The Worst Thing About Every State

Alabama has the lowest concentration of mental health professionals of any state at 91 for every 100,000 people. Massachusetts, the state with the greatest concentration, has over six times as many mental health care providers per 100,000 people, according to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.

Alaska’s violent crime rate of 885 violent crimes per 100,000 people is higher than that of every other state and nearly double the national rate of 369 violent crimes per 100,000, according to the FBI.

As of Sept. 7, Arizona had the highest COVID-19 positivity rate at 16.3% of tests. This rate is more than double the national rate of 7.5%.

Arkansas’ teen birth rate is 37.8 per 1,000 girls ages 15-19, the highest of any state and significantly higher than the national average of 22.7 per 1,000.

The share of adults in California with a high school diploma is the lowest of any U.S. state. About 83.8% of adults have a high school diploma, well below the national high school attainment rate of 88.3%.

Colorado has an average altitude close to 7,000 feet above sea level, which means that it can be harder to breathe for those who aren’t acclimated. Known as the “Mile High City,” Denver has an estimated 17% less oxygen in the air than at sea level.

Connecticut is one of just two states in which every single county in the state reported at least one drinking water violation in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available.

No state reported a higher rate of juvenile arrests than Delaware, with 48.8 arrests per 1,000 underage residents.

Florida has been hit with more tropical storms and hurricanes since 1851 than any other state — at least 292.

Children between 19 and 35 months old in Georgia are less likely to receive immunizations to protect them against such diseases as mumps, measles, and tetanus than those in every other state. About 65.6% of young children in the state get these vaccinations.

Hawaii has the most expensive real estate in the country, making homeownership less affordable for a larger share of residents. The median home value is $631,700, compared to a national median home value of $229,700.

Idaho spends just under $7,500 per elementary and secondary school pupil, the second lowest amount in the country. The national average is $12,200.

With a woefully underfunded pension system and a chronic budget deficit, Illinois has by far the lowest credit rating from financial services firm Moody’s — just above junk status.

Indiana has the highest concentration of harmful air pollution of any state at 11.8 PM2.5 per cubic meter of air. Nationwide, the average daily concentration of PM2.5 — or particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers — is 8.6 per cubic meter.

According to a COVID-19 survey taken monthly in all states, Gov. Kim Reynolds has seen the biggest drop in approval rating over her handling of the health emergency — from 52% in late April to 28% in late July. State governors average a 51% approval rating.

Kansas is tied (with Mississippi) for the lowest share of females who are immunized against HPV, at 38.1%. For context, 53.7% of American females are immunized against the sexually transmitted infection, which can cause cervical and other kinds of cancers.

There are about 233 cancer deaths per 100,000 residents in Kentucky annually, more than any other states. The national average is 189 cancer deaths per 100,000 people.

At 12.5 murders per 100,000 residents, Louisiana’s murder rate is the highest nationwide and more than double the national homicide rate of 5.5 murders per 100,000 people, according to the FBI.

Maine has the highest incidence of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, of any state. In 2018, it reported 30.7 cases per 100,000 residents — more than five times the U.S. overall rate.

About 49.5% of workers in Maryland commute by car — alone — for over half an hour, a higher share than in every other state.

No state has more outstanding government debt on a per capita basis than Massachusetts, at $11,1000 per person.

Michigan is projected to have the largest population decline of any state between 2020 and 2030 — at least 1.1%. Over the same period, the U.S. population is projected to grow by 8.7%.

In the land of 10,000 lakes, almost all freeze in winter. Minnesota has close to the lowest average annual temperatures in the country.

About 36.8% of adults in Mississippi are obese, meaning having a body mass index of 30 or higher. This is the highest obesity rate of U.S. states and much higher than the national rate of 29.0%.

Police have found more drug labs in Missouri over the last 20 years than in any other state, according to the DEA.

Montana has the highest suicide rate in the country at almost 30 suicides per 100,000. The national average is 14.5 suicides per 100,000 people.

