Margaret Slattery is associate editor of Politico Magazine.

On Tuesday, President Obama, if precedent holds, will declare that the state of America’s union is “strong.”

Is it? One way to judge is by the state of the states of the union: How strong are they, and, dare we ask, which is the strongest?


In 1931, H.L. Mencken and his fellow editor at the American Mercury, Charles Angoff, wondered the same thing. In a three-part series the magazine called “The Worst American State,” the pair compiled dozens of rankings of population data, largely from the 1930 census, determined to anoint the best and worst of the 48 states (and the District of Columbia), according to various measures of wealth, culture, health and public safety. In the end, Mencken and Angoff declared Connecticut and Massachusetts “the most fortunate American States,” and they deemed Mississippi “without a serious rival to the lamentable preëminence of the Worst American State” (diaeresis credit to Mencken, who, it should be noted, was from Maryland, No. 28 on his list). “The results will probably surprise no one,” they wrote. “Most Americans, asked to name the most generally civilized American State, would probably name Massachusetts at once, and nine out of ten would probably nominate Mississippi as the most backward.”

The methodology behind their exercise might not have been airtight, and the presumed definition of what is a “good” and “bad” state was clearly swayed by the writers’ prejudices and the time period; aside from the fact that many of their rankings had only partial data, consider that representation in the “American Men of Science” directory was factored into each state’s rank for culture, and lynchings for public safety. But the pair was onto something when they wrote that there are some aspects of daily life that most Americans can agree on: Education and health are good things, crime is a bad thing and “any civilization which sees an increase in the general wealth is a civilization going up grade, not down.”

With this in mind, Politico Magazine rounded up 14 different state rankings from reputable sources like the Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FBI, and on important factors such as high school graduation rates, per capita income, life expectancy and crime rate. Then we averaged out each state’s 14 rankings to come up with a master list—atop which sits none other than New Hampshire. The approach isn’t scientific or comprehensive (hey, neither was Mencken’s), and not all states are created equal—California’s economy is the world’s eighth largest, for instance, and Texas’s population outranks that of most countries. We also hold no grudges against the State of Mississippi, which came in last not just overall but on four of the individual lists, and certainly don’t attribute its woes to “hordes of barbaric peasants,” as Mencken did. But given that eight of the lowest-ranking states on our list overlap with the bottom 10 on his, maybe less has changed in the past 83 years than you’d think.

Overall rank (1 = best)

Rank State Governor 1 New Hampshire Maggie Hassan (D) 2 Minnesota Mark Dayton (D) 3 Vermont Peter Shumlin (D) 4 Utah Gary Herbert (R) 5 Massachusetts Deval Patrick (D) 6 Wyoming Matthew Mead (R) 7 Colorado John Hickenlooper (D) 8 Iowa Terry Branstand (R) 9 Washington Jay Inslee (D) 10 Connecticut Dannel Malloy (D) 11 Nebraska Dave Heineman (R) 12 New Jersey Chris Christie (R) 13 Montana Steve Bullock (D) 14 Maine Paul LePage (R) 15 Virginia Terry McAuliffe (D) 16 North Dakota Jack Dalrymple (R) 17 Hawaii Neil Abercrombie (D) 18 South Dakota Dennis Daugaard (R) 19 Wisconsin Scott Walker (R) 20 Idaho Butch Otter (R) 21 Maryland Martin O'Malley (D) 22 Kansas Sam Brownback (R) 23 Oregon John Kitzhaber (D) 24 Delaware Jack Markell (D) 25 Alaska Sean Parnell (R) 26 Pennsylvania Tom Corbett (R) 27 New York Andrew Cuomo (D) 28 Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee (I) 29 Illinois Pat Quinn (D) 30 California Jerry Brown (D) 31 Missouri Jay Nixon (D) 32 Indiana Mike Pence (R) 33 Arizona Jan Brewer (R) 34 Ohio John Kasich (R) 35 Texas Rick Perry (R) 36 Michigan Rick Snyder (R) 37 Florida Rick Scott (R) 38 New Mexico Susana Martinez (R) 39 North Carolina Pat McCrory (R) 40 Nevada Brian Sandoval (R) 41 Oklahoma Mary Fallin (R) 42 Georgia Nathan Deal (R) 43 West Virginia Earl Ray Tomblin (D) 44 Kentucky Steve Beshear (D) 45 South Carolina Nikki Haley (R) 46 District of Columbia (tie) Vincent Gray (D, mayor) 47 Alabama Robert Bentley (R) 48 Tennessee Bill Haslam (R) 49 Arkansas Mike Beebe (D) 50 Louisiana Bobby Jindal (R) 51 Mississippi Phil Bryant (R)

