Which US state has the kindest people?

While "nicest" is subjective, studies and traveler reviews frequently rank Minnesota, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Texas as having some of the friendliest people, often citing "Minnesota Nice," Southern hospitality, and general warmth as reasons. Other states like Wyoming, Hawaii, and Colorado also appear on top lists for their welcoming residents.


What state has the kindest people?

There's no single answer, as different studies name different states, but Minnesota (due to "Minnesota Nice"), Kentucky (acts of kindness), Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming often appear at the top for friendliness or kindness in recent rankings, depending on the criteria, which include surveys, tipping habits, and community spirit. Southern states like Tennessee and Texas consistently rank high due to traditional hospitality, while Minnesota is known for its reserved politeness, notes Jagran Josh, CBS News. 

Where are the kindest people in the USA?

While "nicest" is subjective, studies and surveys often point to Minnesota, known for "Minnesota Nice," along with Southern states like Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia, and Midwestern states like Iowa, as having very friendly and polite people, often characterized by strong community spirit and helpfulness. Other frequently mentioned spots include Hawaii, Colorado, and Wisconsin, known for relaxed attitudes or deep-rooted hospitality. 


What is the least friendliest state?

The most welcoming states are Vermont, Maine, and Hawaii. The least welcoming states are Missouri, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Most Americans greet strangers with a handshake (60%), smile (47%), or by making eye contact (25%). Over 1 in 5 Americans say they aren't comfortable with physical contact when greeting.

Which US state has the most polite people?

Minnesota is truly nice

“Minnesota Nice” is real, at least according to QuillBot's analysis. Minnesota had the highest proportions of friendly and polite inputs. This finding correlates with the stereotype of Minnesotans being polite, conflict-averse, and humble in how they communicate.


50 People Tell Us Their State's Most Hipster City | Condé Nast Traveler



Which US state has the happiest people?

According to recent studies, Hawaii consistently ranks as the U.S. state with the happiest people, leading in areas like life satisfaction, low depression, physical health, and community well-being, often followed by states like Maryland, Nebraska, and New Jersey, while Southern states like West Virginia often rank lowest. These rankings consider factors such as emotional/physical health, work environment, and community/environment, with Hawaii scoring high for its overall quality of life, strong economy, and ample leisure time.
 

What is the most loved state in the USA?

Hawaii is consistently ranked as America's favorite state in recent surveys, leading in overall favorability and net positive perception due to its beauty, warm weather, and perceived well-being, followed by states like North Carolina, Alaska, Tennessee, and Colorado in positive ratings. However, "most liked" varies by survey criteria, with other rankings highlighting states like Utah or Nebraska for overall livability, but Hawaii generally wins popularity contests. 

What is America's unhappiest state?

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 friendliest town in the USA?

There's no single "friendliest town," as it varies by survey, but Savannah, GA, Charleston, SC, Austin, TX, and Greenville, SC consistently rank high for their Southern charm, welcoming locals, and vibrant communities, while smaller towns like Tryon, NC and Moab, UT also earn accolades for exceptional hospitality and community spirit. Cities like Austin, Charlotte, and Columbus often top lists based on resident ratings, showcasing a pattern of Southern friendliness.
 

Which USA state is the safest?

Top safest states in America
  • Vermont.
  • Massachusetts.
  • New Hampshire.
  • Maine.
  • Utah.
  • Connecticut.
  • Hawaii.
  • Minnesota.


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. 


Who are the happiest people in the USA?

The happiest people in America often share traits like being married with children, having strong community ties, trusting others, holding conservative political views, and living in certain states (like Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska) or cities (Fremont, San Jose, CA) with good financial/life stability, though findings vary by study, with some noting older adults or higher earners also report high happiness. Married parents, particularly mothers, consistently show high "very happy" scores, while conservatives and those trusting government tend to be happier overall, notes the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 

Which ethnicity is the friendliest?

