Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Idaho instead of Mississippi, you would:
Health
live 6.5 years longer
In Mississippi, the average life expectancy is 72 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Idaho, that number is 78 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020.
be 20.0% less likely to be obese
In Mississippi, 41.9% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Idaho, that number is 33.5% of people as of 2022.
be 33.8% less likely to have diabetes
In Mississippi, 13.6% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Idaho, that number is 9.0% as of 2022.
Economy
be 47.3% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Mississippi, 18.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Idaho, however, that number is 9.7% as of 2023.
make 17.4% more money
Mississippi has a GDP per capita of $41,778 as of 2024, while in Idaho, the GDP per capita is $49,054 as of 2024.
be 12.9% more likely to be unemployed
In Mississippi, 3.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Idaho, that number is 3.5% as of 2025.
Basic Needs
be 11.3% more likely to have internet access
In Mississippi, approximately 82.0% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Idaho, about 91.3% do as of 2023.
Safety
be 50.4% less likely to be a victim of property crime
Mississippi has a property crime rate of 1,579 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Idaho, that number is 784 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 12.2% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Mississippi has a violent crime rate of 202 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Idaho, that number is 226 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 35.9% more money
The median household income in Mississippi is $54,915 as of 2023, while in Idaho, it is $74,636 as of 2023.
pay 2.3 times more for a home
The median home value in Mississippi is $161,400 as of 2023, compared to $376,000 in Idaho as of 2023.
pay 24.6% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Mississippi is $923 as of 2023, while in Idaho, it is $1,150 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 4.0 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Mississippi takes 25.6 minutes as of 2023. In Idaho, it takes 21.6 minutes as of 2023.
be 24.8% less likely to be uninsured
In Mississippi, 11.3% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Idaho, that number is 8.5% as of 2023.
be 27.7% less likely to smoke
In Mississippi, 18.8% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Idaho, that number is 13.6% as of 2022.
be 30.0% less likely to be physically inactive
In Mississippi, 31.7% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Idaho, that number is 22.2% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 62.0% less densely populated
Mississippi has a population density of 24.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In Idaho, that number is 9.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 18.6% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Mississippi, 16.1% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Idaho, that number is 19.1% as of 2023.
be 2.1 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Mississippi, 1.4% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Idaho, that number is 2.9% as of 2023.
be 52.8% less likely to be food insecure
In Mississippi, 16.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Idaho, that number is 7.7% as of 2021.
live among residents who are 1.3 years older on average
The median age in Mississippi is 38.4 years as of 2023. In Idaho, the median age is 37.1 years as of 2023.
Sources: US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), OECD Regional Demography (2020–2023), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2023), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), Feeding America (2021). How we calculate this
