For the most part, states with similar infrastructure tend to also share many other characteristics. Still, there are some unique pairs of states that may have a similar technology and utilities, but have little else in common. A list of these states was developed by analyzing the data from the State Similarity Index, that weighs equally five major aspects of American states: their demographics, culture, politics, infrastructure, and geography. The following three pairs of states were found to have a biggest difference between their infrastructure and their other aspects, including demographics, culture, politics, and geography.
GEORGIA-MINNESOTA
Georgia and Minnesota have fairly similar infrastructure. Most of the electricity in these states is created using either coal, natural gas, or nuclear power. These states have made investments in renewable energy as well. Furthermore, they are part of the same power grid, the Eastern Interconnection. In addition, their people have about the same internet speeds and internet access.
The people in both states tend to rely on cars, but their largest cities, Minneapolis and Atlanta have decent mass transportation options. Minneapolis has buses, street cars, and commuter rail, while Atlanta has buses, street cars, and rapid transit. These states also have about the same density of roadways and railroads. Their roads are better maintained than most other states.
However, one big difference is their geography. Minnesota is well known for having cold winters with lots of snow. On the other hand, Georgia has a much hotter climate, since it is located much further to the South. Georgia is also more mountainous and has a higher percentage of forested land, since the Appalachian Mountains run through the state. Minnesota consists of mostly farmland and prairies.
Their demographics and culture are also far different from each other. Minnesota has a population that is predominantly of European descent, with a significant German and Scandinavian heritage. In contrast, Georgia has much larger African American population. Lutherans are far more common in Minnesota, while Baptists are more prominent in Georgia. Their people also have distinctly different accents.
CALIFORNIA-UTAH
The infrastructure in California and Utah is also somewhat similar. Since relatively few people in these states live in rural areas, most homes get their water from the public supply. In addition, natural gas is the most widely used home heating system in both states. Utah and California also use about the same amount of electricity per capita. They are part of the same power grid, the Western Interconnection.
Many areas of these states have poor cell phone coverage. They also have relatively few railroads. Union Pacific is the biggest railroad operator in both states. Another similarity is that these states have about the same amount of airplane passengers per capita. Most of the people in both states rely on personal vehicles for transportation.
However, there are some huge differences between these states. Utah is more religious than California. Furthermore, most of its people are Mormon, while California has far more Catholics and Protestants. Politically they are quite different as well. California is a stronghold of the Democratic Party, while Utah has almost always voted for Republicans in state-wide elections.
Another big difference is their demographics. California is one of the few states where the majority of people are not White, since a high percentage of its residents are Latino. In contrast, Utah is much less diverse. Interestingly enough, Utah’s population also has by far the lowest average age in the country, since Mormons tend to have many children. Utah has a higher percentage of married people as well.
NEW MEXICO-OKLAHOMA
The infrastructure in New Mexico and Oklahoma is alike as well. The median home in each state was built in the same time period. In addition, a low percentage of homes in these states have cable television. They also have some of the slowest internet speeds and lowest rates of internet access in the country. Public transportation is not commonly used in these states, since most people have cars.
Gas and oil are two fossil fuels commonly extracted from these states, so they have many oil derricks and pipelines. Both states have army and air force bases but not naval or coast guard bases, since they are landlocked. Unfortunately, the quality of the hospitals in these states lag behind the rest of the country. Still, both states have a relatively high amount of physicians per capita.
However, New Mexico and Oklahoma are very different politically. In recent years, New Mexico has consistently voted for Democratic presidential candidates, while Oklahoma has been a reliable Republican stronghold. New Mexico was one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage. It has also decriminalized the possession of marijuana. Oklahoma has far more restrictions on abortions as well.
Despite the fact that these states border each other, their geography is fairly different. New Mexico is more mountainous and has a drier climate than Oklahoma. As a result, a lower percentage of New Mexico’s land is farmland. Their demographics are strikingly different. New Mexico has one of the highest percentages of Latinos in the country. As a result, it also has a higher percentage of Catholics.
DATA TABLE
| State 1 | State 2 | Demo. | Cult. | Poli. | Infra. | Geog. | Total | Infra. – Total Ave. |
| Georgia | Minnesota | 13.5 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 14.5 | 8.8 | 56.8 | 3.1 |
| Utah | California | 11.3 | 11.6 | 9.0 | 14.7 | 11.8 | 58.4 | 3.0 |
| New Mexico | Oklahoma | 13.5 | 9.9 | 10.9 | 15.2 | 13.2 | 62.7 | 2.7 |
| Missouri | Utah | 12.5 | 10.1 | 12.4 | 14.5 | 11.0 | 60.4 | 2.4 |
| Colorado | Texas | 14.1 | 9.7 | 9.3 | 14.5 | 13.2 | 60.7 | 2.4 |
(Minimum 72% Infrastructure Similarity)