The World's Friendliest Nations, According To Scientific Study
  • South Africa tops our list of the friendliest nations, scoring an impressive 34.63 out of 40 on the 'agreeableness' trait of the Big 5 Personality Test.
  • Greeks were found to be the second-friendliest people in the world, scoring 33.71 on the test.


Where do the nicest people in the US live?

Charleston, South Carolina

Renowned for its Southern charm and historic beauty, Charleston is often touted as one of the friendliest cities in the US.


What is the freest state in the USA?

For the 24th time, New Hampshire is the freest state among all U.S. states, having scored 8.34 out of 10 in this year's report, which measures government spending, taxation, regulations and labor market restrictions using data from 2023, the most recent year of available comparable data.

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

There's no single #1 state, as it depends on priorities, but recent reports often rank Utah, Massachusetts, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Minnesota highly for overall quality of life, economy, safety, and opportunity, with Utah leading in some comprehensive rankings, Massachusetts excelling in health/education, and Idaho offering great value and low crime. Your ideal state depends on what matters most: affordability, job market, family, or culture.
 

Which state is most peaceful in the USA?

Maine consistently ranks as the most peaceful U.S. state due to low violent crime rates, low incarceration, and high personal safety, often followed by New Hampshire and Vermont, while the Northeast generally leads in peacefulness over the South, according to indices like the US Peace Index.
 


What is America's most welcoming city?

While "most welcoming" varies, recent studies often name St. Augustine, Florida, as the top U.S. city for hospitality, praised for its historic charm and friendly locals, with other high-ranking spots including Cape May, NJ, Newport, RI, and Joshua Tree, CA, based on traveler reviews and community integration efforts for newcomers. 

What is the happiest place to live in the USA?

The happiest places to live in the U.S. often include California cities like Fremont, San Jose, and Irvine, due to strong economies, good weather, and community, alongside Midwestern gems like Sioux Falls (SD), Overland Park (KS), Lincoln (NE), and Madison (WI), known for affordability, low depression rates, and outdoor access, with other consistent contenders being Scottsdale (AZ), San Francisco (CA), and Seattle (WA), focusing on lifestyle, purpose, and overall well-being. 

What is the hardest US state to live in?

These states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025:
  • Arkansas.
  • Alabama.
  • Georgia.
  • Louisiana.
  • Utah.
  • Indiana.
  • Texas.
  • Tennessee.


What is the unhealthiest state to live in?

While rankings vary slightly by study, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Kentucky consistently appear as the most unhealthy U.S. states, often due to high rates of obesity, smoking, chronic disease, substance abuse, poor nutrition, mental distress, and lower life expectancies, with many of these top contenders located in the South.
 

What is the most depressed state in the USA?

The "saddest" states in the U.S., often indicated by high rates of depression, poor mental well-being, or low happiness scores, consistently include West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee, with other states like Oklahoma, Alabama, and Oregon frequently appearing in top rankings for depression prevalence, according to data from sources like U.S. News & World Report, CDC, and WalletHub. These states often struggle with economic hardship, limited healthcare access, and higher chronic health issues, contributing to lower overall emotional health.
 

What is the prettiest state to live in?

The "prettiest" state is subjective, but California, Hawaii, Washington, Colorado, and Alaska consistently rank high for stunning, diverse scenery like coastlines, mountains, and forests, while Utah and Arizona are praised for unique desert/canyon beauty, and Maine/Vermont for charming East Coast landscapes, catering to different tastes from tropical to rugged wilderness.
 


What is the least visited state in the US?

Alaska is consistently ranked as the least-visited U.S. state, primarily due to its remote location, vast size, and perception as being too cold or difficult to access, despite offering unique wilderness experiences like glaciers, abundant wildlife, and the Northern Lights. Other contenders for least-visited, especially in the contiguous U.S., often include North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Nebraska, often seen as "flyover states". 

Which state is the cheapest to live in?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the cheapest state to live in the U.S., primarily due to the nation's lowest housing costs, plus low property taxes and inexpensive groceries, though other contenders like West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama also offer very low overall costs, with strong affordability in housing, utilities, and transportation.