Loneliness became an epidemic in America over the last two years. As we hit the second anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more evident that millions of Americans spent this period on their own, or with very little contact with others. And according to review site Aging In Place, the loneliest state in America is Maine. (Maine, however, is not the state where the most people live alone.)
There are over 20 million people who live in single-person households in the U.S. Not all of these people spend their time alone, but the daily experience is very different from that of people who live in homes with more than one member. The number of people who live alone, on a percentage basis, generally increases as people get older and spikes upward for those over 75 years old.
The pandemic is not over, and though fewer people may get sick in the future, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is more likely to remain more dangerous to health than the common flu. Some degree of cautiousness around people, particularly for older adults or people with chronic conditions, will likely continue to be recommended.
Aging In Place has just released a study titled “Loneliest States: The U.S. States Where Loneliness Is Most Likely.” The authors note, “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on all of us, but those who were already struggling with loneliness saw this become much worse during social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders.”
To determine the loneliest states in America, 24/7 Tempo reviewed AgingInPlace.org’s report. States were ranked based on Aging In Place’s 2022 loneliness score, a composite index of the percentage of single-person households, the percentage of those widowed or divorced, and the number of searches for dating apps and friendship apps, such as Tinder, Match.com, and Nextdoor, per capita. The maximum “loneliness” score for any state was 10.
There does not appear to be any geographic pattern among the states at the top of the list — the ones that rank highest for loneliness. Maine ranks first with a score of 7.60 out of 10. It is followed by Florida (often considered a retirement area) at 7.00, Ohio at 6.68, New Mexico at 6.60, and Vermont at 6.28. (These are the best and worst states for retirees.)
At the far end of the spectrum, Utah has a score of 0.72, followed by Alaska at 2.32, and Hawaii at 2.56. Once again, there is no discernible geographic pattern. Utah’s score, however, does appear to have a single cause. The researchers write: “The state has a huge Mormon community with more than half of Utahns identifying themselves as Mormons. This may contribute to the low numbers of divorce and single-person households.”
Click here for the loneliest state in America
50. Utah
> Loneliness score: 0.7/10
> Single-person households: 19.5% (the least)
> Adult divorced population: 9.0% (3rd least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 1,830 per 10,000 people (5th least)
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49. Alaska
> Loneliness score: 2.3/10
> Single-person households: 26.3% (7th least)
> Adult divorced population: 11.4% (25th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,273 per 10,000 people (18th least)
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48. Hawaii
> Loneliness score: 2.6/10
> Single-person households: 24.3% (3rd least)
> Adult divorced population: 9.1% (4th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,072 per 10,000 people (12th least)
47. California
> Loneliness score: 3.0/10
> Single-person households: 23.8% (2nd least)
> Adult divorced population: 9.2% (5th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,300 per 10,000 people (20th least)
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46. Texas
> Loneliness score: 3.1/10
> Single-person households: 25.3% (4th least)
> Adult divorced population: 10.5% (15th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 1,897 per 10,000 people (8th least)
45. Idaho
> Loneliness score: 3.4/10
> Single-person households: 25.7% (5th least)
> Adult divorced population: 12.0% (18th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,307 per 10,000 people (21st least)
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44. Wyoming
> Loneliness score: 3.5/10
> Single-person households: 28.8% (25th most)
> Adult divorced population: 12.2% (13th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,397 per 10,000 people (24th most)
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43. Virginia
> Loneliness score: 3.5/10
> Single-person households: 27.5% (12th least)
> Adult divorced population: 10.1% (11th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,338 per 10,000 people (22nd least)
42. Georgia
> Loneliness score: 3.6/10
> Single-person households: 27.3% (10th least)
> Adult divorced population: 11.2% (24th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,139 per 10,000 people (15th least)
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41. South Dakota
> Loneliness score: 3.8/10
> Single-person households: 30.6% (8th most)
> Adult divorced population: 10.8% (19th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,347 per 10,000 people (23rd least)
