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 & Virginia
| MEASURE | CALIFORNIA | VIRGINIA | DIFFERENCE · FIRST MINUS SECOND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population ↗Reported count | 39,431,263#1 of 50 states | 8,811,195#12 of 50 states | +30,620,068 |
| Housing units ↗Reported count | 14,392,140#1 of 50 states | 3,618,247#12 of 50 states | +10,773,893 |
| Vacant housing units ↗Reported count | 1,079,379#3 of 50 states | 296,904#15 of 50 states | +782,475 |
| Reported monthly rent ↗Dollars | $2,104#50 of 50 states | $1,646#40 of 50 states | +$458 |
| Employed residents ↗Reported count | 19,240,700#1 of 50 states | 4,381,889#12 of 50 states | +14,858,811 |
| Unemployed residents ↗Reported count | 1,213,681#1 of 50 states | 164,596#14 of 50 states | +1,049,085 |
| Armed Forces personnel ↗Reported count | 148,959#1 of 50 states | 132,715#2 of 50 states | +16,244 |
| Residents outside the labor force ↗Reported count | 11,486,404#1 of 50 states | 2,494,496#12 of 50 states | +8,991,908 |
| Public transportation commuters ↗Reported count | 623,078#2 of 50 states | 131,589#11 of 50 states | +491,489 |
| Residents working from home ↗Reported count | 2,672,106#1 of 50 states | 703,153#9 of 50 states | +1,968,953 |
| Mean commute time ↗Minutes | 29.7 min#46 of 50 states | 28.3 min#42 of 50 states | +1.4 min |
| Median household income ↗Dollars | $100,149#5 of 50 states | $92,090#12 of 50 states | +$8,059 |
| Per capita income ↗Dollars | $49,934#10 of 50 states | $50,866#9 of 50 states | −$932 |
| Mean household income ↗Dollars | $140,112#3 of 50 states | $127,363#11 of 50 states | +$12,749 |
| Reported SNAP receipt ↗Reported count | 1,860,876#1 of 50 states | 316,827#14 of 50 states | +1,544,049 |
| Reported Social Security income ↗Reported count | 3,979,060#1 of 50 states | 1,046,509#12 of 50 states | +2,932,551 |
| Reported retirement income ↗Reported count | 3,039,722#1 of 50 states | 936,525#11 of 50 states | +2,103,197 |
| Reported SSI receipt ↗Reported count | 790,850#1 of 50 states | 145,921#14 of 50 states | +644,929 |
| Reported cash public assistance ↗Reported count | 512,054#1 of 50 states | 74,203#12 of 50 states | +437,851 |
| Residents with health insurance ↗Reported count | 36,664,436#1 of 50 states | 7,984,829#12 of 50 states | +28,679,607 |
| Residents without health insurance ↗Reported count | 2,314,464#3 of 50 states | 595,595#13 of 50 states | +1,718,869 |
| Private health insurance ↗Reported count | 24,647,655#1 of 50 states | 6,233,777#12 of 50 states | +18,413,878 |
| Public health insurance ↗Reported count | 15,996,023#1 of 50 states | 2,951,576#12 of 50 states | +13,044,447 |
| Private wage workers ↗Reported count | 14,876,469#1 of 50 states | 3,259,600#12 of 50 states | +11,616,869 |
| Government workers ↗Reported count | 2,904,921#1 of 50 states | 902,995#5 of 50 states | +2,001,926 |
| Self-employed workers ↗Reported count | 1,421,571#1 of 50 states | 211,796#15 of 50 states | +1,209,775 |
| White non-Hispanic population ↗Reported count | 12,842,211#1 of 50 states | 5,060,812#13 of 50 states | +7,781,399 |
| Black or African American population ↗Reported count | 2,008,322#6 of 50 states | 1,578,103#9 of 50 states | +430,219 |
| American Indian & Alaska Native population ↗Reported count | 105,814#4 of 50 states | 13,185#29 of 50 states | +92,629 |
| Asian population ↗Reported count | 6,243,676#1 of 50 states | 626,502#8 of 50 states | +5,617,174 |
| Hispanic or Latino population ↗Reported count | 16,069,214#1 of 50 states | 1,017,833#14 of 50 states | +15,051,381 |
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.
Commission deeper NDS analysis ↗