Wealthiest per capita

Rank / State / Per capita income

1. District of Columbia: $45,004

2. Connecticut: $37,807

3. Maryland: $36,056

4. New Jersey: $35,928

5. Massachusetts: $35,485

6. Virginia: $33,326

7. New Hampshire: $32,758

8. Alaska: $32,537

9. New York: $32,104

10. Colorado: $31,039

11. Washington: $30,661

12. Minnesota: $30,656

13. Rhode Island: $30,005

14. Delaware: $29,733

15. California: $29,551

16. Illinois: $29,519

17. Hawaii: $29,227

18. Wyoming: $28,858

19. Vermont: $28,846

20. North Dakota: $28,700

21. Pennsylvania: $28,190

22. Wisconsin: $27,426

23. Nevada: $27,003

24. Kansas: $26,845

25. Oregon: $26,702

26. Iowa: $26,545

27. Nebraska: $26,523

28. Maine: $26,464

29. Florida: $26,451

30. Ohio: $25,857

31. Texas: $25,809

32. Arizona: $25,571

33. South Dakota: $25,570

34. Michigan: $25,547

35. Missouri: $25,546

36. Georgia: $25,309

37. North Carolina: $25,285

38. Montana: $25,002

39. Indiana: $24,558

40. Tennessee: $24,294

41. Louisiana: $24,264

42. Oklahoma: $24,046

43. South Carolina: $23,906

44. Utah: $23,794

45. New Mexico: $23,749

46. Alabama: $23,587

47. Kentucky: $23,210

48. Idaho: $22,581

49. West Virginia: $22,482

50. Arkansas: $22,007

51. Mississippi: $20,670

Source: U.S. Census





Lowest unemployment

Rank / State / Unemployment rate

1. North Dakota 2.6

2. South Dakota 3.6

3. Nebraska 3.7

4. Utah 4.3

5. Hawaii 4.4

5. Iowa 4.4

5. Vermont 4.4

5. Wyoming 4.4

9. Minnesota 4.6

10. Kansas 5.1

10. New Hampshire 5.1

12. Montana 5.2

13. Oklahoma 5.4

13. Virginia 5.4

15. Idaho 6.1

15. Missouri 6.1

15. Texas 6.1

15. West Virginia 6.1

19. Alabama 6.2

20. Louisiana 6.3

20. Wisconsin 6.3

22. Florida 6.4

22. Maine 6.4

24. Maryland 6.4

24. New Mexico 6.4

26. Alaska 6.5

26. Colorado 6.5

26. Delaware 6.5

29. Washington 6.8

30. Massachusetts 7.1

30. South Carolina 7.1

32. Indiana 7.3

32. Oregon 7.3

32. Pennsylvania 7.3

35. New York 7.4

35. North Carolina 7.4

35. Ohio 7.4

38. Arkansas 7.5

39. Connecticut 7.6

40. Georgia 7.7

41. Arizona 7.8

41. New Jersey 7.8

43. Tennessee 8.1

44. Kentucky 8.2

45. Mississippi 8.3

46. California 8.5

47. District of Columbia 8.6

48. Illinois 8.7

49. Michigan 8.8

50. Nevada 9

50. Rhode Island 9

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics





Lowest poverty rates

Rank / State / Population below poverty level

1. New Hampshire 8.4

2. Maryland 9.4

3. Alaska 9.6

4. New Jersey 9.9

5. Connecticut 10.0

6. Hawaii 10.8

7. Massachusetts 11.0

7. Wyoming 11.0

9. Virginia 11.1

10. Minnesota 11.2

11. Delaware 11.5

12. Vermont 11.6

13. North Dakota 12.1

13. Utah 12.1

15. Iowa 12.2

16. Nebraska 12.4

17. Wisconsin 12.5

18. Colorado 12.9

18. Washington 12.9

20. Pennsylvania 13.1

21. Kansas 13.2

21. Rhode Island 13.2

23. Maine 13.3

