Exploring the diverse tapestry of the United States reveals a range of experiences and characteristics that shape each state. While each state boasts its own strengths and positive attributes, it’s also important to acknowledge that no place is without its challenges.
From social and economic issues to environmental concerns, there are various factors that contribute to the complex landscape of each state.
Travel across America and see the worst part from each part.
Alabama
Worst thing: Car commuters
Alabama shares the top spot for the highest percentage of workers commuting in their personal vehicles, reaching 93.8%. The state records notably low percentages of individuals walking, cycling, using public transit, or working from home.
This dynamic fosters traffic congestion and environmental pollution, with extended solitary car commutes potentially leading to adverse long-term health consequences.
Arkansas
Worst thing: Teen birth rate
Arkansas holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest teenage birth rate in the nation, with a rate of 43.5 births per 1,000 residents aged 15-19 years old.
Arizona
Worst thing: Alzheimer’s disease increase
By the year 2025, Arizona is anticipated to face a staggering 33.3% surge in the population of adults grappling with Alzheimer’s disease. This projection marks the most substantial anticipated increase in Alzheimer’s cases across the nation.
Alaska
Worst thing: Violent crime problem
Alaska contends with a concerning statistic: a violent crime rate of 867.1 incidents per 100,000 individuals, surpassing the national rate by more than double.
Connecticut
Worst thing: Plummeting employment
Between March 2016 and March 2021, Connecticut experienced a significant decline in its workforce, with the number of employed individuals plummeting by a leading 11.5% in the United States. This decline occurred even as overall employment saw growth on a national scale.
Colorado
Worst thing: Into thin air
With an average altitude approaching 7,000 feet above sea level, Colorado presents a unique challenge to those who aren’t acclimated to such elevations.
This high altitude can lead to breathing difficulties for some individuals. Notably, in Denver, known as the “Mile High City,” the oxygen levels are estimated to be approximately 17% lower compared to sea level conditions, adding to the respiratory challenges that individuals may experience.
California
Worst thing: Lowest high school attainment
California faces a significant educational hurdle, as approximately one in six residents have not completed their high school education. This rate stands as the highest in the country, highlighting the need for continued efforts to improve educational attainment within the state.
Delaware
Worst thing: Blink and you’ll miss it
Delaware grapples with a perceived lack of distinct identity, largely due to the absence of major cities and its proximity to the sprawling metropolises of Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
This geographical positioning often leads to Delaware being overshadowed by its larger neighbors, contributing to its challenge in establishing a prominent individual identity.
Florida
Worst thing: Hurricane hampered
Florida contends with a recurring natural challenge, as the state is frequently affected by hurricanes. Out of the 292 hurricanes that have made landfall in the United States since 1851, a significant 120 of them have struck Florida.
This high frequency of hurricane impact underscores the state’s vulnerability to these powerful storms and the need for robust disaster preparedness and response measures.
Georgia
Worst thing: Lacking in immunizations
Georgia faces a concerning public health issue, with fewer than two-thirds of its children having received immunizations against diseases such as mumps and measles.
This low immunization rate stands as the lowest in the nation, highlighting the need for increased efforts to promote and ensure vaccination coverage for the well-being of the state’s children and communities.
Indiana
Worst thing: Spike in crime
Indiana contains a notable anomaly in terms of crime trends, as Kokomo stands as the sole major metropolitan area in the United States where instances of violent crime have more than doubled over the past five years.
This trend underscores the specific challenges that Kokomo faces in terms of public safety and calls for dedicated efforts to address and reverse this concerning increase in violent incidents.
Illinois
Worst thing: Pension crisis
As of the year 2020, Illinois finds itself in a precarious financial situation, with only enough funds set aside to cover 38.9% of the pension obligations for its public sector workers.
This represents the lowest percentage among all states, significantly trailing behind the majority of states that are able to meet over 70% of their pension commitments.
Idaho
Worst thing: Most destruction due to wildfires
Between 2008 and 2017, most states had less than 1% of their land damaged by wildfires. In Idaho, 10.6% of the land was burned — accounting for nearly 5.6 million acres.
Idaho is one of just two states in which over 25% of homes are at extreme wildfire risk.
Hawaii
Worst thing: Least sleep
While experts advise adults to aim for a minimum of seven hours of sleep per night, a concerning trend emerges in Hawaii, where 43.2% of residents fall short of meeting this sleep threshold.
Iowa
Worst thing: Bad place to bike
A recent report has highlighted a disconcerting trend in Iowa, where the state ranks as the least safe for biking. This designation is reinforced by the fact that five out of the ten most dangerous cities for biking in the United States are located within Iowa.