Nebraska has among the most tornadoes per year in the U.S., averaging about 40 per year. There were 110 recorded tornadoes in 2004.

At $46, Nevada spends the least amount of money on public health per capita, almost half the national average of $87.

About 28.5% of New Hampshire residents fail to regularly wear a seat belt, well above the 15% of U.S. adults.

As of Sept. 7, no state had a higher COVID-19 related death rate than New Jersey, at 180 deaths per 100,000. The national average is 55 COVID-19 related deaths per 100,000 people.

About 71.1% of high school seniors in New Mexico graduate, the lowest share than any state. The national average is 84.6%.

Just over half (53.9%) of the people who live in New York state own their homes. This is the lowest share of homeowners in the country and compared to a national homeownership rate of 63.8%.

Fewer than 10% of jobless people in North Carolina received unemployment benefits in 2019. In the first quarter of 2020, just 67.2% of unemployment applicants received benefits in a timely manner — both ranking dead last in the country.

Adults in North Dakota are less likely than those in every other state to have a graduate or professional degree. Only 7.6% hold such a degree. Nationwide, 12.6% of adults have an advanced degree.

At 15.3%, Ohio has the highest rate of juvenile prisoners who report being forced into sexual activity with other prisoners or with prison staff members, more than double the 7.1% national rate.

The share of children in Oklahoma with at least one of nine adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is the highest in the country, at 28.5%. The national average is 20.5%. ACEs include divorced or separated parents, living in financially struggling families, parent or guardian dead or in jail, exposure to violence at home

At 25.2%, Oregon has the highest rate of adults with depression in the country, according to a 2019 study by QuoteWizard, an online insurance marketplace. This is an increase of almost 9.2% between 2014 and 2018.

Pennsylvania had 197 winter driving deaths between 2013 and 2017, more than every state except for Michigan. The state’s deadliest road in winter months is I-80.

Some 22.3% of bridges in Rhode Island are structurally deficient, the highest share of any state. Of the 779 bridges in Rhode Island, 174 are in poor condition.

Fatal car accidents occurred more frequently in South Carolina than in any other state in 2018. The state reported 1.83 fatalities per 100 million miles driven. The next closest state, Mississippi, reported 1.63 per 100 million miles driven in 2018.

Teachers in South Dakota make just $44,472 per year, the lowest amount of teachers from any state. The state also does a worse job of making sure educators are qualified than most other states.

About 5.4% of adults in Tennessee have had a stroke, a higher share than in any other state. For reference, 3.4% of American adults nationwide have had a stroke.

About 19.4% of people in Texas lack health insurance, the largest share of any state. Nationwide, the uninsured rate stands at 10.2%.

Utah spends $7,179 per pupil, the lowest spending on public education per student than any other state. On average, per student spending across all states was $12,201 in fiscal 2017.

Vermont has the smallest economy of any state, with a 2019 GDP of $34.8 billion — nearly $5 billion less than the next closest state, Wyoming.

Virginia has the worst ratio of minimum wage to what is needed to sustain a family of any state. The minimum wage in the state is $7.25, or 26% of what is needed to sustain a family. The hourly minimum wage in Virginia will increase to $9.50 beginning May 1, 2021.

According to an analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the tax structure in Washington makes the rich richer and the poor poorer more than in any other state. The 20% of taxpayers with the lowest incomes can pay up to six times as much of their income as Washington’s wealthiest do.

West Virginia has the highest drug overdose death rate in the country at 49.8 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people — more than double the national rate of 20.6 drug overdose deaths per 100,000.

Wisconsin has the highest excessive alcohol consumption rate among adults of any state, at 25% of adults — well above the 18.2% national excessive drinking rate.

Wyoming has the highest occupational fatality rate of any state with 11.5 workplace deaths per 100,000 workers — well above the national rate of 4.1 workplace deaths per 100,000 workers.