Quality of life comparison
If you lived in North Dakota instead of Kentucky, you would:
Health
live 3.4 years longer
In Kentucky, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In North Dakota, that number is 77 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020.
be 24.4% less likely to have diabetes
In Kentucky, 11.9% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In North Dakota, that number is 9.0% as of 2022.
Economy
make 58.1% more money
Kentucky has a GDP per capita of $50,135 as of 2024, while in North Dakota, the GDP per capita is $79,272 as of 2024.
be 28.6% less likely to be unemployed
In Kentucky, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In North Dakota, that number is 2.5% as of 2025.
be 35.1% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Kentucky, 15.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In North Dakota, however, that number is 10.0% as of 2023.
Safety
be 19.0% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Kentucky has a violent crime rate of 220 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 262 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 24.8% more likely to be a victim of property crime
Kentucky has a property crime rate of 1,525 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 1,904 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 21.7% more money
The median household income in Kentucky is $62,417 as of 2023, while in North Dakota, it is $75,949 as of 2023.
pay 25.4% more for a home
The median home value in Kentucky is $192,300 as of 2023, compared to $241,100 in North Dakota as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 6.0 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Kentucky takes 24.0 minutes as of 2023. In North Dakota, it takes 18.0 minutes as of 2023.
be 13.4% less likely to smoke
In Kentucky, 18.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In North Dakota, that number is 16.2% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 90.0% less densely populated
Kentucky has a population density of 44.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 4.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 14.4% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Kentucky, 18.0% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 20.6% as of 2023.
be 57.9% less likely to be food insecure
In Kentucky, 12.6% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In North Dakota, that number is 5.3% as of 2021.
be 12.3% more likely to be uninsured
In Kentucky, 5.7% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In North Dakota, that number is 6.4% as of 2023.
live among residents who are 3.4 years older on average
The median age in Kentucky is 39.1 years as of 2023. In North Dakota, the median age is 35.7 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), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
