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.
West Virginia & Alaska
| MEASURE | WEST VIRGINIA | ALASKA | DIFFERENCE · FIRST MINUS SECOND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population ↗Reported count | 1,769,979#39 of 50 states | 740,133#48 of 50 states | +1,029,846 |
| Housing units ↗Reported count | 855,635#37 of 50 states | 326,200#49 of 50 states | +529,435 |
| Vacant housing units ↗Reported count | 125,593#33 of 50 states | 55,712#46 of 50 states | +69,881 |
| Reported monthly rent ↗Dollars | $883#1 of 50 states | $1,444#31 of 50 states | −$561 |
| Employed residents ↗Reported count | 766,794#40 of 50 states | 342,028#49 of 50 states | +424,766 |
| Unemployed residents ↗Reported count | 37,264#38 of 50 states | 21,681#44 of 50 states | +15,583 |
| Armed Forces personnel ↗Reported count | 2,661#47 of 50 states | 26,882#12 of 50 states | −24,221 |
| Residents outside the labor force ↗Reported count | 662,909#37 of 50 states | 195,492#48 of 50 states | +467,417 |
| Public transportation commuters ↗Reported count | 4,307#42 of 50 states | 2,460#48 of 50 states | +1,847 |
| Residents working from home ↗Reported count | 66,915#41 of 50 states | 30,477#48 of 50 states | +36,438 |
| Mean commute time ↗Minutes | 26.5 min#33 of 50 states | 19.8 min#5 of 50 states | +6.7 min |
| Median household income ↗Dollars | $60,798#49 of 50 states | $95,665#11 of 50 states | −$34,867 |
| Per capita income ↗Dollars | $34,707#49 of 50 states | $47,267#13 of 50 states | −$12,560 |
| Mean household income ↗Dollars | $81,114#49 of 50 states | $122,082#13 of 50 states | −$40,968 |
| Reported SNAP receipt ↗Reported count | 126,022#33 of 50 states | 28,394#47 of 50 states | +97,628 |
| Reported Social Security income ↗Reported count | 300,862#36 of 50 states | 72,734#50 of 50 states | +228,128 |
| Reported retirement income ↗Reported count | 209,212#37 of 50 states | 66,714#50 of 50 states | +142,498 |
| Reported SSI receipt ↗Reported count | 53,565#33 of 50 states | 9,385#50 of 50 states | +44,180 |
| Reported cash public assistance ↗Reported count | 28,744#29 of 50 states | 11,207#46 of 50 states | +17,537 |
| Residents with health insurance ↗Reported count | 1,635,555#39 of 50 states | 628,145#48 of 50 states | +1,007,410 |
| Residents without health insurance ↗Reported count | 100,543#39 of 50 states | 77,532#41 of 50 states | +23,011 |
| Private health insurance ↗Reported count | 1,107,452#38 of 50 states | 464,281#48 of 50 states | +643,171 |
| Public health insurance ↗Reported count | 811,267#36 of 50 states | 266,835#47 of 50 states | +544,432 |
| Private wage workers ↗Reported count | 582,356#40 of 50 states | 232,937#49 of 50 states | +349,419 |
| Government workers ↗Reported count | 152,268#38 of 50 states | 88,269#44 of 50 states | +63,999 |
| Self-employed workers ↗Reported count | 31,135#45 of 50 states | 20,354#50 of 50 states | +10,781 |
| White non-Hispanic population ↗Reported count | 1,572,809#35 of 50 states | 421,910#49 of 50 states | +1,150,899 |
| Black or African American population ↗Reported count | 55,539#37 of 50 states | 17,803#45 of 50 states | +37,736 |
| American Indian & Alaska Native population ↗Reported count | 2,983#45 of 50 states | 99,626#5 of 50 states | −96,643 |
| Asian population ↗Reported count | 12,098#48 of 50 states | 43,816#38 of 50 states | −31,718 |
| Hispanic or Latino population ↗Reported count | 41,002#47 of 50 states | 57,229#44 of 50 states | −16,227 |
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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