24. Illinois 13.7

25. South Dakota 13.8

26. Nevada 14.2

27. Indiana 14.7

28. Montana 14.8

29. New York 14.9

30. Missouri 15.0

31. Idaho 15.1

32. California 15.3

33. Ohio 15.4

34. Oregon 15.5

35. Florida 15.6

36. Michigan 16.3

37. Oklahoma 16.6

38. North Carolina 16.8

39. Arizona 17.2

40. Tennessee 17.3

41. Georgia 17.4

41. Texas 17.4

43. South Carolina 17.6

43. West Virginia 17.6

45. Alabama 18.1

46. District of Columbia 18.5

47. Kentucky 18.6

48. Arkansas 18.7

48. Louisiana 18.7

50. New Mexico 19.5

51. Mississippi 22.3

Source: U.S. Census





Highest home ownership

Rank / State / Home ownership rate

1. West Virginia 73.7

2. Minnesota 73.0

3. Michigan 72.8

4. Delaware 72.7

5. Iowa 72.6

6. Maine 72.1

7. New Hampshire 72.0

8. Vermont 71.2

9. Indiana 70.6

10. Utah 70.4

11. Wyoming 70.3

12. Alabama 70.2

13. Idaho 70.1

13. Pennsylvania 70.1

15. Mississippi 69.9

16. South Carolina 69.5

17. Missouri 69.0

18. New Mexico 68.9

19. Kentucky 68.7

20. South Dakota 68.6

20. Wisconsin 68.6

22. Montana 68.5

23. Tennessee 68.4

24. Connecticut 68.3

25. Kansas 68.2

26. Florida 68.1

27. Maryland 68.1

28. Illinois 68.0

28. Ohio 68.0

30. Virginia 67.8

31. Nebraska 67.6

32. Oklahoma 67.5

33. Louisiana 67.4

34. Arkansas 67.2

35. North Carolina 67.1

36. North Dakota 66.4

37. New Jersey 66.2

38. Georgia 66.0

39. Colorado 65.9

40. Arizona 65.5

41. Alaska 64.4

42. Texas 63.9

43. Washington 63.8

44. Massachusetts 63.2

45. Oregon 62.5

46. Rhode Island 61.2

47. Hawaii 58.2

48. Nevada 57.8

49. California 56.0

50. New York 54.5

51. District of Columbia 42.4

Source: U.S. Census





Highest percentage of high school graduates

Rank / State / High school graduate rate

1. Wyoming 92.1

2. Minnesota 91.9

2. Montana 91.9

4. Alaska 91.6

5. New Hampshire 91.4

6. Vermont 91.3

7. Iowa 90.7

8. Maine 90.6

8. Utah 90.6

10. North Dakota 90.5

11. Nebraska 90.4

12. Hawaii 90.3

13. Wisconsin 90.2

14. South Dakota 90.1

15. Washington 90.0

16. Colorado 89.9

17. Kansas 89.7

18. Oregon 89.2

19. Massachusetts 89.1

20. Connecticut 89.0

21. Michigan 88.7

22. Idaho 88.6

23. Maryland 88.5

24. Pennsylvania 88.3

25. Ohio 88.2

26. New Jersey 87.9

27. Delaware 87.7

28. District of Columbia 87.5

29. Missouri 87.2

30. Illinois 87.0

30. Indiana 87.0

32. Virginia 86.9

33. Oklahoma 86.2

34. Florida 85.8

35. Arizona 85.4

36. New York 84.9

37. Rhode Island 84.8

38. North Carolina 84.5

39. Georgia 84.4

39. Nevada 84.4

41. South Carolina 84.0

42. Tennessee 83.9

43. New Mexico 83.4

43. West Virginia 83.4

45. Arkansas 83.3

46. Alabama 82.6

47.Kentucky 82.4

48. Louisiana 82.2

49. California 81.0

49. Mississippi 81.0

51. Texas 80.8

Source: U.S. Census





Longest life expectancy

Rank / State / Life expectancy (years)

