

South Dakota vs Utah
Utah comes out ahead of South Dakota on 437 of 791 statistics where one end is better, to 349 with 5 ties. South Dakota leads on Agriculture, Environment and Infrastructure & Energy and 2 more categories. Utah leads on Crime & Safety, Education and Geography and 7 more categories.
791 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 5 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 349
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 5
- Wins
- 437
- Avg. percentile
- 56
- Categories led
- 10
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | South Dakota | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 943,078 46th of 51 | 3,574,825 30th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $75,081 31st of 51 | $95,166 11th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 2.1% 1st of 51 | 3.6% 17th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 11.9% 27th of 51 | 8.5% 2nd of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 88.6 6th of 51 | 98.9 31st of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $69,153 5th of 51 | $55,116 40th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $57,610 45th of 51 | $66,290 21st of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $946 2nd of 51 | $1,496 37th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 307.5 28th of 51 | 235.7 17th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 7,633 42nd of 48 | 6,978 38th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
- Crime & SafetyUtah · 72 statistics
- EducationUtah · 51 statistics
- EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 38 statistics
- GeographyUtah · 25 statistics
- TravelUtah · 29 statistics
- CultureUtah · 77 statistics
- HealthUtah · 187 statistics
- PopulationUtah · 124 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentUtah · 122 statistics
- SportsUtah · 16 statistics
- EconomicsUtah · 292 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
- Tech & BusinessSouth Dakota · 48 statistics
- LawSouth Dakota · 65 statistics
- Facts & TriviaEven · 18 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | South Dakota | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital Health Care Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State | $6,991 51st of 51 | $2,774 1st of 51 |
| Nurses per 1k PopulationNurse-Patient Ratios by State | 15.78 2nd of 51 | 6.75 51st of 51 |
| Industrial Toxin Concentration (US News)Air Quality by State | 108 pounds/mi² 3rd of 50 | 3,460 pounds/mi² 50th of 50 |
| % of Vascular Plant Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 0.9% tied 1st of 51 | 16.6% 49th of 51 |
| Annual Conviction RateMost Corrupt States | 0.85 per 10k Government Employees 48th of 50 | 0.09 per 10k Government Employees 2nd of 50 |
| Corruption Score (BestLife)Most Corrupt States | 3.87 48th of 50 | 94.9 2nd of 50 |
| Religious DiversityLeast Diverse States in the US | 2nd 2nd of 50 | 48th 48th of 50 |
| % of Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 2% tied 1st of 51 | 15.0% tied 47th of 51 |
| Best States for Teachers Total ScoreBest States for Teachers | 38.24 47th of 51 | 59.66 2nd of 51 |
| Share of Minimum Wage Workers IncomeChild Care Cost by State | 36.3% 51st of 51 | 86.8% 6th of 51 |
| FTE Convictions per Capita RankMost Corrupt States | 4th 4th worst of 50 | 48th 3rd best of 50 |
| Amphetamine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 255.84 5th of 51 | 473.58 49th of 51 |
| % of Insured Adult Males Age 18-64 Who Undergo Circumcision Each Year (NCBI 2015-2018)Circumcision Rates by State | 0.195 1st of 50 | 0.0524 44th of 50 |
| Natural Environment RankWorst States to Live in | 46th 5th best of 50 | 3rd 3rd worst of 50 |
| Rates of Circumcision in Insured Adult Males Age 18-64 (NCBI 2015-2018)Circumcision Rates by State | 194.8 per 100k person-years 1st of 50 | 52.4 per 100k person-years 44th of 50 |
| Personal Health Care Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State | $12,495 44th of 51 | $7,522 1st of 51 |
| Environmental Hazards RankFarming-Friendly States | 5th 5th of 50 | 47th 47th of 50 |
| Workplace Safety Rank WalletHubSafest States in the US | 47th 47th of 50 | 5th 5th of 50 |
| Excessive DrinkersHealthiest States | 19.5% tied 42nd of 50 | 11.9% 1st of 50 |
| Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 42.07 1st of 51 | 72.17 43rd of 51 |
| Social and Civic Racial Progress RankLeast Racist States | 46th 46th of 51 | 5th 5th of 51 |
| Chat GPT Messages per Capita RankChatGPT Usage by State | 48th 48th of 51 | 7th 7th of 51 |
| SSI ProcurementMost Corrupt States | 60 43rd of 50 | 83.3 3rd of 50 |
| Driving Fatalities Involving AlcoholAlcohol Consumption by State | 35.2% 40th of 50 | 19.7% 1st of 50 |
| Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States | 16.5% 4th of 50 | 24.4% tied 42nd of 50 |
| Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 16.5% 4th of 49 | 24.4% tied 41st of 49 |
| Median Price: CondosMedian Home Price by State | $225,400 7th of 51 | $527,400 46th of 51 |
| Personnel RankFarming-Friendly States | 7th 7th of 50 | 45th 45th of 50 |
| % of Freshwater Fish Species at RiskMost Biodiverse States | 5.6% tied 10th of 51 | 60.7% 49th of 51 |
| Dealer Max Vehicle TaxCar Dealer Fees by State | 4% tied 4th of 45 | 9.05% 38th of 45 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, South Dakota or Utah?
- Utah comes out ahead of South Dakota on 437 of 791 statistics where one end is better, to 349 with 5 ties. South Dakota leads on Agriculture, Environment and Infrastructure & Energy and 2 more categories. Utah leads on Crime & Safety, Education and Geography and 7 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, South Dakota or Utah?
- South Dakota has a population of 943,078 (46th of 51 US states) and Utah has 3,574,825 (30th of 51).
- How do South Dakota and Utah compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51), Utah $95,166 (11th of 51) among US states. Utah ranks better.
- How do South Dakota and Utah compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51), Utah 3.6% (17th of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
- Where does South Dakota beat Utah most clearly?
- South Dakota ranks far ahead on Nurses per 1k Population (Nurse-Patient Ratios by State): 15.78 vs 6.75; Industrial Toxin Concentration (US News) (Air Quality by State): 108 pounds/mi² vs 3,460 pounds/mi²; % of Vascular Plant Species at Risk (Most Biodiverse States): 0.9% vs 16.6%.
- Where does Utah beat South Dakota most clearly?
- Utah ranks far ahead on Hospital Health Care Cost per Capita (Health Care Costs by State): $2,774 vs $6,991; Annual Conviction Rate (Most Corrupt States): 0.09 per 10k Government Employees vs 0.85 per 10k Government Employees; Corruption Score (BestLife) (Most Corrupt States): 94.9 vs 3.87.
More matchups
Other comparisons with South Dakota or Utah.
- 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
- Alabama vs Utah
- Alaska vs Utah
- Arizona vs Utah
- Arkansas vs Utah
- California vs Utah
- Colorado vs Utah
- Connecticut vs Utah
- Delaware vs Utah