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 & South Dakota
| MEASURE | WEST VIRGINIA | SOUTH DAKOTA | DIFFERENCE · FIRST MINUS SECOND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population ↗Reported count | 1,769,979#39 of 50 states | 924,669#46 of 50 states | +845,310 |
| Housing units ↗Reported count | 855,635#37 of 50 states | 393,375#46 of 50 states | +462,260 |
| Vacant housing units ↗Reported count | 125,593#33 of 50 states | 41,403#47 of 50 states | +84,190 |
| Reported monthly rent ↗Dollars | $883#1 of 50 states | $999#8 of 50 states | −$116 |
| Employed residents ↗Reported count | 766,794#40 of 50 states | 480,631#46 of 50 states | +286,163 |
| Unemployed residents ↗Reported count | 37,264#38 of 50 states | 13,884#47 of 50 states | +23,380 |
| Armed Forces personnel ↗Reported count | 2,661#47 of 50 states | 3,626#42 of 50 states | −965 |
| Residents outside the labor force ↗Reported count | 662,909#37 of 50 states | 235,492#46 of 50 states | +427,417 |
| Public transportation commuters ↗Reported count | 4,307#42 of 50 states | 1,057#50 of 50 states | +3,250 |
| Residents working from home ↗Reported count | 66,915#41 of 50 states | 38,257#47 of 50 states | +28,658 |
| Mean commute time ↗Minutes | 26.5 min#33 of 50 states | 18.5 min#2 of 50 states | +8.0 min |
| Median household income ↗Dollars | $60,798#49 of 50 states | $76,881#29 of 50 states | −$16,083 |
| Per capita income ↗Dollars | $34,707#49 of 50 states | $41,637#31 of 50 states | −$6,930 |
| Mean household income ↗Dollars | $81,114#49 of 50 states | $100,178#35 of 50 states | −$19,064 |
| Reported SNAP receipt ↗Reported count | 126,022#33 of 50 states | 27,163#48 of 50 states | +98,859 |
| Reported Social Security income ↗Reported count | 300,862#36 of 50 states | 117,306#46 of 50 states | +183,556 |
| Reported retirement income ↗Reported count | 209,212#37 of 50 states | 85,212#46 of 50 states | +124,000 |
| Reported SSI receipt ↗Reported count | 53,565#33 of 50 states | 14,194#46 of 50 states | +39,371 |
| Reported cash public assistance ↗Reported count | 28,744#29 of 50 states | 5,994#49 of 50 states | +22,750 |
| Residents with health insurance ↗Reported count | 1,635,555#39 of 50 states | 831,931#46 of 50 states | +803,624 |
| Residents without health insurance ↗Reported count | 100,543#39 of 50 states | 73,403#43 of 50 states | +27,140 |
| Private health insurance ↗Reported count | 1,107,452#38 of 50 states | 662,280#46 of 50 states | +445,172 |
| Public health insurance ↗Reported count | 811,267#36 of 50 states | 290,371#46 of 50 states | +520,896 |
| Private wage workers ↗Reported count | 582,356#40 of 50 states | 363,319#46 of 50 states | +219,037 |
| Government workers ↗Reported count | 152,268#38 of 50 states | 79,462#46 of 50 states | +72,806 |
| Self-employed workers ↗Reported count | 31,135#45 of 50 states | 36,434#44 of 50 states | −5,299 |
| White non-Hispanic population ↗Reported count | 1,572,809#35 of 50 states | 730,197#44 of 50 states | +842,612 |
| Black or African American population ↗Reported count | 55,539#37 of 50 states | 16,746#46 of 50 states | +38,793 |
| American Indian & Alaska Native population ↗Reported count | 2,983#45 of 50 states | 66,418#7 of 50 states | −63,435 |
| Asian population ↗Reported count | 12,098#48 of 50 states | 15,619#45 of 50 states | −3,521 |
| Hispanic or Latino population ↗Reported count | 41,002#47 of 50 states | 44,947#46 of 50 states | −3,945 |
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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