

South Dakota vs Washington
Washington comes out ahead of South Dakota on 441 of 788 statistics where one end is better, to 338 with 9 ties. South Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Travel and Facts & Trivia and 3 more categories. Washington leads on Education, Health and Tech & Business and 7 more categories.
788 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 9 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 338
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 6
- Wins
- 441
- Avg. percentile
- 57
- Categories led
- 10
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | South Dakota | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 943,078 46th of 51 | 8,074,082 13th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $75,081 31st of 51 | $98,141 8th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 2.1% 1st of 51 | 4.7% tied 43rd of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 11.9% 27th of 51 | 9.9% 8th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 88.6 6th of 51 | 107.0 46th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $69,153 5th of 51 | $64,421 10th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $57,610 45th of 51 | $83,330 3rd of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $946 2nd of 51 | $1,760 46th of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 307.5 28th of 51 | 283.9 25th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 7,633 42nd of 48 | 5,610 25th of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- EducationWashington · 51 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
- HealthWashington · 183 statistics
- Tech & BusinessWashington · 48 statistics
- Crime & SafetyWashington · 74 statistics
- SportsWashington · 16 statistics
- EconomicsWashington · 291 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentWashington · 125 statistics
- EnvironmentWashington · 38 statistics
- TravelSouth Dakota · 29 statistics
- Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 18 statistics
- PopulationWashington · 123 statistics
- GeographySouth Dakota · 25 statistics
- AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
- CultureWashington · 78 statistics
- LawSouth Dakota · 64 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | South Dakota | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Average Engagement Ring CostEngagement Ring Cost by State | $3,005 1st of 51 | $10,109 51st of 51 |
| Eggflation (Cost Increase Per Dozen)Egg Prices by State | 137.0% 49th of 50 | 15.0% 1st of 50 |
| 75th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $52,100 51st of 51 | $103,860 3rd of 51 |
| Employment RateEmployment Rate by State | 98.1% 1st of 51 | 95.5% 49th of 51 |
| Median Teacher SalaryTeacher Pay by State | $48,010 50th of 51 | $93,810 2nd of 51 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 91.9 2nd of 51 | 103.9 49th of 51 |
| RN Annual MeanNurses Pay by State | $69,030 51st of 51 | $111,030 4th of 51 |
| RN Hourly MeanNurses Pay by State | $33.19 51st of 51 | $53.38 4th of 51 |
| FTE Lack of Laws RankMost Corrupt States | 2nd 2nd worst of 50 | 48th 3rd best of 50 |
| 10th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $38,620 47th of 51 | $61,760 1st of 51 |
| 90th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $59,840 51st of 51 | $111,580 5th of 51 |
| Annual Mean WageSonographer Salary by State | $65,110 49th of 51 | $103,700 3rd of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageSonographer Salary by State | $31.30 49th of 51 | $49.85 3rd of 51 |
| Opioid Death RateOpioid Epidemic by State | 11.9 per 1k pop. 2nd of 51 | 37.6 per 1k pop. 48th of 51 |
| RN Annual MedianNurses Pay by State | $67,030 50th of 51 | $107,720 4th of 51 |
| RN Hourly MedianNurses Pay by State | $32.23 50th of 51 | $51.79 4th 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 | 0.0437 46th of 50 |
| FTE Convictions per Capita RankMost Corrupt States | 4th 4th worst of 50 | 49th 2nd best 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 | 43.7 per 100k person-years 46th of 50 |
| Unemployment Rate JulyUnemployment Rate by State | 2 1st of 51 | 5 tied 46th of 51 |
| 25th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State | $46,500 46th of 51 | $77,990 1st of 51 |
| Annual Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $64,500 51st of 51 | $101,670 6th of 51 |
| Chronically HomelessHomeless Population by State | 151 5th of 51 | 11,986 50th of 51 |
| Hourly Mean WageNurse Salary by State | $31.01 51st of 51 | $48.88 6th of 51 |
| Annual Median WageSonographer Salary by State | $65,300 48th of 51 | $104,810 3rd of 51 |
| Hourly Median WageSonographer Salary by State | $31.40 48th of 51 | $50.39 3rd of 51 |
| Overall Racial Integration ScoreLeast Racist States | 50 49th of 51 | 71.11 4th of 51 |
| Mitigation Efforts RankFood Waste by State | 1st worst of 50 | 45th 6th best of 50 |
| Local Taxes RankBest States to Retire | 1st tied 1st of 50 | 45th 45th of 50 |
| Avg. Internet SpeedAverage Internet Speed by State | 191.7 49th of 51 | 451 5th of 51 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, South Dakota or Washington?
- Washington comes out ahead of South Dakota on 441 of 788 statistics where one end is better, to 338 with 9 ties. South Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Travel and Facts & Trivia and 3 more categories. Washington leads on Education, Health and Tech & Business 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 Washington?
- South Dakota has a population of 943,078 (46th of 51 US states) and Washington has 8,074,082 (13th of 51).
- How do South Dakota and Washington compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51), Washington $98,141 (8th of 51) among US states. Washington ranks better.
- How do South Dakota and Washington compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51), Washington 4.7% (tied 43rd of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
- Where does South Dakota beat Washington most clearly?
- South Dakota ranks far ahead on Average Engagement Ring Cost (Engagement Ring Cost by State): $3,005 vs $10,109; Employment Rate (Employment Rate by State): 98.1% vs 95.5%; Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)): 91.9 vs 103.9.
- Where does Washington beat South Dakota most clearly?
- Washington ranks far ahead on Eggflation (Cost Increase Per Dozen) (Egg Prices by State): 15.0% vs 137.0%; 75th Percentile Wage (Teacher Pay by State): $103,860 vs $52,100; Median Teacher Salary (Teacher Pay by State): $93,810 vs $48,010.
More matchups
Other comparisons with South Dakota or Washington.
- 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 Washington
- Alaska vs Washington
- Arizona vs Washington
- Arkansas vs Washington
- California vs Washington
- Colorado vs Washington
- Connecticut vs Washington
- Delaware vs Washington