Census ACS 5-Year · 18 metrics compared
California vs Pennsylvania
California and Pennsylvania compared across 18 demographic and economic metrics. California leads in 7 of the comparable categories.
7
California wins
6
Pennsylvania wins
| Metric | California | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,242,785 | 12,986,518 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 40.9 |
| Median Household Income | $96,334 | $76,081 |
| Per Capita Income | $47,977 | $43,104 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 3.3% |
| Median Home Value | $695,400 | $240,500 |
| Median Rent | $1,956 | $1,162 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 69.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 36.5% | 34.5% |
| High School+ | 84.6% | 91.9% |
| Work From Home | 15.5% | 13.8% |
| Avg Commute (min) | 29.0 | 26.6 |
| White | 44.0% | 75.8% |
| Hispanic | 2.8% | 0.9% |
| Black | 5.5% | 10.7% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Foreign Born | 15.2% | 19.7% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
California has a population of 39,242,785 compared to Pennsylvania's 12,986,518.
Across the metrics compared, California leads in 7 categories while Pennsylvania leads in 6. However, "better" depends on what matters most to you, income, cost of living, education, climate, and personal preferences all play a role.
All data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates by the US Census Bureau.
Comparison based on American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Green highlighting indicates the "better" value where applicable (higher income is better, lower poverty is better, etc.). Race and ethnicity metrics are not highlighted as there is no "better" value.
The side-by-side above pulls the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data for both California and Pennsylvania. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for California versus Pennsylvania, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.