How can you compare states with little population to a state with 40 mn people ? Of course numbers will look better in a smallish state. Also, how do these states perform when it comes to healthcare access, LGBT rights, environmental changes, renewable energy, immigrant rights ? School quality ? Comparing mostly white states with a state that has 50% 1st or 2nd generation migrants, with non native English speaking parents ? Homicide rates ? SF is on track to have the lowest homicide rate in 50 years. On average, California performs far better than any of the states you mentioned and that is proven by the population differences

> How can you compare states with little population to a state with 40 mn people ? Of course numbers will look better in a smallish state.

These are percentage rates, not absolute numbers, so it's not obvious why the numbers will look better in a smaller state.

> On average, California performs far better than any of the states you mentioned and that is proven by the population differences

California performs worse on many metrics even accounting for demographic differences. For example, in Iowa, Hispanic children score an average of 273 in NAEP's 8th grade math test. In California, they score just 262. In Texas it's 274. Median income for hispanic-headed households in California is about $46,000, versus $48,000 in Iowa. (Adjusted for cost of living, Hispanic households in Iowa have 30% more purchasing power than Hispanic households in California.)

The Midwest is a lot more diverse than people realize - this comment just betrays a lack of knowledge. The Midwest is a lot more than Iowa cornfields and American flags.

And even Iowa Cornfields are host to some LGBT-friendly communities.