Maryland
Worst thing: Murder in Baltimore
In the previous year, Baltimore witnessed a distressing phenomenon, recording a murder rate exceeding 58 homicides per 100,000 residents.
Maine
Worst thing: Least diverse
Based on the most recent Census data, Maine emerges as a state with a notably homogenous demographic composition, with 94.4% of its population identifying as white.
This statistic places Maine ahead of its neighboring states Vermont and New Hampshire, solidifying its position as one of the least diverse states in terms of racial and ethnic representation.
Louisiana
Worst thing: Most expensive car insurance
Louisiana faces a significant disparity in car insurance costs, with an average car insurance premium amounting to $2,839. This figure is nearly twice the national average and surpasses the cost in other states by over $700, making it the state with the highest car insurance expenses.
Kentucky
Worst thing: Highest cancer mortality
Kentucky grapples with a deeply concerning health issue, reporting a high cancer mortality rate of 186 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Kansas
Worst thing: Perhaps the most geographically boring state
Kansas is characterized by its predominantly flat and geographically uniform landscape.
The state’s terrain is often criticized for lacking dramatic topographical features, which has led to the perception that driving through Kansas can be monotonous and even sleep-inducing for some travelers due to the absence of varied scenery.
Massachusetts
Worst thing: Boston sports fans
Boston sports fans have earned a reputation, with some finding them insufferable due to the consistent success of their professional teams.
The Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics have collectively secured an impressive 12 championships since 2000, fostering a perception that the frequency of their victories contributes to a sense of overwhelming pride among Boston sports enthusiasts.
New Jersey
Worst thing: Most hazardous waste sites
Despite its relatively compact size, New Jersey hosts a notable environmental concern, boasting 114 hazardous waste sites – a count that stands as the highest in the nation.
New Hampshire
Worst thing: No funds for preschool
New Hampshire stands out as one of the few states in the nation that does not allocate any funding towards pre-kindergarten programs.
Nevada
Worst thing: Least Literate State
Nevada is positioned at the bottom of the literacy spectrum, as it ranks as the least literate state in the United States according to a comprehensive index encompassing reading skills, educational attainment, and the prevalence of libraries.
Nebraska
Worst thing: Dangerous Drivers
According to QuoteWizard, Omaha drivers were designated as the worst in the nation, primarily due to their heightened likelihood of being apprehended for driving under the influence.
Montana
Worst thing: Lowest tax refund
Montana residents receive an average federal tax refund of $2,459, which is the lowest among all 50 states. This amount stands in contrast to the national average refund of over $3,700.
Missouri
Worst thing: Flooding
Author Mark Twain’s works have immortalized life along the Mississippi River, yet for Missouri residents, this iconic waterway can prove perilous.
The state has been witness to some of the most devastating floods in American history, attributed to the tumultuous force of the Mississippi River
Mississippi
Worst thing: Highest poverty rate
Mississippi stands as a state with a significant poverty challenge, where its residents are more likely to experience impoverishment compared to any other state.
Approximately 19.6% of Mississippi’s population earns incomes at or below the poverty line.
Minnesota
Worst thing: Brutal blizzards
The Red River Valley in Western Minnesota is known for experiencing a higher frequency of blizzards compared to other regions in the country.
This meteorological phenomenon can lead to challenging winter conditions, including heavy snowfall, strong winds, and reduced visibility, highlighting the unique weather patterns and potential hazards faced by residents of this area.
Michigan
Worst thing: Detroit and Flint, the two worst cities to live in
Based on a comprehensive index that encompasses crime, economy, education, environment, health, housing, infrastructure, and leisure, Detroit and Flint emerge as the two cities in the United States that rank as the least favorable places to reside.
New Mexico
Worst thing: Children in poverty
New Mexico grapples with a significant societal challenge, as it holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest percentage of low-income children among all states, with a staggering 56% of children falling into this category.
New York
Worst thing: Longest average commute
New York residents who commute to work experience the longest travel times in the country, spending an average of 34 minutes in their vehicles or on public transit each day.
Ohio
Worst thing: Sports futility
Ohio’s professional sports teams have experienced a series of challenges and victories. The NFL teams, the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, have yet to secure a Super Bowl win.
In the MLB, both the Reds and the Indians haven’t clinched a championship title in the past 30 years. The Columbus Blue Jackets, in their two decades in the NHL, have managed just one playoff series win.
