Nearly one in five Americans live in the Western states, according to Statista. They’re home to America’s largest mountain chain, largest desert, largest forest and — if you count Alaska and Hawaii, which the U.S. Census Bureau does — its longest stretch of coastline.

                By                    Andrew Lisa

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Unlike those that make up the country’s other major geographic regions, the Western states have vastly different cultures, climates, politics and geography. It’s a land of extremes.

Fairbanks, Alaska, is the coldest place in America. Death Valley, California, is the hottest place on Earth. Alaska and Death Valley are also home to the highest and lowest points in the country. Home to nearly 40 million people, California is America’s most populous state. The least populous is Wyoming — with fewer than 600,000 residents, it’s smaller than Washington, D.C.

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Equally varied and unique are the region’s state economies. California itself has the fifth-largest economy in the world, behind only the U.S., China, Japan and Germany. Only one state in America — Vermont — has a smaller economy than Alaska, Wyoming and Montana.

Size isn’t the only thing that sets their economies apart, though. Some are doing a whole lot better than others.

Western States With Failing Economies

Most Western states are doing well. A couple, however, have shrinking GDPs, rising unemployment, a high percentage of people living in poverty, or some combination of them all.

New Mexico

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 4.4%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 3.5%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $55,128
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -4.7%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,018
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 6.5%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 15.9%

Alaska

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 4.6%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 2.5%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $80,278
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -8.2%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,178
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 4.9%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 11.8%

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Western States With Thriving Economies

In much of the West, poverty levels are low, economic production is growing and the jobless rate is low or at least getting lower. If you’re considering moving westward, these states should be on the top of your list.

Colorado

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 3.4%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 3.9%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $77,510
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -1.9%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,455
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 8.8%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 9.4%

Washington

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 3.7%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 4%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $91,251
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -3.3%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,596
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 3.8%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 7.6%

Utah

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 2%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 3.3%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $71,535
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -2%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,152
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 8.2%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 7.4%

Nevada

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 4.4%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 5%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $67,143
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: 7.9%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,164
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 8%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 11.7%

Oregon

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 3.7%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 4.3%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $67,055
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -0.7%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,259
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 7.4%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 8.8%

California

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 4.1%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 4%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $90,264
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -1%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,644
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 1%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 10.6%

Arizona

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 3.7%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $60,870
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -2.5%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,234
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 7.5%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 10.4%

Idaho

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 2.7%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 2.6%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $54,808
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: -1.1%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $982
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 8.5%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 8.1%

Hawaii

  • August 2022 unemployment rate: 4.1%
  • Year-over-year change in unemployment March 2022: 2.2%
  • Q4 2021 GDP per capita: $65,683
  • GDP growth Q3-Q4 2021: 5.4%
  • Average weekly wages Q3 2021: $1,135
  • Percent change in average weekly wages Q3 2020-Q3 2021: 4.2%
  • Percent of population below poverty line 2019-2020: 9.7%