Quality of life comparison
If you lived in West Virginia instead of New York, you would:
Health
live 4.9 years less
In New York, the average life expectancy is 78 years (78 years for men, 83 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.
be 35.5% more likely to be obese
In New York, 29.9% of adults are obese as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 40.5% of people as of 2022.
be 27.7% more likely to have diabetes
In New York, 10.1% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 12.9% as of 2022.
Economy
make 49.1% less money
New York has a GDP per capita of $91,992 as of 2024, while in West Virginia, the GDP per capita is $46,834 as of 2024.
be 22.6% more likely to live below the poverty line
In New York, 13.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In West Virginia, however, that number is 16.3% as of 2023.
Safety
be 30.2% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
New York has a violent crime rate of 381 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 266 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 31.9% less likely to be a victim of property crime
New York has a property crime rate of 1,760 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 1,198 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 61.4% less for a home
The median home value in New York is $403,000 as of 2023, compared to $155,600 in West Virginia as of 2023.
pay 46.1% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in New York is $1,576 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $850 as of 2023.
be 36.8% more likely to own your home
In New York, 54.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 74.3% as of 2023.
earn 31.5% less money
The median household income in New York is $84,578 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $57,917 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 6.2 minutes less
The average one-way commute in New York takes 32.8 minutes as of 2023. In West Virginia, it takes 26.6 minutes as of 2023.
live among residents who are 3.1 years older on average
The median age in New York is 39.6 years as of 2023. In West Virginia, the median age is 42.7 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 82.4% less densely populated
New York has a population density of 161.4 people per sq km as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 28.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 22.0% more likely to be uninsured
In New York, 5.0% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.
be 64.8% more likely to smoke
In New York, 12.8% of adults smoke as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 21.1% as of 2022.
be 19.1% more likely to be physically inactive
In New York, 25.1% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 29.9% as of 2022.
be 39.7% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In New York, 27.7% 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 91.2% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In New York, 9.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 0.8% as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