However, native Ohioan LeBron James did bring the Cleveland Cavaliers their first NBA title in 2016, although he subsequently departed for the Los Angeles Lakers two years later.
North Dakota
Worst thing: Least visited
Geographically speaking, North Dakota finds itself rather secluded from the rest of the nation. However, this doesn’t necessarily imply that South Dakota holds a more attractive geographical position.
The issue lies in the absence of a prominent tourist draw in North Dakota, unlike the presence of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. While there is the National Buffalo Museum, it doesn’t quite qualify as a top-tier destination.
North Carolina
Worst thing: Evictions all too common
North Carolina contends with a concerning social issue, as the state has one of the highest rates of evictions in the United States.
Oklahoma
Worst thing: Smallest improvement in life expectancy
While life expectancy has generally seen improvements across the United States over the past few decades, Oklahoma stands out with the smallest progress.
The state’s life expectancy at birth has only increased by 3.4% since 1980, showcasing a relatively slow rate of improvement.
As a result, Oklahoma’s current life expectancy ranks among the fourth lowest in the country.
South Carolina
Worst thing: Highest average monthly energy bill
Residents of South Carolina face a notable financial burden when it comes to energy costs, as they pay an average of around $144 per month on their energy bills.
This cost ranks as the highest among the lower 48 states in the U.S.
Rhode Island
Worst thing: Power is pricey
Rhode Island stands out in terms of electricity costs, as it bears the highest average electricity price among the lower 48 states, at 23.4 cents per kilowatt-hour.
This cost makes Rhode Island the only state within the continental U.S. where electricity surpasses 20 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Pennsylvania
Worst thing: Wastewater
The American Society of Civil Engineers has assigned a D- grade to Pennsylvania’s wastewater system. A notable concern within the state is that more than 1.6 million homes are serviced by systems that experience failures over 20% of the time.
Additionally, the average age of sewer systems in Pennsylvania exceeds 70 years.
Oregon
Worst thing: Homelessness is a serious problem
The issue of soaring rents has played a significant role in exacerbating Oregon’s homelessness problem. Across the state, the escalating cost of housing has contributed to the rise in homelessness, with certain counties experiencing increases of more than 100%.
South Dakota
Worst thing: Poorly paid teachers
When accounting for the cost of living, the average salary for a public school teacher in the state is slightly above $50,000 per year. This places the state at the lowest position among all states in terms of adjusted teacher salaries.
Tennessee
Worst thing: Difficult for older people
According to America’s Health Rankings, senior citizens in Tennessee encounter difficulties when seeking healthcare services. This can be attributed to the relatively low availability of healthcare providers such as home health workers and geriatricians.
Moreover, many residents aged 65 and older in the state are unable to afford necessary care, leading them to forgo medical attention.
Texas
Worst thing: Difficult to drive
A significant concentration of challenging driving conditions exists in Texas, as seven out of the 25 worst American cities for driving are located within the state.
These cities encompass Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Odessa, among others.
Utah
Worst thing: Highest skin cancer rate
Utah holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest reported rate of new cases of skin cancer among both men and women.
Wyoming
Worst thing: Dangerous roads
In 2019, Wyoming faced a concerning road safety issue, reporting a rate of 25.4 traffic fatalities per 100,000 residents. This figure represents the highest traffic fatality rate among all states and is more than double the overall U.S. traffic fatality rate.
Wisconsin
Worst thing: Most excessive drinkers
Wisconsin faces a notable concern regarding excessive alcohol consumption, as over 27% of adults within the state engage in this behavior.
This percentage stands as the highest share among all states, highlighting the challenges associated with alcohol misuse and the potential impact on public health and well-being within Wisconsin.
West Virginia
Worst thing: Low educational attainment
West Virginia faces a notable educational disparity, with its adult population being the least likely in the country to hold a bachelor’s degree.
Approximately 21.1% of state residents possess at least a bachelor’s degree, in stark contrast to the national average of 33.1% of all Americans.
Washington
Worst thing: Rain, rain, rain
Seattle has become renowned for its reputation as one of the rainiest locations in the United States, with an average of 152 rainy days each year.
Vermont
Worst thing: Opioid epidemic
Vermont faced a significant and alarming challenge between 2019 and 2020, as the number of overdose deaths within the state increased by a substantial 57.6%.
This percentage represents the highest increase in overdose deaths among all states during that period.
Virginia
Worst thing: Bad state for sports fans
Despite being the 11th most populous state in the U.S., Virginia stands out for not having a representation in any of the major professional sports leagues – the NHL, NBA, MLB, or NFL.
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