

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.
| Statistic | North Dakota | West 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.
| Statistic | North Dakota | West 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 |
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.
- Alabama vs North Dakota
- Alaska vs North Dakota
- Arizona vs North Dakota
- Arkansas vs North Dakota
- California vs North Dakota
- Colorado vs North Dakota
- Connecticut vs North Dakota
- Delaware vs North Dakota
- 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