South Carolina vs South Dakota
South Dakota comes out ahead of South Carolina on 489 of 789 statistics where one end is better, to 290 with 10 ties. South Carolina leads on Sports and Travel. South Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Education and 10 more categories.
789 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 10 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 290
- Avg. percentile
- 42
- Categories led
- 2
- Wins
- 489
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 13
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | South Carolina | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,650,232 23rd of 51 | 943,078 46th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $69,324 43rd of 51 | $75,081 31st of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.5% tied 37th of 51 | 2.1% 1st of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 14.1% 42nd of 51 | 11.9% 27th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 93.7 19th of 51 | 88.6 6th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $52,463 45th of 51 | $69,153 5th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $59,280 43rd of 51 | $57,610 45th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $1,180 22nd of 51 | $946 2nd of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 387.6 38th of 51 | 307.5 28th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,586 6th of 48 | 7,633 42nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
- AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
- EducationSouth Dakota · 51 statistics
- Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 18 statistics
- CultureSouth Dakota · 78 statistics
- EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 38 statistics
- GeographySouth Dakota · 25 statistics
- LawSouth Dakota · 64 statistics
- SportsSouth Carolina · 16 statistics
- PopulationSouth Dakota · 124 statistics
- HealthSouth Dakota · 183 statistics
- EconomicsSouth Dakota · 288 statistics
- Tech & BusinessSouth Dakota · 47 statistics
- Crime & SafetySouth Dakota · 73 statistics
- TravelSouth Carolina · 29 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentEven · 124 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | South Carolina | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Booker RankBest States for Fishing | 5th 5th of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| Forest Coverage (1-10)Best States for Camping | 7.58 6th of 49 | 0.25 48th of 49 |
| Annual Conviction RateMost Corrupt States | 0.13 per 10k Government Employees tied 5th of 50 | 0.85 per 10k Government Employees 48th of 50 |
| Student Loan Average Borrower DebtStudent Loan Debt by State | $38,414 46th of 51 | $30,954 3rd of 51 |
| Forest CoverageOff-Grid Living Legal States | 68.2% 6th of 50 | 3.93% 48th of 50 |
| Foreclosure RateForeclosure Rates by State | 1,041 9th of 51 | 15,535 51st of 51 |
| Mean Wind Speed at 328 ftWindiest States in the U.S. | 5.94 mph tied 49th of 51 | 8.96 mph 9th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $52,463 45th of 51 | $69,153 5th of 51 |
| # Dentists per 1k jobsDentist Salary by State | 1.03 5th of 50 | 0.6 44th of 50 |
| Avg Annual FatalitiesDeadliest Highway by State | 30 43rd of 50 | 5.5 4th of 50 |
| Richest Person AgeRichest Person by State | 60 tied 40th of 47 | 88 tied 4th of 47 |
| Hospital Health Care Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State | $3,417 12th of 51 | $6,991 51st of 51 |
| Climate RankFarming-Friendly States | 9th 9th of 50 | 47th 47th of 50 |
| Workplace Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US | 9th 9th of 50 | 47th 47th of 50 |
| Environmental Hazards RankFarming-Friendly States | 43rd 43rd of 50 | 5th 5th of 50 |
| Family-RelatedMost Stressed States | 12th 12th worst of 50 | 50th best of 50 |
| School Safety RankPublic School Rankings by State | 49th 49th of 50 | 11th 11th of 50 |
| 5 Year Income % ChangeLawyer-Friendly States | -7.42% 48th of 48 | 10.9% 12th of 48 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 2,586 6th of 48 | 7,633 42nd of 48 |
| Nurses per 1k PopulationNurse-Patient Ratios by State | 8.33 40th of 51 | 15.78 2nd of 51 |
| Single Family (Min Appraisal Fees in State)Appraisal Fees by State | $650 tied 1st of 51 | $850 tied 42nd of 51 |
| Industrial Toxin Concentration (US News)Air Quality by State | 1,192 pounds/mi² 40th of 50 | 108 pounds/mi² 3rd of 50 |
| HIV Death RateHIV Statistics by State | 7.0 tied 39th of 51 | 1.1 2nd of 51 |
| Deaths in 1918Spanish Flu Deaths by State | 14,250 42nd of 49 | 1,847 6th of 49 |
| Obesity Rate - BlackMost Obese States | 45.2% 40th of 48 | 29.1% 5th of 48 |
| InmatesFederal Prisons by State | 4,189 28th of 36 | 343 2nd of 36 |
| Wage Increase 2023-24Minimum Wage Increases by State | 7.25 tied 1st of 32 | 0.4 26th of 32 |
| Cocaine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 677.56 40th of 51 | 385.47 3rd of 51 |
| Drug Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States | 40.5 39th of 51 | 10.3 2nd of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 4.5% tied 37th of 51 | 2.1% 1st of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, South Carolina or South Dakota?
- South Dakota comes out ahead of South Carolina on 489 of 789 statistics where one end is better, to 290 with 10 ties. South Carolina leads on Sports and Travel. South Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Education and 10 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, South Carolina or South Dakota?
- South Carolina has a population of 5,650,232 (23rd of 51 US states) and South Dakota has 943,078 (46th of 51).
- How do South Carolina and South Dakota compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: South Carolina $69,324 (43rd of 51), South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
- How do South Carolina and South Dakota compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): South Carolina 4.5% (tied 37th of 51), South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
- Where does South Carolina beat South Dakota most clearly?
- South Carolina ranks far ahead on Fishing Booker Rank (Best States for Fishing): 5th vs 49th; Forest Coverage (1-10) (Best States for Camping): 7.58 vs 0.25; Annual Conviction Rate (Most Corrupt States): 0.13 per 10k Government Employees vs 0.85 per 10k Government Employees.
- Where does South Dakota beat South Carolina most clearly?
- South Dakota ranks far ahead on Student Loan Average Borrower Debt (Student Loan Debt by State): $30,954 vs $38,414; Mean Wind Speed at 328 ft (Windiest States in the U.S.): 8.96 mph vs 5.94 mph; Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars) (Real Personal Income by State): $69,153 vs $52,463.
More matchups
Other comparisons with South Carolina or South Dakota.
- Alabama vs South Carolina
- Alaska vs South Carolina
- Arizona vs South Carolina
- Arkansas vs South Carolina
- California vs South Carolina
- Colorado vs South Carolina
- Connecticut vs South Carolina
- Delaware vs South Carolina
- Alabama vs South Dakota
- Alaska vs South Dakota
- Arizona vs South Dakota
- Arkansas vs South Dakota
- California vs South Dakota
- Colorado vs South Dakota
- Connecticut vs South Dakota
- Delaware vs South Dakota