Vermont vs West Virginia

Two manufacturing peaks, one larger Appalachian stock

This pair is not a services-versus-construction contrast. Vermont’s missile-and-space-parts peak and West Virginia’s ammunition-manufacturing peak are both manufacturing labels on USAspending.gov obligation files. The stocks still differ: $1.0B in Vermont versus $1.7B in West Virginia. Mix similarity does not equal dollar parity.

Census counts do part of the work. West Virginia’s 1,769,979 residents versus Vermont’s 648,493 is a large population gap. Intensity still favors West Virginia, $113.44 per capita versus $72.92. Cite USAspending.gov. Keep both ratios labeled as Census-based packet figures.

Award counts that sit closer than the dollars

Vermont files 12,020 awards; West Virginia files 14,302. That row gap is modest next to $1.0B versus $1.7B. West Virginia’s thicker dollar stock on a similar award count is consistent with a more concentrated file. Row count is not average award size. The packet does not report means.

FY2026 does not stay close. Vermont’s $47.3M latest-year obligations versus West Virginia’s $200.8M is a recency gap several times the award-count gap. Treat FY2026 as an obligation slice, not Treasury cash. Use the Vermont and West Virginia state hubs for agencies and recipients.

Vermont’s 12,020 awards versus West Virginia’s 14,302 is the closest volume cut in this pair. Dollars are not close: $1.0B versus $1.7B stacked, $47.3M versus $200.8M in FY2026, $72.92 versus $113.44 per capita. A similar award count on unmatched stocks is consistent with different concentration. Cite USAspending.gov. Do not invent average award size from those row totals.

Questions

Does Vermont or West Virginia have more federal spending?

West Virginia leads stacked USAspending.gov obligations $1.7B to Vermont’s $1.0B. West Virginia also leads spending per capita ($113.44 vs $72.92) and FY2026 obligations ($200.8M vs $47.3M). Award counts are closer: 12,020 in Vermont and 14,302 in West Virginia. Population is 648,493 versus 1,769,979.

Do Vermont and West Virginia share similar lead industries?

Both lead NAICS labels are manufacturing. Vermont’s is other guided missile and space vehicle parts and auxiliary equipment manufacturing. West Virginia’s is ammunition (except small arms) manufacturing. Those peaks sit on $1.0B and $1.7B. Similar mix categories do not make the stocks equal.

Why are award counts closer than the dollar totals?

The packet reports 12,020 awards in Vermont and 14,302 in West Virginia. Stacked stocks are $1.0B versus $1.7B. Award count is a row total, not average size. These figures are USAspending.gov obligations, not outlays. Do not invent a mean from those row counts.

Are Vermont vs West Virginia figures Treasury outlays?

No. The $1.0B and $1.7B totals, and FY2026 amounts of $47.3M and $200.8M, are USAspending.gov obligations. Outlays are cash payments and can lag. Spending per capita ($72.92 vs $113.44) uses Census population where present. This packet does not publish outlays or average award size.