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 & West Virginia
| MEASURE | CALIFORNIA | WEST VIRGINIA | DIFFERENCE · FIRST MINUS SECOND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population ↗Reported count | 39,431,263#1 of 50 states | 1,769,979#39 of 50 states | +37,661,284 |
| Housing units ↗Reported count | 14,392,140#1 of 50 states | 855,635#37 of 50 states | +13,536,505 |
| Vacant housing units ↗Reported count | 1,079,379#3 of 50 states | 125,593#33 of 50 states | +953,786 |
| Reported monthly rent ↗Dollars | $2,104#50 of 50 states | $883#1 of 50 states | +$1,221 |
| Employed residents ↗Reported count | 19,240,700#1 of 50 states | 766,794#40 of 50 states | +18,473,906 |
| Unemployed residents ↗Reported count | 1,213,681#1 of 50 states | 37,264#38 of 50 states | +1,176,417 |
| Armed Forces personnel ↗Reported count | 148,959#1 of 50 states | 2,661#47 of 50 states | +146,298 |
| Residents outside the labor force ↗Reported count | 11,486,404#1 of 50 states | 662,909#37 of 50 states | +10,823,495 |
| Public transportation commuters ↗Reported count | 623,078#2 of 50 states | 4,307#42 of 50 states | +618,771 |
| Residents working from home ↗Reported count | 2,672,106#1 of 50 states | 66,915#41 of 50 states | +2,605,191 |
| Mean commute time ↗Minutes | 29.7 min#46 of 50 states | 26.5 min#33 of 50 states | +3.2 min |
| Median household income ↗Dollars | $100,149#5 of 50 states | $60,798#49 of 50 states | +$39,351 |
| Per capita income ↗Dollars | $49,934#10 of 50 states | $34,707#49 of 50 states | +$15,227 |
| Mean household income ↗Dollars | $140,112#3 of 50 states | $81,114#49 of 50 states | +$58,998 |
| Reported SNAP receipt ↗Reported count | 1,860,876#1 of 50 states | 126,022#33 of 50 states | +1,734,854 |
| Reported Social Security income ↗Reported count | 3,979,060#1 of 50 states | 300,862#36 of 50 states | +3,678,198 |
| Reported retirement income ↗Reported count | 3,039,722#1 of 50 states | 209,212#37 of 50 states | +2,830,510 |
| Reported SSI receipt ↗Reported count | 790,850#1 of 50 states | 53,565#33 of 50 states | +737,285 |
| Reported cash public assistance ↗Reported count | 512,054#1 of 50 states | 28,744#29 of 50 states | +483,310 |
| Residents with health insurance ↗Reported count | 36,664,436#1 of 50 states | 1,635,555#39 of 50 states | +35,028,881 |
| Residents without health insurance ↗Reported count | 2,314,464#3 of 50 states | 100,543#39 of 50 states | +2,213,921 |
| Private health insurance ↗Reported count | 24,647,655#1 of 50 states | 1,107,452#38 of 50 states | +23,540,203 |
| Public health insurance ↗Reported count | 15,996,023#1 of 50 states | 811,267#36 of 50 states | +15,184,756 |
| Private wage workers ↗Reported count | 14,876,469#1 of 50 states | 582,356#40 of 50 states | +14,294,113 |
| Government workers ↗Reported count | 2,904,921#1 of 50 states | 152,268#38 of 50 states | +2,752,653 |
| Self-employed workers ↗Reported count | 1,421,571#1 of 50 states | 31,135#45 of 50 states | +1,390,436 |
| White non-Hispanic population ↗Reported count | 12,842,211#1 of 50 states | 1,572,809#35 of 50 states | +11,269,402 |
| Black or African American population ↗Reported count | 2,008,322#6 of 50 states | 55,539#37 of 50 states | +1,952,783 |
| American Indian & Alaska Native population ↗Reported count | 105,814#4 of 50 states | 2,983#45 of 50 states | +102,831 |
| Asian population ↗Reported count | 6,243,676#1 of 50 states | 12,098#48 of 50 states | +6,231,578 |
| Hispanic or Latino population ↗Reported count | 16,069,214#1 of 50 states | 41,002#47 of 50 states | +16,028,212 |
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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