SIDE BY SIDE
How do two states really compare?
See the differences across 31 measures. Change either state, explore a topic, and create a free link to your exact comparison.
vs.
31 MEASURES. TWO PERSPECTIVES.
California & Alabama
| MEASURE | CALIFORNIA | ALABAMA | DIFFERENCE · FIRST MINUS SECOND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population ↗Reported count | 39,431,263#1 of 50 states | 5,157,699#24 of 50 states | +34,273,564 |
| Housing units ↗Reported count | 14,392,140#1 of 50 states | 2,288,330#24 of 50 states | +12,103,810 |
| Vacant housing units ↗Reported count | 1,079,379#3 of 50 states | 322,243#11 of 50 states | +757,136 |
| Reported monthly rent ↗Dollars | $2,104#50 of 50 states | $1,077#12 of 50 states | +$1,027 |
| Employed residents ↗Reported count | 19,240,700#1 of 50 states | 2,344,294#24 of 50 states | +16,896,406 |
| Unemployed residents ↗Reported count | 1,213,681#1 of 50 states | 103,581#26 of 50 states | +1,110,100 |
| Armed Forces personnel ↗Reported count | 148,959#1 of 50 states | 15,210#21 of 50 states | +133,749 |
| Residents outside the labor force ↗Reported count | 11,486,404#1 of 50 states | 1,697,053#20 of 50 states | +9,789,351 |
| Public transportation commuters ↗Reported count | 623,078#2 of 50 states | 10,169#33 of 50 states | +612,909 |
| Residents working from home ↗Reported count | 2,672,106#1 of 50 states | 193,754#28 of 50 states | +2,478,352 |
| Mean commute time ↗Minutes | 29.7 min#46 of 50 states | 26.0 min#27 of 50 states | +3.7 min |
| Median household income ↗Dollars | $100,149#5 of 50 states | $66,659#44 of 50 states | +$33,490 |
| Per capita income ↗Dollars | $49,934#10 of 50 states | $36,940#44 of 50 states | +$12,994 |
| Mean household income ↗Dollars | $140,112#3 of 50 states | $90,741#44 of 50 states | +$49,371 |
| Reported SNAP receipt ↗Reported count | 1,860,876#1 of 50 states | 268,775#20 of 50 states | +1,592,101 |
| Reported Social Security income ↗Reported count | 3,979,060#1 of 50 states | 717,490#21 of 50 states | +3,261,570 |
| Reported retirement income ↗Reported count | 3,039,722#1 of 50 states | 523,035#24 of 50 states | +2,516,687 |
| Reported SSI receipt ↗Reported count | 790,850#1 of 50 states | 131,556#18 of 50 states | +659,294 |
| Reported cash public assistance ↗Reported count | 512,054#1 of 50 states | 28,919#28 of 50 states | +483,135 |
| Residents with health insurance ↗Reported count | 36,664,436#1 of 50 states | 4,655,862#24 of 50 states | +32,008,574 |
| Residents without health insurance ↗Reported count | 2,314,464#3 of 50 states | 417,848#21 of 50 states | +1,896,616 |
| Private health insurance ↗Reported count | 24,647,655#1 of 50 states | 3,426,395#24 of 50 states | +21,221,260 |
| Public health insurance ↗Reported count | 15,996,023#1 of 50 states | 1,921,506#25 of 50 states | +14,074,517 |
| Private wage workers ↗Reported count | 14,876,469#1 of 50 states | 1,809,091#24 of 50 states | +13,067,378 |
| Government workers ↗Reported count | 2,904,921#1 of 50 states | 401,713#20 of 50 states | +2,503,208 |
| Self-employed workers ↗Reported count | 1,421,571#1 of 50 states | 130,343#26 of 50 states | +1,291,228 |
| White non-Hispanic population ↗Reported count | 12,842,211#1 of 50 states | 3,239,077#24 of 50 states | +9,603,134 |
| Black or African American population ↗Reported count | 2,008,322#6 of 50 states | 1,293,728#14 of 50 states | +714,594 |
| American Indian & Alaska Native population ↗Reported count | 105,814#4 of 50 states | 16,318#23 of 50 states | +89,496 |
| Asian population ↗Reported count | 6,243,676#1 of 50 states | 78,339#34 of 50 states | +6,165,337 |
| Hispanic or Latino population ↗Reported count | 16,069,214#1 of 50 states | 306,966#32 of 50 states | +15,762,248 |
Ranks follow each measure’s default order. Counts reflect state size as well as the underlying condition; higher is not automatically better. State comparisons describe separate populations, not the same household across measures.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Supplied extract; descriptive ranks across 50 states.
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