Quality of life comparison
If you lived in West Virginia instead of Georgia, you would:
Health
live 2.8 years less
In Georgia, the average life expectancy is 76 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In West Virginia, that number is 73 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2020.
Economy
make 24.1% less money
Georgia has a GDP per capita of $61,706 as of 2024, while in West Virginia, the GDP per capita is $46,834 as of 2024.
be 33.3% more likely to be unemployed
In Georgia, 3.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In West Virginia, that number is 4.4% as of 2025.
be 29.4% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Georgia, 12.6% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In West Virginia, however, that number is 16.3% as of 2023.
Safety
be 22.5% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Georgia has a violent crime rate of 343 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 266 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 32.7% less likely to be a victim of property crime
Georgia has a property crime rate of 1,779 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 1,198 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 43.0% less for a home
The median home value in Georgia is $272,900 as of 2023, compared to $155,600 in West Virginia as of 2023.
pay 34.9% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Georgia is $1,306 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $850 as of 2023.
be 13.6% more likely to own your home
In Georgia, 65.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 74.3% as of 2023.
earn 22.4% less money
The median household income in Georgia is $74,664 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $57,917 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 1.7 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Georgia takes 28.3 minutes as of 2023. In West Virginia, it takes 26.6 minutes as of 2023.
be 48.3% less likely to be uninsured
In Georgia, 11.8% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.
live among residents who are 5.3 years older on average
The median age in Georgia is 37.4 years as of 2023. In West Virginia, the median age is 42.7 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 61.5% less densely populated
Georgia has a population density of 73.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 28.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 41.6% more likely to smoke
In Georgia, 14.9% of adults smoke as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 21.1% as of 2022.
be 18.2% more likely to be physically inactive
In Georgia, 25.3% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 29.9% as of 2022.
be 23.7% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Georgia, 21.9% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 16.7% as of 2023.
be 85.2% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Georgia, 5.4% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 0.8% as of 2023.
be 15.7% more likely to be food insecure
In Georgia, 10.2% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In West Virginia, that number is 11.8% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
