Which has more people, South Dakota or Tennessee?

South Dakota has a population of 943,078 (46th of 51 US states) and Tennessee has 7,378,861 (15th of 51).

How do South Dakota and Tennessee compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51), Tennessee $69,595 (42nd of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

How do South Dakota and Tennessee compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?

Unemployment Rate (%): South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51), Tennessee 3.5% (tied 15th of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

Where does South Dakota beat Tennessee most clearly?

South Dakota ranks far ahead on Drug Deaths Per 100k (Healthiest States): 10.3 vs 50.7; Opioid Use Rate (Per 100k) (Opioid Epidemic by State): 1,221.13 vs 3,229.67; Avg Annual Fatalities (Deadliest Highway by State): 5.5 vs 52.

Where does Tennessee beat South Dakota most clearly?

Tennessee ranks far ahead on SSI Civil Service Management Score (Most Corrupt States): 69.9 vs 50.7; Hospital Health Care Cost per Capita (Health Care Costs by State): $3,313 vs $6,991; FTE Lack of Laws Rank (Most Corrupt States): 43rd vs 2nd.

South Dakota vs Tennessee

South Dakota comes out ahead of Tennessee on 426 of 776 statistics where one end is better, to 335 with 15 ties. South Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Infrastructure & Energy and Environment and 8 more categories. Tennessee leads on Travel, Politics & Government and Sports.

776 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 15 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

South Dakota

Wins: 426
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 11

Tennessee

Wins: 335
Avg. percentile: 46
Categories led: 3

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	South Dakota	Tennessee
Population	943,078 46th of 51	7,378,861 15th of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$75,081 31st of 51	$69,595 42nd of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	2.1% 1st of 51	3.5% tied 15th of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	11.9% 27th of 51	13.8% 39th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	88.6 6th of 51	91.9 14th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$69,153 5th of 51	$58,582 25th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$57,610 45th of 51	$60,800 40th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$946 2nd of 51	$1,189 23rd of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	307.5 28th of 51	492.3 46th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	7,633 42nd of 48	3,753 14th of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 18 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 38 statistics
LawSouth Dakota · 67 statistics
HealthSouth Dakota · 172 statistics
CultureSouth Dakota · 78 statistics
PopulationSouth Dakota · 115 statistics
AgricultureSouth Dakota · 15 statistics
GeographySouth Dakota · 25 statistics
TravelTennessee · 29 statistics
Tech & BusinessSouth Dakota · 47 statistics
Politics & GovernmentTennessee · 122 statistics
EducationSouth Dakota · 51 statistics
SportsTennessee · 16 statistics
Crime & SafetyEven · 73 statistics
EconomicsEven · 289 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	South Dakota	Tennessee
Drug Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States	10.3 2nd of 51	50.7 48th of 51
Opioid Use Rate (Per 100k)Opioid Epidemic by State	1,221.13 3rd of 51	3,229.67 49th of 51
Avg Annual FatalitiesDeadliest Highway by State	5.5 4th of 50	52 49th of 50
Total Drug Use RateDrug Use by State	2,569 per 100k 3rd of 51	5,162 per 100k 48th of 51
Corporate Tax RankBest State To Incorporate In	1st tied 1st of 51	45th 46th of 51
Age-Adjusted Depression RateDepression Rates by State	17.2% tied 3rd of 49	26.0% 46th of 49
Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States	16.5% 4th of 50	25.2% 47th of 50
SSI Civil Service Management ScoreMost Corrupt States	50.7 47th of 50	69.9 4th of 50
Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State	16.5% 4th of 49	25.2% 46th of 49
Hospital Health Care Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State	$6,991 51st of 51	$3,313 8th of 51
Opioid Death RateOpioid Epidemic by State	11.9 per 1k pop. 2nd of 51	35.2 per 1k pop. tied 44th of 51
Deadliest 10 Miles Deaths 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State	20 4th of 50	87 45th of 50
FTE Lack of Laws RankMost Corrupt States	2nd 2nd worst of 50	43rd 8th best of 50
Industrial Toxin Concentration (US News)Air Quality by State	108 pounds/mi² 3rd of 50	1,667 pounds/mi² 44th of 50
Campsite Quality (1-10)Best States for Camping	8.65 7th of 49	2.71 47th of 49
Education Racial Integration RankLeast Racist States	45th 45th of 51	4th 4th of 51
Sales TaxTaxes by State	4.2% 7th of 46	7% tied 42nd of 46
State Sales Tax RateInternet Sales Tax by State	4.2% 7th of 46	7% tied 42nd of 46
State Sales TaxCar Registration Fees by State	4.2% 7th of 45	7% tied 41st of 45
Car Sales Tax RateCar Sales Tax by State	4% tied 4th of 45	7% tied 40th of 45
Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State	42.07 1st of 51	67.8 41st of 51
Share of Minimum Wage Workers IncomeChild Care Cost by State	36.3% 51st of 51	81.2% 11th of 51
Prison PopulationPrivate Prisons by State	45 2nd of 26	6,828 22nd of 26
Average New Car Price With Tax And FeesCar Registration Fees by State	$52,140 7th of 50	$53,731 46th of 50
Deadliest 10 Miles Fatal Crashes 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State	17 4th of 50	74 43rd of 50
Environmental Hazards RankFarming-Friendly States	5th 5th of 50	44th 44th of 50
% of Pop. with Associates DegreeMost Educated U.S. States	13.2% 2nd of 51	8% tied 41st of 51
Getting Insufficient SleepHealthiest States	31.2% 6th of 51	38.8% 45th of 51
Cocaine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State	385.47 3rd of 51	689.73 42nd of 51
Off Grid Via Kuhl Safety ScoreOff-Grid Living Legal States	73.19 11th of 50	31.28 49th 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, South Dakota or Tennessee?: South Dakota comes out ahead of Tennessee on 426 of 776 statistics where one end is better, to 335 with 15 ties. South Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Infrastructure & Energy and Environment and 8 more categories. Tennessee leads on Travel, Politics & Government and Sports. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, South Dakota or Tennessee?: South Dakota has a population of 943,078 (46th of 51 US states) and Tennessee has 7,378,861 (15th of 51).
How do South Dakota and Tennessee compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51), Tennessee $69,595 (42nd of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
How do South Dakota and Tennessee compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51), Tennessee 3.5% (tied 15th of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
Where does South Dakota beat Tennessee most clearly?: South Dakota ranks far ahead on Drug Deaths Per 100k (Healthiest States): 10.3 vs 50.7; Opioid Use Rate (Per 100k) (Opioid Epidemic by State): 1,221.13 vs 3,229.67; Avg Annual Fatalities (Deadliest Highway by State): 5.5 vs 52.
Where does Tennessee beat South Dakota most clearly?: Tennessee ranks far ahead on SSI Civil Service Management Score (Most Corrupt States): 69.9 vs 50.7; Hospital Health Care Cost per Capita (Health Care Costs by State): $3,313 vs $6,991; FTE Lack of Laws Rank (Most Corrupt States): 43rd vs 2nd.

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