Quality of life comparison
If you lived in California instead of Missouri, you would:
Health
live 3.9 years longer
In Missouri, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In California, that number is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020.
be 24.3% less likely to be obese
In Missouri, 37.5% of adults are obese as of 2022. In California, that number is 28.4% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 49.1% more money
Missouri has a GDP per capita of $56,344 as of 2024, while in California, the GDP per capita is $84,028 as of 2024.
be 54.5% more likely to be unemployed
In Missouri, 3.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In California, that number is 5.1% as of 2025.
Safety
be 11.0% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Missouri has a violent crime rate of 453 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In California, that number is 503 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 11.2% more likely to be a victim of property crime
Missouri has a property crime rate of 2,070 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In California, that number is 2,303 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 39.8% more money
The median household income in Missouri is $68,920 as of 2023, while in California, it is $96,334 as of 2023.
pay 3.2 times more for a home
The median home value in Missouri is $215,600 as of 2023, compared to $695,400 in California as of 2023.
pay 96.4% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Missouri is $996 as of 2023, while in California, it is $1,956 as of 2023.
be 17.8% less likely to own your home
In Missouri, 67.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In California, that number is 55.8% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 23.6% less likely to be uninsured
In Missouri, 8.9% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In California, that number is 6.8% as of 2023.
be 37.6% less likely to smoke
In Missouri, 18.6% of adults smoke as of 2022. In California, that number is 11.6% as of 2022.
be 16.3% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Missouri, 21.5% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In California, that number is 25.0% as of 2023.
be 5.8 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Missouri, 2.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In California, that number is 12.2% as of 2023.
commute 5.3 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Missouri takes 23.7 minutes as of 2023. In California, it takes 29.0 minutes as of 2023.
live among residents who are 1.3 years older on average
The median age in Missouri is 38.9 years as of 2023. In California, the median age is 37.6 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 2.8 times more densely populated
Missouri has a population density of 34.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In California, that number is 97.0 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: 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.
