Quality of life comparison
If you lived in New Jersey instead of South Dakota, you would:
Health
live 0.8 years longer
In South Dakota, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In New Jersey, that number is 78 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020.
be 15.7% less likely to be obese
In South Dakota, 35.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In New Jersey, that number is 30.0% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 14.7% more money
South Dakota has a GDP per capita of $61,724 as of 2024, while in New Jersey, the GDP per capita is $70,788 as of 2024.
be 17.0% less likely to live below the poverty line
In South Dakota, 11.2% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In New Jersey, however, that number is 9.3% as of 2023.
be 87.5% more likely to be unemployed
In South Dakota, 2.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In New Jersey, that number is 4.5% as of 2025.
Safety
be 37.3% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
South Dakota has a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 215 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 39.5% more money
The median household income in South Dakota is $72,421 as of 2023, while in New Jersey, it is $101,050 as of 2023.
pay 80.6% more for a home
The median home value in South Dakota is $236,800 as of 2023, compared to $427,600 in New Jersey as of 2023.
pay 81.2% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in South Dakota is $912 as of 2023, while in New Jersey, it is $1,653 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 18.4% less likely to be uninsured
In South Dakota, 8.7% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 7.1% as of 2023.
be 25.2% less likely to smoke
In South Dakota, 15.9% of adults smoke as of 2022. In New Jersey, that number is 11.9% as of 2022.
live among residents who are 2.4 years older on average
The median age in South Dakota is 37.7 years as of 2023. In New Jersey, the median age is 40.1 years as of 2023.
be 46.5% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In South Dakota, 19.8% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 29.0% as of 2023.
be 4.7 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In South Dakota, 2.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 9.9% as of 2023.
commute 13.3 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in South Dakota takes 17.6 minutes as of 2023. In New Jersey, it takes 30.9 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 103.9 times more densely populated
South Dakota has a population density of 4.7 people per sq km as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 488.2 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.
