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 & South Dakota
| MEASURE | CALIFORNIA | SOUTH DAKOTA | DIFFERENCE · FIRST MINUS SECOND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population ↗Reported count | 39,431,263#1 of 50 states | 924,669#46 of 50 states | +38,506,594 |
| Housing units ↗Reported count | 14,392,140#1 of 50 states | 393,375#46 of 50 states | +13,998,765 |
| Vacant housing units ↗Reported count | 1,079,379#3 of 50 states | 41,403#47 of 50 states | +1,037,976 |
| Reported monthly rent ↗Dollars | $2,104#50 of 50 states | $999#8 of 50 states | +$1,105 |
| Employed residents ↗Reported count | 19,240,700#1 of 50 states | 480,631#46 of 50 states | +18,760,069 |
| Unemployed residents ↗Reported count | 1,213,681#1 of 50 states | 13,884#47 of 50 states | +1,199,797 |
| Armed Forces personnel ↗Reported count | 148,959#1 of 50 states | 3,626#42 of 50 states | +145,333 |
| Residents outside the labor force ↗Reported count | 11,486,404#1 of 50 states | 235,492#46 of 50 states | +11,250,912 |
| Public transportation commuters ↗Reported count | 623,078#2 of 50 states | 1,057#50 of 50 states | +622,021 |
| Residents working from home ↗Reported count | 2,672,106#1 of 50 states | 38,257#47 of 50 states | +2,633,849 |
| Mean commute time ↗Minutes | 29.7 min#46 of 50 states | 18.5 min#2 of 50 states | +11.2 min |
| Median household income ↗Dollars | $100,149#5 of 50 states | $76,881#29 of 50 states | +$23,268 |
| Per capita income ↗Dollars | $49,934#10 of 50 states | $41,637#31 of 50 states | +$8,297 |
| Mean household income ↗Dollars | $140,112#3 of 50 states | $100,178#35 of 50 states | +$39,934 |
| Reported SNAP receipt ↗Reported count | 1,860,876#1 of 50 states | 27,163#48 of 50 states | +1,833,713 |
| Reported Social Security income ↗Reported count | 3,979,060#1 of 50 states | 117,306#46 of 50 states | +3,861,754 |
| Reported retirement income ↗Reported count | 3,039,722#1 of 50 states | 85,212#46 of 50 states | +2,954,510 |
| Reported SSI receipt ↗Reported count | 790,850#1 of 50 states | 14,194#46 of 50 states | +776,656 |
| Reported cash public assistance ↗Reported count | 512,054#1 of 50 states | 5,994#49 of 50 states | +506,060 |
| Residents with health insurance ↗Reported count | 36,664,436#1 of 50 states | 831,931#46 of 50 states | +35,832,505 |
| Residents without health insurance ↗Reported count | 2,314,464#3 of 50 states | 73,403#43 of 50 states | +2,241,061 |
| Private health insurance ↗Reported count | 24,647,655#1 of 50 states | 662,280#46 of 50 states | +23,985,375 |
| Public health insurance ↗Reported count | 15,996,023#1 of 50 states | 290,371#46 of 50 states | +15,705,652 |
| Private wage workers ↗Reported count | 14,876,469#1 of 50 states | 363,319#46 of 50 states | +14,513,150 |
| Government workers ↗Reported count | 2,904,921#1 of 50 states | 79,462#46 of 50 states | +2,825,459 |
| Self-employed workers ↗Reported count | 1,421,571#1 of 50 states | 36,434#44 of 50 states | +1,385,137 |
| White non-Hispanic population ↗Reported count | 12,842,211#1 of 50 states | 730,197#44 of 50 states | +12,112,014 |
| Black or African American population ↗Reported count | 2,008,322#6 of 50 states | 16,746#46 of 50 states | +1,991,576 |
| American Indian & Alaska Native population ↗Reported count | 105,814#4 of 50 states | 66,418#7 of 50 states | +39,396 |
| Asian population ↗Reported count | 6,243,676#1 of 50 states | 15,619#45 of 50 states | +6,228,057 |
| Hispanic or Latino population ↗Reported count | 16,069,214#1 of 50 states | 44,947#46 of 50 states | +16,024,267 |
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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