Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Dakota instead of Alabama, you would:
Health
live 3.5 years longer
In Alabama, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In South Dakota, that number is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020.
be 10.1% less likely to be obese
In Alabama, 39.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In South Dakota, that number is 35.6% of people as of 2022.
be 32.8% less likely to have diabetes
In Alabama, 12.8% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In South Dakota, that number is 8.6% as of 2022.
Economy
make 25.4% more money
Alabama has a GDP per capita of $49,225 as of 2024, while in South Dakota, the GDP per capita is $61,724 as of 2024.
be 24.3% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Alabama, 14.8% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In South Dakota, however, that number is 11.2% as of 2023.
Safety
be 13.5% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Alabama has a violent crime rate of 397 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In South Dakota, that number is 344 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 16.8% more money
The median household income in Alabama is $62,027 as of 2023, while in South Dakota, it is $72,421 as of 2023.
pay 21.4% more for a home
The median home value in Alabama is $195,100 as of 2023, compared to $236,800 in South Dakota as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 7.8 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Alabama takes 25.4 minutes as of 2023. In South Dakota, it takes 17.6 minutes as of 2023.
be 18.6% less likely to be physically inactive
In Alabama, 27.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In South Dakota, that number is 22.7% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 87.9% less densely populated
Alabama has a population density of 38.9 people per sq km as of 2023. In South Dakota, that number is 4.7 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 45.8% less likely to be food insecure
In Alabama, 14.4% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In South Dakota, that number is 7.8% as of 2021.
live among residents who are 1.6 years older on average
The median age in Alabama is 39.3 years as of 2023. In South Dakota, the median age is 37.7 years as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
