Quality of life comparison
If you lived in West Virginia instead of Rhode Island, you would:
Health
live 5.4 years less
In Rhode Island, the average life expectancy is 78 years (77 years for men, 82 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 28.2% more likely to be obese
In Rhode Island, 31.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 40.5% of people as of 2022.
be 26.5% more likely to have diabetes
In Rhode Island, 10.2% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 12.9% as of 2022.
Economy
make 17.7% less money
Rhode Island has a GDP per capita of $56,938 as of 2024, while in West Virginia, the GDP per capita is $46,834 as of 2024.
be 58.3% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Rhode Island, 10.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In West Virginia, however, that number is 16.3% as of 2023.
Safety
be 61.3% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Rhode Island has a violent crime rate of 165 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 266 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 57.8% less for a home
The median home value in Rhode Island is $368,800 as of 2023, compared to $155,600 in West Virginia as of 2023.
pay 33.2% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Rhode Island is $1,273 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $850 as of 2023.
be 17.4% more likely to own your home
In Rhode Island, 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 74.3% as of 2023.
earn 32.9% less money
The median household income in Rhode Island is $86,372 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $57,917 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
live among residents who are 2.2 years older on average
The median age in Rhode Island is 40.5 years as of 2023. In West Virginia, the median age is 42.7 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 93.0% less densely populated
Rhode Island has a population density of 407.8 people per sq km as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 28.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 45.2% more likely to be uninsured
In Rhode Island, 4.2% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.
be 54.0% more likely to smoke
In Rhode Island, 13.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 21.1% as of 2022.
be 25.1% more likely to be physically inactive
In Rhode Island, 23.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 29.9% as of 2022.
be 35.8% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Rhode Island, 26.0% 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 87.9% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Rhode Island, 6.6% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 0.8% as of 2023.
be 28.3% more likely to be food insecure
In Rhode Island, 9.2% 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), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
