics
  • CultureNorth Dakota · 79 statistics
  • PopulationNorth Dakota · 124 statistics
  • Tech & BusinessNorth Dakota · 48 statistics
  • EconomicsNorth Dakota · 299 statistics
  • SportsNorth Dakota · 17 statistics
  • LawNorth Dakota · 64 statistics
  • EnvironmentNorth Dakota · 38 statistics
  • Crime & SafetyNorth Dakota · 59 statistics
  • GeographyNorth Dakota · 25 statistics
  • Politics & GovernmentNorth Dakota · 121 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticNorth DakotaWest Virginia
Depression RateMental Health Statistics by State
3,583 per 100k
1st of 51
6,299 per 100k
51st of 51
Depression Rate Ages 0-14Mental Health Statistics by State
987 per 100k
1st of 51
1,980 per 100k
51st of 51
Average Math SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State
623
1st of 51
437
50th of 51
Average Total SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State
1,254
1st of 51
911
50th of 51
Avg Income of Bottom 90% FamiliesIncome Inequality by State
$56,154
2nd of 51
$25,014
51st of 51
Difference from National Average SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State
225
1st of 51
-118
50th of 51
Excessive Drinking RateAlcohol Consumption by State
24.7%
50th of 50
11.4%
2nd of 50
Participation RateLabor Force Participation Rate by State
69.6%
tied 2nd of 51
54.3%
51st of 51
Average EBRW SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State
631
2nd of 51
474
50th of 51
DUI RateWorst Drivers by State
3.7 per 1k drivers
51st of 51
0.6 per 1k drivers
tied 2nd of 51
Economic RankDisability Benefits by State
1st
1st of 51
49th
49th of 51
Forest CoverageOff-Grid Living Legal States
1.72%
50th of 50
79.0%
3rd of 50
Avg Cost per MbpsInternet Costs by State
$0.64
2nd of 51
$1.88
49th of 51
Drug Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States
15.6
4th of 51
77.8
51st of 51
Opioid Use Rate (Per 100k)Opioid Epidemic by State
1,253.25
4th of 51
4,203.17
51st of 51
Total Drug Use RateDrug Use by State
2,595 per 100k
4th of 51
6,297 per 100k
51st of 51
Annual Crude Mortality Rate in PrisonsWorst Prisons by State
5.18
1st of 46
62.59
43rd of 46
Opioid Death RateOpioid Epidemic by State
14.8 per 1k pop.
5th of 51
48.9 per 1k pop.
51st of 51
Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State
42.59
3rd of 51
78.32
49th of 51
Alcohol Use Past MonthDrug Use by State
59.7%
47th of 51
40.8%
2nd of 51
Total ScoreBest States to Raise a Family
59.6
4th of 50
34.86
48th of 50
Excessive DrinkersHealthiest States
20.5%
tied 46th of 50
14.0%
3rd of 50
Driving IncidentsWorst Drivers by State
64.0 per 1k drivers
51st of 51
26.0 per 1k drivers
7th of 51
GDP per CapitaGDP by State
$79,501
6th of 50
$47,092
49th of 50
InfrastructureBest States to Live In
7th
7th of 49
50th
49th of 49
Health Racial Progress RankLeast Racist States
1st
1st of 47
41st
41st of 47
Avg. Annual Retirement Income (ZR)Average Retirement Income by State
$66,321
7th of 51
$48,525
50th of 51
Experienced Any Domestic Violence in Lifetime - WomenDomestic Violence by State
27.1%
4th of 51
44.1%
47th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State
$65,271
7th of 51
$50,051
50th of 51
Infrastructure RankWorst States to Live in
43rd
8th best of 50
1st
worst of 50
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, North Dakota or West Virginia?
North Dakota comes out ahead of West Virginia on 495 of 784 statistics where one end is better, to 275 with 14 ties. North Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Health and Agriculture and 12 more categories. West Virginia leads on Travel. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, North Dakota or West Virginia?
North Dakota has a population of 805,329 (47th of 51 US states) and West Virginia has 1,764,892 (39th of 51).
How do North Dakota and West Virginia compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: North Dakota $76,657 (28th of 51), West Virginia $59,608 (50th of 51) among US states. North Dakota ranks better.
How do North Dakota and West Virginia compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
Unemployment Rate (%): North Dakota 2.6% (3rd of 51), West Virginia 4.2% (tied 30th of 51) among US states. North Dakota ranks better.
Where does North Dakota beat West Virginia most clearly?
North Dakota ranks far ahead on Depression Rate (Mental Health Statistics by State): 3,583 per 100k vs 6,299 per 100k; Depression Rate Ages 0-14 (Mental Health Statistics by State): 987 per 100k vs 1,980 per 100k; Average Math SAT Score (SAT Scores by State): 623 vs 437.
Where does West Virginia beat North Dakota most clearly?
West Virginia ranks far ahead on Excessive Drinking Rate (Alcohol Consumption by State): 11.4% vs 24.7%; DUI Rate (Worst Drivers by State): 0.6 per 1k drivers vs 3.7 per 1k drivers; Forest Coverage (Off-Grid Living Legal States): 79.0% vs 1.72%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with North Dakota or West Virginia.