South Dakota vs West Virginia
South Dakota comes out ahead of West Virginia on 482 of 790 statistics where one end is better, to 298 with 10 ties. South Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Education and Agriculture and 10 more categories. West Virginia leads on Travel, Politics & Government and Crime & Safety.
790 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
- 482
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 13
- Wins
- 298
- Avg. percentile
- 39
- Categories led
- 3
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.
| Statistic | South Dakota | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 943,078 46th of 51 | 1,764,892 39th of 51 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $75,081 31st of 51 | $59,608 50th of 51 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS) | 2.1% 1st of 51 | 4.2% tied 30th of 51 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | 11.9% 27th of 51 | 16.7% 48th of 51 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities) | 88.6 6th of 51 | 89.5 9th of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $69,153 5th of 51 | $50,051 50th of 51 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS) | $57,610 45th of 51 | $56,470 49th of 51 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census) | $946 2nd of 51 | $872 1st of 51 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI) | 307.5 28th of 51 | 241.7 20th of 51 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages) | 7,633 42nd of 48 | 5,067 22nd of 48 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Facts & TriviaSouth Dakota · 18 statistics
- EducationSouth Dakota · 51 statistics
- AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
- HealthSouth Dakota · 187 statistics
- EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 38 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
- CultureSouth Dakota · 78 statistics
- GeographySouth Dakota · 25 statistics
- PopulationSouth Dakota · 124 statistics
- Tech & BusinessSouth Dakota · 48 statistics
- SportsSouth Dakota · 16 statistics
- EconomicsSouth Dakota · 293 statistics
- TravelWest Virginia · 29 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentWest Virginia · 124 statistics
- LawSouth Dakota · 64 statistics
- Crime & SafetyWest Virginia · 70 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.
| Statistic | South Dakota | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Drug Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States | 10.3 2nd of 51 | 77.8 51st of 51 |
| Opioid Death RateOpioid Epidemic by State | 11.9 per 1k pop. 2nd of 51 | 48.9 per 1k pop. 51st of 51 |
| Infrastructure RankWorst States to Live in | 49th 2nd best of 50 | 1st worst of 50 |
| Work Environment RankHappiest States | 3rd 2nd of 50 | 50th 50th of 50 |
| Opioid Use Rate (Per 100k)Opioid Epidemic by State | 1,221.13 3rd of 51 | 4,203.17 51st of 51 |
| Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 42.07 1st of 51 | 78.32 49th of 51 |
| Total Drug Use RateDrug Use by State | 2,569 per 100k 3rd of 51 | 6,297 per 100k 51st of 51 |
| Annual Cost IncreaseGrocery Prices by State | 12.6% 50th of 50 | 3.7% tied 3rd of 50 |
| Age-Adjusted Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 17.2% tied 3rd of 49 | 29.0% 49th of 49 |
| Prevalence Of Depression 2021Most Depressed States | 16.5% 4th of 50 | 27.5% 50th of 50 |
| Crude Depression RateDepression Rates by State | 16.5% 4th of 49 | 27.5% 49th of 49 |
| Forest Coverage (1-10)Best States for Camping | 0.25 48th of 49 | 8.81 3rd of 49 |
| Amphetamine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 255.84 5th of 51 | 628.47 51st of 51 |
| Cocaine Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State | 385.47 3rd of 51 | 810.73 49th of 51 |
| Forest CoverageOff-Grid Living Legal States | 3.93% 48th of 50 | 79.0% 3rd of 50 |
| EconomyBest States to Live In | 5th 5th of 49 | 50th 49th of 49 |
| Prisoners, American Indian/Alaskan NativePrison Population by State | 1,473 46th of 49 | 2 2nd of 49 |
| Participation RateLabor Force Participation Rate by State | 67.2% tied 5th of 51 | 54.3% 51st of 51 |
| Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State | $69,153 5th of 51 | $50,051 50th of 51 |
| Depression RatesHealthiest States | 18.2 6th of 50 | 30.2 50th of 50 |
| Family-RelatedMost Stressed States | 50th best of 50 | 6th 6th worst of 50 |
| InfrastructureBest States to Live In | 6th 6th of 49 | 50th 49th of 49 |
| Avg Cost per MbpsInternet Costs by State | $0.69 tied 4th of 51 | $1.88 49th of 51 |
| CAS Legal Judicial Corruption Level (1-5)Most Corrupt States | 1 tied 1st of 48 | 4 tied last of 48 |
| Getting Insufficient SleepHealthiest States | 31.2% 6th of 51 | 41.3% 50th of 51 |
| NAEP Math ScoresBest States for Education | 281 6th of 50 | 261 49th of 50 |
| Consumer Affairs Overall RankGreenest States | 8th 8th of 51 | 51st 51st of 51 |
| Health Care RankDisability Benefits by State | 49th 49th of 51 | 6th 6th of 51 |
| Household Income DiversityMost Diverse US States | 7th 7th of 50 | 49th 49th of 50 |
| InmatesFederal Prisons by State | 343 2nd of 36 | 7,814 32nd of 36 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, South Dakota or West Virginia?
- South Dakota comes out ahead of West Virginia on 482 of 790 statistics where one end is better, to 298 with 10 ties. South Dakota leads on Facts & Trivia, Education and Agriculture and 10 more categories. West Virginia leads on Travel, Politics & Government and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, South Dakota or West Virginia?
- South Dakota has a population of 943,078 (46th of 51 US states) and West Virginia has 1,764,892 (39th of 51).
- How do South Dakota and West Virginia compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51), West Virginia $59,608 (50th of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
- How do South Dakota and West Virginia compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?
- Unemployment Rate (%): South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51), West Virginia 4.2% (tied 30th of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
- Where does South Dakota beat West Virginia most clearly?
- South Dakota ranks far ahead on Drug Deaths Per 100k (Healthiest States): 10.3 vs 77.8; Opioid Death Rate (Opioid Epidemic by State): 11.9 per 1k pop. vs 48.9 per 1k pop.; Infrastructure Rank (Worst States to Live in): 49th vs 1st.
- Where does West Virginia beat South Dakota most clearly?
- West Virginia ranks far ahead on Annual Cost Increase (Grocery Prices by State): 3.7% vs 12.6%; Forest Coverage (1-10) (Best States for Camping): 8.81 vs 0.25; Forest Coverage (Off-Grid Living Legal States): 79.0% vs 3.93%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with South Dakota or West Virginia.
- 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 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