40. Kansas
> Loneliness score: 3.9/10
> Single-person households: 29.1% (22nd most)
> Adult divorced population: 11.2% (24th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,064 per 10,000 people (11th least)
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39. Maryland
> Loneliness score: 3.9/10
> Single-person households: 27.5% (14th least)
> Adult divorced population: 9.9% (10th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,372 per 10,000 people (25th least)
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38. North Dakota
> Loneliness score: 3.9/10
> Single-person households: 32.5% (the most)
> Adult divorced population: 9.4% (7th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,492 per 10,000 people (19th most)
37. New Jersey
> Loneliness score: 4.0/10
> Single-person households: 26.0% (6th least)
> Adult divorced population: 8.6% (the least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,551 per 10,000 people (16th most)
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36. Nebraska
> Loneliness score: 4.3/10
> Single-person households: 29.4% (19th most)
> Adult divorced population: 10.2% (13th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,509 per 10,000 people (18th most)
35. Massachusetts
> Loneliness score: 4.4/10
> Single-person households: 28.4% (18th least)
> Adult divorced population: 9.4% (7th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 3,093 per 10,000 people (5th most)
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34. New Hampshire
> Loneliness score: 4.5/10
> Single-person households: 26.7% (8th least)
> Adult divorced population: 12.0% (18th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 3,331 per 10,000 people (the most)
33. Minnesota
> Loneliness score: 4.5/10
> Single-person households: 28.8% (25th least)
> Adult divorced population: 10.2% (13th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,524 per 10,000 people (17th most)
32. Mississippi
> Loneliness score: 4.6/10
> Single-person households: 29.2% (20th most)
> Adult divorced population: 11.5% (24th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 931 per 10,000 people (the least)
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31. Iowa
> Loneliness score: 4.6/10
> Single-person households: 29.8% (18th most)
> Adult divorced population: 10.8% (19th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,404 per 10,000 people (23rd most)
30. Connecticut
> Loneliness score: 4.6/10
> Single-person households: 28.5% (19th least)
> Adult divorced population: 10.5% (15th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,631 per 10,000 people (14th most)
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29. Washington
> Loneliness score: 4.6/10
> Single-person households: 26.7% (9th least)
> Adult divorced population: 11.5% (24th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,685 per 10,000 people (10th most)
28. Arizona
> Loneliness score: 4.7/10
> Single-person households: 27.5% (13th least)
> Adult divorced population: 12.2% (13th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,363 per 10,000 people (24th least)
27. Louisiana
> Loneliness score: 4.8/10
> Single-person households: 30.7% (6th most)
> Adult divorced population: 11.6% (22nd most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 1,520 per 10,000 people (2nd least)
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26. Oklahoma
> Loneliness score: 4.8/10
> Single-person households: 29.0% (24th most)
> Adult divorced population: 13.1% (5th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 1,820 per 10,000 people (4th least)
25. Alabama
> Loneliness score: 4.9/10
> Single-person households: 30.0% (11th most)
> Adult divorced population: 12.2% (13th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 1,832 per 10,000 people (6th least)
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24. South Carolina
> Loneliness score: 4.9/10
> Single-person households: 29.1% (21st most)
> Adult divorced population: 10.7% (17th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,038 per 10,000 people (10th least)
23. North Carolina
> Loneliness score: 4.9/10
> Single-person households: 28.7% (24th least)
> Adult divorced population: 10.7% (17th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,247 per 10,000 people (17th least)
22. Colorado
> Loneliness score: 4.9/10
> Single-person households: 27.7% (15th least)
> Adult divorced population: 11.9% (21st most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,681 per 10,000 people (11th most)
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21. New York
> Loneliness score: 5.0/10
> Single-person households: 29.8% (16th most)
> Adult divorced population: 8.8% (2nd least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,653 per 10,000 people (12th most)
20. Tennessee
> Loneliness score: 5.0/10
> Single-person households: 28.6% (20th least)
> Adult divorced population: 12.2% (13th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,108 per 10,000 people (14th least)
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19. Illinois
> Loneliness score: 5.1/10
> Single-person households: 29.8% (13th most)
> Adult divorced population: 9.7% (9th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,378 per 10,000 people (25th most)
