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 & Iowa
| MEASURE | CALIFORNIA | IOWA | DIFFERENCE · FIRST MINUS SECOND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population ↗Reported count | 39,431,263#1 of 50 states | 3,241,488#32 of 50 states | +36,189,775 |
| Housing units ↗Reported count | 14,392,140#1 of 50 states | 1,412,789#30 of 50 states | +12,979,351 |
| Vacant housing units ↗Reported count | 1,079,379#3 of 50 states | 115,049#35 of 50 states | +964,330 |
| Reported monthly rent ↗Dollars | $2,104#50 of 50 states | $981#3 of 50 states | +$1,123 |
| Employed residents ↗Reported count | 19,240,700#1 of 50 states | 1,674,133#31 of 50 states | +17,566,567 |
| Unemployed residents ↗Reported count | 1,213,681#1 of 50 states | 55,020#35 of 50 states | +1,158,661 |
| Armed Forces personnel ↗Reported count | 148,959#1 of 50 states | 2,158#48 of 50 states | +146,801 |
| Residents outside the labor force ↗Reported count | 11,486,404#1 of 50 states | 870,508#33 of 50 states | +10,615,896 |
| Public transportation commuters ↗Reported count | 623,078#2 of 50 states | 13,624#29 of 50 states | +609,454 |
| Residents working from home ↗Reported count | 2,672,106#1 of 50 states | 162,777#32 of 50 states | +2,509,329 |
| Mean commute time ↗Minutes | 29.7 min#46 of 50 states | 20.4 min#8 of 50 states | +9.3 min |
| Median household income ↗Dollars | $100,149#5 of 50 states | $75,501#34 of 50 states | +$24,648 |
| Per capita income ↗Dollars | $49,934#10 of 50 states | $40,536#38 of 50 states | +$9,398 |
| Mean household income ↗Dollars | $140,112#3 of 50 states | $96,497#41 of 50 states | +$43,615 |
| Reported SNAP receipt ↗Reported count | 1,860,876#1 of 50 states | 109,948#35 of 50 states | +1,750,928 |
| Reported Social Security income ↗Reported count | 3,979,060#1 of 50 states | 423,004#31 of 50 states | +3,556,056 |
| Reported retirement income ↗Reported count | 3,039,722#1 of 50 states | 331,372#30 of 50 states | +2,708,350 |
| Reported SSI receipt ↗Reported count | 790,850#1 of 50 states | 51,887#34 of 50 states | +738,963 |
| Reported cash public assistance ↗Reported count | 512,054#1 of 50 states | 22,098#34 of 50 states | +489,956 |
| Residents with health insurance ↗Reported count | 36,664,436#1 of 50 states | 3,021,839#31 of 50 states | +33,642,597 |
| Residents without health insurance ↗Reported count | 2,314,464#3 of 50 states | 174,113#37 of 50 states | +2,140,351 |
| Private health insurance ↗Reported count | 24,647,655#1 of 50 states | 2,281,486#31 of 50 states | +22,366,169 |
| Public health insurance ↗Reported count | 15,996,023#1 of 50 states | 1,171,112#32 of 50 states | +14,824,911 |
| Private wage workers ↗Reported count | 14,876,469#1 of 50 states | 1,329,347#31 of 50 states | +13,547,122 |
| Government workers ↗Reported count | 2,904,921#1 of 50 states | 245,115#31 of 50 states | +2,659,806 |
| Self-employed workers ↗Reported count | 1,421,571#1 of 50 states | 96,036#31 of 50 states | +1,325,535 |
| White non-Hispanic population ↗Reported count | 12,842,211#1 of 50 states | 2,631,491#27 of 50 states | +10,210,720 |
| Black or African American population ↗Reported count | 2,008,322#6 of 50 states | 131,629#34 of 50 states | +1,876,693 |
| American Indian & Alaska Native population ↗Reported count | 105,814#4 of 50 states | 6,554#39 of 50 states | +99,260 |
| Asian population ↗Reported count | 6,243,676#1 of 50 states | 83,301#32 of 50 states | +6,160,375 |
| Hispanic or Latino population ↗Reported count | 16,069,214#1 of 50 states | 253,224#36 of 50 states | +15,815,990 |
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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