1. Hawaii 81.3

2. Minnesota 81.1

3. California 80.8

3. Connecticut 80.8

5. Massachusetts 80.5

5. New York 80.5

5. Vermont 80.5

8. New Hampshire 80.3

8. New Jersey 80.3

10. Utah 80.2

11. Colorado 80

11. Wisconsin 80

13. Rhode Island 79.9

13. Washington 79.9

15. Nebraska 79.8

16. Iowa 79.7

17. Arizona 79.6

18. Idaho 79.5

18. North Dakota 79.5

18. Oregon 79.5

18. South Dakota 79.5

22. Florida 79.4

23. Maine 79.2

24. Illinois 79

24. Virginia 79

26. Maryland 78.8

27. Kansas 78.7

28. Montana 78.5

28. Pennsylvania 78.5

28. Texas 78.5

31. Delaware 78.4

31. New Mexico 78.4

33. Alaska 78.3

33. Wyoming 78.3

35. Michigan 78.2

36. Nevada 78.1

37. North Carolina 77.8

37. Ohio 77.8

39. Indiana 77.6

40. Missouri 77.5

41. Georgia 77.2

42. South Carolina 77

43. District of Columbia 76.5

44. Tennessee 76.3

45. Arkansas 76

45. Kentucky 76

47. Oklahoma 75.9

48. Louisiana 75.7

49. Alabama 75.4

49. West Virginia 75.4

51. Mississippi 75

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation





Lowest infant mortality rate

Rank / State / Infant mortality rate

1. Massachusetts 4.9

1. Utah 4.9

3. Washington 5.0

4. California 5.1

4. New Hampshire 5.1

4. Vermont 5.1

7. New Jersey 5.3

8. Iowa 5.4

8. Oregon 5.4

10. Minnesota 5.6

10. New York 5.6

12. New Mexico 5.8

13. Nebraska 5.9

14. Colorado 6.0

14. Hawaii 6.0

14. Maine 6.0

17. Nevada 6.1

18. Texas 6.2

19. Connecticut 6.3

20. North Dakota 6.4

21. Alaska 6.5

21. Arizona 6.5

21. Idaho 6.5

21. Montana 6.5

21. Rhode Island 6.5

26. Wisconsin 6.6

27. Kentucky 7.0

27. Wyoming 7.0

29. Illinois 7.1

29. South Dakota 7.1

31. Florida 7.2

31. Virginia 7.2

33. Missouri 7.3

34. Indiana 7.4

34. West Virginia 7.4

36. Kansas 7.5

36. Pennsylvania 7.5

38. Michigan 7.6

39. Ohio 7.7

40. Arkansas 7.9

40. Oklahoma 7.9

42. Delaware 8.0

42. Georgia 8.0

42. Maryland 8.0

45. North Carolina 8.3

45. South Carolina 8.3

47. Tennessee 8.4

48. Louisiana 9.4

49. Alabama 9.5

50. Mississippi 10.2

51. District of Columbia 12.0

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention





Lowest obesity rate

Rank / State / Obesity rate

1. Colorado 18.7

2. Massachusetts 21.5

3. Montana 22

4. Connecticut 22.7

5. California 23.1

6. Utah 23.9

7. Arizona 24.1

8. Rhode Island 24.3

9. Idaho 24.4

9. New Jersey 24.4

9. Washington 24.4

12. New Mexico 24.6

13. Minnesota 24.7

13. Wyoming 24.7

15. Nevada 24.9

15. New York 24.9

17. Florida 25.1

17. New Hampshire 25.1

19. Oregon 25.4

20. Hawaii 25.7

20. Vermont 25.7

22. Illinois 26

23. Virginia 26.2

24. Delaware 26.3

24. Kansas 26.3

24. South Dakota 26.3

27. Alaska 26.4

28. Maryland 27

29. Wisconsin 27.1

30. Missouri 27.2

31. Maine 27.5

32. North Dakota 27.8

33. Nebraska 27.9

33. Pennsylvania 27.9

33. South Carolina 27.9

36. Michigan 28.5

37. Georgia 28.6

38. Indiana 28.8

39. North Carolina 28.9

39. Texas 28.9

41. Iowa 29

42. Oklahoma 29.2

43. Ohio 29.5

44. Tennessee 29.6

45. Kentucky 29.7

46. Alabama 30.4

47. Louisiana 30.9

48. Arkansas 31.4

49. Mississippi 32.2

50. West Virginia 33.5

NA District of Columbia NA

Source: Gallup “State of the States”





Highest reported wellbeing

Rank / State / Overall wellbeing (Gallup index score)