18. Arkansas
> Loneliness score: 5.2/10
> Single-person households: 28.7% (22nd least)
> Adult divorced population: 12.9% (8th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 1,779 per 10,000 people (3rd least)
17. Kentucky
> Loneliness score: 5.2/10
> Single-person households: 28.7% (23rd least)
> Adult divorced population: 13.0% (6th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 1,852 per 10,000 people (7th least)
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16. West Virginia
> Loneliness score: 5.3/10
> Single-person households: 30.2% (9th most)
> Adult divorced population: 13.2% (4th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 1,967 per 10,000 people (9th least)
15. Wisconsin
> Loneliness score: 5.3/10
> Single-person households: 30.1% (10th most)
> Adult divorced population: 10.9% (20th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,882 per 10,000 people (7th most)
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14. Indiana
> Loneliness score: 5.4/10
> Single-person households: 29.0% (23rd most)
> Adult divorced population: 12.3% (12th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,104 per 10,000 people (13th least)
13. Montana
> Loneliness score: 5.6/10
> Single-person households: 30.8% (4th most)
> Adult divorced population: 12.5% (10th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,830 per 10,000 people (9th most)
12. Missouri
> Loneliness score: 5.6/10
> Single-person households: 29.8% (14th most)
> Adult divorced population: 12.2% (13th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,198 per 10,000 people (16th least)
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11. Nevada
> Loneliness score: 5.6/10
> Single-person households: 28.2% (17th least)
> Adult divorced population: 13.8% (2nd most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,465 per 10,000 people (20th most)
10. Michigan
> Loneliness score: 5.7/10
> Single-person households: 29.9% (12th most)
> Adult divorced population: 11.6% (22nd most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,442 per 10,000 people (21st most)
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9. Delaware
> Loneliness score: 6.0/10
> Single-person households: 28.1% (16th least)
> Adult divorced population: 11.2% (24th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,583 per 10,000 people (15th most)
8. Rhode Island
> Loneliness score: 6.2/10
> Single-person households: 30.6% (7th most)
> Adult divorced population: 11.1% (21st least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 3,125 per 10,000 people (4th most)
7. Oregon
> Loneliness score: 6.2/10
> Single-person households: 27.4% (11th least)
> Adult divorced population: 12.7% (9th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 3,080 per 10,000 people (6th most)
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6. Pennsylvania
> Loneliness score: 6.2/10
> Single-person households: 29.8% (15th most)
> Adult divorced population: 9.7% (9th least)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,860 per 10,000 people (8th most)
5. Vermont
> Loneliness score: 6.3/10
> Single-person households: 30.7% (5th most)
> Adult divorced population: 12.5% (10th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 3,167 per 10,000 people (2nd most)
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4. New Mexico
> Loneliness score: 6.6/10
> Single-person households: 31.0% (2nd most)
> Adult divorced population: 13.3% (3rd most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,284 per 10,000 people (19th least)
3. Ohio
> Loneliness score: 6.7/10
> Single-person households: 30.9% (3rd most)
> Adult divorced population: 12.0% (18th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,636 per 10,000 people (13th most)
2. Florida
> Loneliness score: 7.0/10
> Single-person households: 28.6% (21st least)
> Adult divorced population: 13.0% (6th most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 2,437 per 10,000 people (22nd most)
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1. Maine
> Loneliness score: 7.6/10
> Single-person households: 29.8% (17th most)
> Adult divorced population: 13.9% (the most)
> Dating app searches in 2021: 3,135 per 10,000 people (3rd most)
Methodology
To determine the loneliest states in America, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the Loneliest States report from product review site geared towards older adults AgingInPlace.org. States were ranked based on Aging In Place’s 2022 loneliness score, a composite index composed of data on the percentage of single-person households, the percentage of people widowed, the percentage of people divorced, and the number of searches for dating apps and friendship apps per capita.
Data on the percentage of single-person households and the percentage of the adult population 15 years and older that is divorced is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. Data on searches for dating apps in 2021 came from Google Keyword Planner and include searches for TInder, Grindr, Hinge, Bumble, Plenty of Fish, OkCupid, Match.com, Zoosk, Badoo, eharmony, Coffee Meets Bagel, and Happn.
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