The United States is a large country and the demographics in its states can vary greatly. But have you ever wondered which pair of US states have the most dissimilar populations?
According to the State Similarity Index‘s demographics category, the statistics show that Hawaii and Mississippi are the states with the least similar populations. They have a stark contrast in the ethnicity and average age of their people. On average, their levels of education and income are also far different. California and West Virginia are another pair of states that have extreme differences in their demographics. These comparisons highlight the large variation in the people living in the United States.
Hawaii & Mississippi
The pair of states with the least similar demographics are Hawaii and Mississippi. These states are located over 4,000 miles away from each other. Hawaii is a mountainous archipelago located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, while Mississippi borders the Gulf of Mexico.
A major difference is their racial composition. Hawaii has the highest Asian and Pacific Islander population in the country. Only 25% of its people are White and just 2% are Black. In Hawaii, many people have mixed ancestry, with Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, and Native Hawaiian being the largest ethnic groups. On the other hand, Mississippi is predominantly White, but it also has the highest percentage of African Americans in the country, with 38%.
Another component of ethnicity is religion. A much higher percentage of the people in Hawaii are Catholic or Buddhist than in Mississippi. Interestingly enough, Mississippi actually has the highest percentage of Protestants in the United States.
The average height and weight of the people in these states differs greatly as well. Hawaii has one of the lowest obesity rates in the country, with only 23.8% of adults being obese. Mississippi, on the other hand, has one of the highest obesity rates at 37.3%. One reason for this is that Hawaiians tend to have an active lifestyle. In addition, Hawaii’s population is also the shortest in the United States. On average, Asians in America tend to be shorter than Whites and Blacks.
Education and income levels are also vastly different in Hawaii and Mississippi. Hawaii has a highly educated population, with 35.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income in Hawaii is $83,102. In contrast, Mississippi has one of the lowest rates of educational attainment, with only 24.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income in Mississippi is $47,754.
Marital status is also a factor that contributes to demographic differences between these two states. Hawaii has a significantly higher percentage of married people than Mississippi. In fact, Mississippi has one of the lowest rates of marriage in the country. The state also has a higher percentage of divorced people.
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California & West Virginia
California and West Virginia are another pair of states that have extremely different demographics. These states are located over 2,000 miles away from each other. California borders the Pacific Coast, while West Virginia is a landlocked state in the Eastern portion of the country.
Race is one of the most significant factors that contributes to demographic differences between California and West Virginia. California is one of the most diverse states in the country, with a population that is 40.2% Latino, 35.2% White, 15.9% Asian, and 6.5% Black. A high percentage of its people immigrated to the state from Mexico. West Virginia, on the other hand, is one of the least diverse states. It is 93.7% White. Most of its people trace their roots back to England, Ireland, or Germany.
California is more religiously diverse than West Virginia as well. Since California has many Mexican immigrants, a much higher percentage of its population is Catholic, compared to West Virginia. It also has a higher percentage of Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus.
Height and weight are other factors that contribute to demographic differences between these two states. California has one of the lowest obesity rates in the country, with only 24.7% of adults being obese. West Virginia, on the other hand, has one of the highest obesity rates, with 38.1% of adults being obese. People in West Virginia are taller on average than Californians. Statistics show Latinos in America tend to be shorter than Whites.
The average age of people in California and West Virginia is also significantly different. California has a younger population, with a median age of 37.7 years. In contrast, West Virginia’s median age is 42.9 years, one of the oldest in the country.
Education and income levels are also vastly different in California and West Virginia. California has a highly educated population, with 33.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income in California is $80,440. In contrast, West Virginia has one of the lowest rates of educational attainment, with only 20.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income in West Virginia is just $48,850.
Marital status is also a factor that contributes to demographic differences between these two states. California has a lower marriage rate than West Virginia, with 45.5% of the population being married. In contrast, West Virginia has a higher marriage rate, with 53.5% of the population being married.
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