What is the most stressful state to live in?

According to 2025 data, New Mexico is often cited as the most stressed U.S. state, followed closely by Nevada and Louisiana, with factors like work, money, health, and safety considered, though some analyses highlight Georgia as the most stressful for workers. These rankings use metrics like work hours, poverty, healthcare costs, and crime to determine overall stress levels, with Southern states frequently appearing high on the lists.

What is the most stressful state?

WalletHub on Monday released its list of the "Most & Least Stressed States" for 2025, with New Mexico being the most stressed and Nebraska being the least stressed.

What is the most relaxed state to live in?

For the most relaxed state, rankings vary slightly by study, but South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Vermont, and Hawaii consistently appear as top contenders with low stress, good work-life balance, strong health/safety, or low anxiety rates, often highlighting the Midwest, New England, and the island state for peaceful living. 

What is the #1 state to live in the US?

1. Massachusetts. According to WalletHub's study, Massachusetts is the best state to live in, excelling in all key factors—and earning the top spot in the ranking. It has the lowest premature death rate in the US, and residents earn a cushy median household income of over $101,000.

What is the poorest U.S. state?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the poorest U.S. state, characterized by the nation's lowest median household income, highest poverty rate (around 18-19%), high child poverty, and significant food insecurity, with states like Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Arkansas often following in poverty rankings. These states face challenges like low wages, economic disparities, and limited resources, though some, like Mississippi, show growth in GDP but struggle with low-paying jobs, as noted by this World Population Review article and this Worldatlas article. 

Do You Live in One of the Most-Stressed States in the Country?

What's the nicest state to live in?

• Utah. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
• New Hampshire. #2 in Best States Overall. ...
• Idaho. #3 in Best States Overall. ...
• Minnesota. #4 in Best States Overall. ...
• Nebraska. #5 in Best States Overall. ...
• Florida. #6 in Best States Overall. ...
• Vermont. #7 in Best States Overall. ...
• South Dakota. #8 in Best States Overall.

Which U.S. state is the happiest?

Hawaii is consistently ranked as the happiest state in the U.S., followed by states like Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Utah, according to recent 2025 analyses by WalletHub, which considers factors like emotional well-being, work environment, and community. These top states often boast high life satisfaction, good health, strong economic security, and low depression rates, though rankings can vary slightly by report. 

What is not the safest state to live in?

Louisiana ranks as the most unsafe state with a 36.20 safety score and the nation's highest murder rate at 14.4 per 100,000 residents. Mississippi follows at 36.77, and Texas ranks third least safe at 38.14.

What is the #1 cheapest state to live in?

Below is a detailed breakdown of the ten most affordable states to live in 2025:

• Arkansas. Arkansas continues to be one of the most affordable states in the U.S., especially for those looking to buy property. ...
• Mississippi. ...
• Oklahoma. ...
• New Mexico. ...
• Missouri. ...
• Tennessee. ...
• Michigan. ...
• Texas.

What is the roughest state in America?

The most dangerous states in the USA are typically identified by their violent crime and property crime rates. Alabama, New Mexico, and Louisiana often rank high on lists due to elevated rates of violent crime. These rankings can vary year to year depending on updated FBI or BJS data.

What is the funnest state to live in?

California — Dominates with the most restaurants, amusement parks, movie theaters, and fitness centers per capita. It also ranks No. 1 for beach access and offers top-tier nightlife and scenic byways.

What states are losing the most population?

The states losing the most population by sheer numbers recently are New York, California, and Illinois, primarily due to people moving out (net domestic outmigration), though New York often leads in percentage decline. Other states like Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have also seen declines, sometimes driven by natural decrease (more deaths than births) as well as migration. 

What is the unhappiest state in the US?

Based on recent studies, particularly WalletHub's 2025 analysis, Louisiana and West Virginia consistently rank as the unhappiest states, often swapping the bottom spots, with Louisiana frequently cited as the absolute least happy due to factors like high depression rates, long work hours, low sleep quality, and high divorce rates, while West Virginia struggles with high adult depression and poor sleep. Other states often in the bottom ranks include Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. 

What is the #1 worst habit for anxiety?

The #1 worst habit for anxiety isn't one single thing, but often a cycle involving procrastination/avoidance, driven by anxiety and leading to more anxiety, alongside fundamental issues like sleep deprivation, which cripples your ability to cope with stress. Other major culprits are excessive caffeine, poor diet, negative self-talk, sedentary living, and constantly checking your phone, all creating a vicious cycle that fuels worry and physical symptoms.
 

What state has the most chill people?

1. South Dakota. South Dakota is the most relaxed state in the country. It has an average of 12.2% of people reporting stress monthly.

What is the unsafest state to live in?

While different reports use various metrics, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi consistently rank as some of the most dangerous states due to high rates of violent crime, homicides, and other safety factors, with Louisiana often cited as the least safe overall due to its high murder rate and risks like drownings, followed closely by New Mexico for assaults and Alaska for overall violent crime rates. 

What are the top 5 most murderous states?

Based on recent data (2023-2024), the U.S. states with the highest murder rates per capita consistently include Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, New Mexico, and Tennessee, often joined by South Carolina or Alaska, reflecting higher incidents relative to population, while states like Texas and California have the most total murders due to larger populations. 

What states have the best mental health?

The best states for mental health often include New York, Hawaii, and New Jersey, consistently ranking high for overall well-being and access to care in recent reports from organizations like Mental Health America (MHA) and CNN, though other states like Vermont, Massachusetts, and California also appear in top ten lists from different analyses, highlighting strong services and resources. Rankings vary slightly by report (e.g., Soliant Health, Forbes), but New York, Hawaii, New Jersey, Vermont, and Massachusetts are frequent leaders in overall mental health access and outcomes. 

Which state has the nicest people?

There's no single "nicest" state, but studies and surveys often point to Minnesota, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming as top contenders for friendliness, based on factors like tourist impressions and acts of kindness. Other states like Hawaii, Iowa, and parts of the South (like Kentucky, North Carolina) are also frequently praised for their welcoming and kind residents, though perceptions of niceness can vary by individual and region.
 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as it depends on the study, but recent reports often name Massachusetts, Vermont, or New Jersey as #1 for Quality of Life, with Massachusetts leading in overall metrics (health, education) and Vermont shining in specific areas like low crime and natural environment. Other top contenders include Idaho, Minnesota, and New York, highlighting that rankings vary based on whether they emphasize healthcare, economy, safety, or environment. 

What is the cheapest but best state to live in?

The best affordable states to live in consistently include Southern and Midwestern options like Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, known for low housing costs, low taxes (sometimes), and lower overall cost of living indexes compared to the national average, though job opportunities and specific amenities vary, with some states offering strong sectors in manufacturing, healthcare, or logistics. 

What is the most loved state in America?

While "most loved" is subjective, polls consistently show Hawaii as a top contender for favorability, often leading in overall positive views, net favorability, and as a favorite destination, alongside strong showings from Colorado, Alaska, and North Carolina. Americans also frequently name states like Florida, California, New York, and Texas as favorites in head-to-head polls, but Hawaii consistently ranks highest for broad appeal and positive perception.
 

Where are people moving to in 2026?

In 2026, people are continuing to move towards the Sun Belt (South & Southwest U.S.) for warmer climates, lower costs, and job growth, with states like Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina leading, alongside international destinations like Canada, Germany, and Australia for economic opportunity, while some are leaving colder regions like West Virginia for better prospects.