Is Maryland or West Virginia a better state to live in?

Based on our composite scoring, Maryland ranks higher overall. Maryland is #17 and West Virginia is #46 out of 50 states. Maryland wins 6 of 11 categories, while West Virginia wins 5.

How does Maryland compare to West Virginia in cost of living?

Maryland has a cost of living index of 104, while West Virginia's is 90 (100 = national average). West Virginia is more affordable.

Which state is safer, Maryland or West Virginia?

Maryland has 415 violent crimes per 100K residents, vs 285 in West Virginia. West Virginia has the lower crime rate.

What are the median incomes in Maryland vs West Virginia?

Maryland's median household income is $98,461, compared to $54,515 in West Virginia.

Maryland vs West Virginia: Side-by-Side (2026)

B+

Maryland

#17·Northeast

67.7Composite Score

VSMaryland leads

West Virginia

#46·South

34.4Composite Score

6MD wins

5WV wins

Category Overlay

MarylandWest Virginia

Category Scores

💰 EconomyMD +69.7

83.6

13.9

🛡️ SafetyWV +20.3

53.1

73.4

🏥 HealthMD +81.6

85.7

4.1

🎓 EducationMD +61.2

67.3

6.1

💼 Fiscal HealthWV +5.1

55.0

60.1

📈 GrowthMD +14.9

42.2

27.3

🏠 AffordabilityWV +32.6

54.6

87.2

🌿 EnvironmentMD +17.3

46.1

28.8

🏞️ Outdoor AccessWV +4.9

11.8

16.7

🚇 TransportationMD +13.8

48.5

34.7

🎭 LivabilityWV +11.0

22.9

33.9

Key Metrics Comparison

Metric	Maryland	West Virginia	Winner
Population	6,180,253	1,770,071	MD
Median Income	$98,461	$54,515	MD
Unemployment	2.9%	4.7%	MD
Violent Crime Rate(per 100K)	415	285	WV
Cost of Living(100 = national avg)	104	90	WV
HS Graduation Rate	88%	91%	WV
Life Expectancy	78 yr	74 yr	MD
Pop Growth	+0.7%	0%	MD

Maryland vs West Virginia: How Do They Compare?

Maryland ranks #17 overall with a composite score of 67.7, earning a B+ grade. West Virginia sits at #46 with 34.4 and a D grade. Maryland has the edge overall, winning 6 of 11 categories.

On the economic front, Maryland has 2.9% unemployment and a $98,461 median income, while West Virginia reports 4.7% unemployment and $54,515 median income.

For safety, Maryland's violent crime rate is 415 per 100K compared to 285 in West Virginia. Cost of living favors West Virginia with an index of 90 vs 104.

Explore These States

Maryland Full Profile67.7 West Virginia Full Profile34.4 Compare Other States→

Data Sources

📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023 📎America's Health Rankings, 2025 📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 📎National Park Service API, 2024 📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration 2022-2023