Which has more people, South Dakota or Wisconsin?

South Dakota has a population of 943,078 (46th of 51 US states) and Wisconsin has 5,988,406 (21st of 51).

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

Median Household Income: South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51), Wisconsin $77,485 (26th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.

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

Unemployment Rate (%): South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51), Wisconsin 3.2% (tied 7th of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.

Where does South Dakota beat Wisconsin most clearly?

South Dakota ranks far ahead on YoY Median Price Growth: All Home Types (Median Home Price by State): -2.5% vs 8.5%; Urban Roads in Poor Condition (Road Quality by State): 15.8% vs 56.5%; Lyme Disease Cases (Tick Population by State): 7 vs 6,079.

Where does Wisconsin beat South Dakota most clearly?

Wisconsin ranks far ahead on Share of Minimum Wage Workers Income (Child Care Cost by State): 112.4% vs 36.3%; Fatality Rate (Floods by State): 0.07 vs 5.99; McDonalds Happy Meal (Fast Food Prices by State): $3.93 vs $2.79.

South Dakota vs Wisconsin

Wisconsin comes out ahead of South Dakota on 400 of 788 statistics where one end is better, to 370 with 18 ties. South Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Travel and 4 more categories. Wisconsin leads on Sports, Education and Crime & Safety and 5 more categories.

788 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 18 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

South Dakota

Wins: 370
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 7

Wisconsin

Wins: 400
Avg. percentile: 53
Categories led: 8

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	South Dakota	Wisconsin
Population	943,078 46th of 51	5,988,406 21st of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$75,081 31st of 51	$77,485 26th of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	2.1% 1st of 51	3.2% tied 7th of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	11.9% 27th of 51	10.6% 16th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	88.6 6th of 51	94.1 20th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$69,153 5th of 51	$58,273 26th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$57,610 45th of 51	$64,270 30th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$946 2nd of 51	$1,087 19th of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	307.5 28th of 51	240.3 19th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	7,633 42nd of 48	7,528 41st of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

SportsWisconsin · 16 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Dakota · 36 statistics
EducationWisconsin · 51 statistics
AgricultureSouth Dakota · 17 statistics
Crime & SafetyWisconsin · 74 statistics
TravelSouth Dakota · 29 statistics
Politics & GovernmentWisconsin · 123 statistics
Tech & BusinessWisconsin · 48 statistics
EnvironmentSouth Dakota · 37 statistics
HealthWisconsin · 186 statistics
EconomicsWisconsin · 292 statistics
PopulationSouth Dakota · 123 statistics
Facts & TriviaWisconsin · 18 statistics
CultureSouth Dakota · 78 statistics
LawSouth Dakota · 64 statistics
GeographyEven · 25 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	South Dakota	Wisconsin
Share of Minimum Wage Workers IncomeChild Care Cost by State	36.3% 51st of 51	112.4% 2nd of 51
Fatality RateFloods by State	5.99 47th of 47	0.07 4th of 47
McDonalds Happy MealFast Food Prices by State	$2.79 tied 46th of 50	$3.93 1st of 50
YoY Median Price Growth: All Home TypesMedian Home Price by State	-2.5% 3rd of 51	8.5% 49th of 51
10th Percentile WageTeacher Pay by State	$38,620 47th of 51	$49,940 tied 4th of 51
Annual Median WageSonographer Salary by State	$65,300 48th of 51	$95,680 6th of 51
Hourly Median WageSonographer Salary by State	$31.40 48th of 51	$46.00 6th of 51
State Rank State GovtPublic Land by State	49th 48th of 49	10th 9th of 49
Urban Roads in Poor ConditionRoad Quality by State	15.8% 10th of 49	56.5% 48th of 49
Lyme Disease CasesTick Population by State	7 tied 7th of 50	6,079 46th of 50
Annual Mean WageSonographer Salary by State	$65,110 49th of 51	$92,450 10th of 51
Health Care RankDisability Benefits by State	49th 49th of 51	10th 10th of 51
Hourly Mean WageSonographer Salary by State	$31.30 49th of 51	$44.45 10th of 51
Fishing Booker RankBest States for Fishing	49th 49th of 50	11th 11th of 50
Annual Mean WageVeterinarian Salary by State	$101,010 37th of 47	$148,680 2nd of 47
Single Family (Min Appraisal Fees in State)Appraisal Fees by State	$850 tied 42nd of 51	$650 tied 1st of 51
Lyme Disease Cases Reported 2000-2020Tick Population by State	97 8th of 50	42,002 45th of 50
Exp. Physical Violence in Lifetime - MenDomestic Violence by State	28.3% 2nd of 51	44.4% 39th of 51
CAS Legal Judicial Corruption Level (1-5)Most Corrupt States	1 tied 1st of 48	3 tied 36th of 48
Obesity Rate - BlackMost Obese States	29.1% 5th of 48	45.1% tied 38th of 48
LPC License FeeLPC Requirements by State	$225 40th of 46	$62.00 8th of 46
Individual Income Tax RankBest State To Incorporate In	1st tied 1st of 51	38th 38th of 51
Share of Annual Family IncomeChild Care Cost by State	9.4% 51st of 51	16.0% tied 15th of 51
Tax as % of IncomeLeast Taxed States	7.2% 9th of 51	12.8% tied 44th of 51
Estimated TaxesLeast Taxed States	$6,321 9th of 51	$11,198 44th of 51
FatalitiesFloods by State	249 41st of 47	22 tied 9th of 47
Access RankBest States for Fishing	39th 39th of 51	5th 5th of 51
Annual Child Care Cost for 4-Year-OldChild Care Cost by State	$7,893 7th of 51	$14,974 41st of 51
AnnualRadiation Therapist Salary by State	$109,009 5th of 50	$84,023 38th of 50
FTE Convictions per Capita RankMost Corrupt States	4th 4th worst of 50	37th 14th best 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 Wisconsin?: Wisconsin comes out ahead of South Dakota on 400 of 788 statistics where one end is better, to 370 with 18 ties. South Dakota leads on Infrastructure & Energy, Agriculture and Travel and 4 more categories. Wisconsin leads on Sports, Education and Crime & Safety and 5 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, South Dakota or Wisconsin?: South Dakota has a population of 943,078 (46th of 51 US states) and Wisconsin has 5,988,406 (21st of 51).
How do South Dakota and Wisconsin compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: South Dakota $75,081 (31st of 51), Wisconsin $77,485 (26th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.
How do South Dakota and Wisconsin compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): South Dakota 2.1% (1st of 51), Wisconsin 3.2% (tied 7th of 51) among US states. South Dakota ranks better.
Where does South Dakota beat Wisconsin most clearly?: South Dakota ranks far ahead on YoY Median Price Growth: All Home Types (Median Home Price by State): -2.5% vs 8.5%; Urban Roads in Poor Condition (Road Quality by State): 15.8% vs 56.5%; Lyme Disease Cases (Tick Population by State): 7 vs 6,079.
Where does Wisconsin beat South Dakota most clearly?: Wisconsin ranks far ahead on Share of Minimum Wage Workers Income (Child Care Cost by State): 112.4% vs 36.3%; Fatality Rate (Floods by State): 0.07 vs 5.99; McDonalds Happy Meal (Fast Food Prices by State): $3.93 vs $2.79.

More matchups

Other comparisons with South Dakota or Wisconsin.

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