1. Hawaii 71.1

2. Colorado 69.7

3. Minnesota 68.9

4. Utah 68.8

5. Vermont 68.6

6. Montana 68.5

6. Nebraska 68.5

8. New Hampshire 68.4

9. Iowa 68.1

9. Massachusetts 68.1

11. Maryland 68

11. South Dakota 68

13. Wyoming 67.9

14. Virginia 67.7

14. Washington 67.7

16. Connecticut 67.6

16. Kansas 67.6

18. California 67.4

18. North Dakota 67.4

20. Maine 67.3

20. Wisconsin 67.3

22. Arizona 67.1

22. Idaho 67.1

22. Oregon 67.1

25. New Mexico 66.7

26. Delaware 66.6

26. Illinois 66.6

26. Texas 66.6

29. Pennsylvania 66.5

30. New York 66.2

31. Alaska 66.1

31. Georgia 66.1

31. New Jersey 66.1

34. Florida 65.8

35. North Carolina 65.7

36. Michigan 65.6

37. Missouri 65.5

37. Rhode Island 65.5

39. Nevada 65.2

39. Oklahoma 65.2

41. South Carolina 65.2

42. Indiana 65.1

43. Louisiana 64.7

44. Ohio 64.6

45. Alabama 64.2

46. Arkansas 64.1

47. Tennessee 64

48. Mississippi 63.6

49. Kentucky 62.7

50. West Virginia 61.3

NA District of Columbia NA

Source: Gallup “State of the States”





Highest math scores

Rank /State / Grade 8 math score

1. Massachusetts 299

2. Kansas 298

3. Minnesota 294

4. New Jersey 293

4. North Dakota 293

4. Vermont 293

7. Montana 292

7. New Hampshire 292

9. South Dakota 291

10. Connecticut 289

10. Washington 289

12. Maryland 288

12. Pennsylvania 288

12. Wisconsin 288

15. Colorado 287

15. Idaho 287

15. Indiana 287

15. Texas 287

19. Maine 286

19. Missouri 286

19. Ohio 286

19. Virginia 286

19. Wyoming 286

24. Oregon 285

25. Delaware 284

25. Iowa 284

25. Nebraska 284

25. North Carolina 284

25. Utah 284

30. Alaska 283

30. New York 283

32. Illinois 282

33. South Carolina 280

34. Florida 279

34. Kentucky 279

36. Georgia 278

36. Michigan 278

36. Rhode Island 278

39. Arizona 277

40. Arkansas 276

40. Oklahoma 276

42. Tennessee 275

43. Hawaii 274

43. Nevada 274

45. Louisiana 272

46. California 270

46. New Mexico 270

46. West Virginia 270

49. Alabama 269

50. Mississippi 265

51. District of Columbia 254

Source: National Center for Education Statistics





Highest reading scores

Rank / State / Grade 8 reading score

1. Massachusetts 273

1. Vermont 273

3. Montana 271

4. Maine 270

4. New Hampshire 270

4. New Jersey 270

4. South Dakota 270

8. Minnesota 268

8. North Dakota 268

8. Ohio 268

8. Pennsylvania 268

12. Connecticut 267

12. Iowa 267

12. Kansas 267

12. Nebraska 267

12. Virginia 267

17. Colorado 266

17. Oregon 266

17. Wyoming 266

20. Delaware 265

20. Idaho 265

20. Maryland 265

20. Washington 265

24. Indiana 264

24. New York 264

24. Wisconsin 264

27. Illinois 263

27. Missouri 263

29. Kentucky 262

29. Utah 262

31. Texas 261

32. Florida 260

32. Michigan 260

32. Oklahoma 260

35. Alaska 259

35. Georgia 259

35. North Carolina 259

35. Tennessee 259

39. Arkansas 258

39. Rhode Island 258

41. South Carolina 257

42. Arizona 255

42. West Virginia 255

44. Louisiana 253

45. Alabama 252

45. Nevada 252

47. California 251

47. Hawaii 251

47. New Mexico 251

50. Mississippi 250

51. District of Columbia 241

Source: National Center for Education Statistics





Least income inequality

Rank / State / GINI coefficient

1. Wyoming 0.4166

2. Alaska 0.4232

3. Utah 0.4244

4. Hawaii 0.4257

5. New Hampshire 0.4298

6. Idaho 0.4302

7. Iowa 0.4328

8. South Dakota 0.4335

9. Nebraska 0.4339

10. Delaware 0.4356

11. Vermont 0.4392

12. Wisconsin 0.4401

13. Indiana 0.4417

14. Minnesota 0.4441

15. Maine 0.445

16. Maryland 0.4473

17. Kansas 0.4496

18. Washington 0.4498

19. Montana 0.4502

20. Nevada 0.4516

21. Oregon 0.4565

22. Colorado 0.4579

23. North Dakota 0.4597

24. Arizona 0.4608

24. Missouri 0.4608

26. Ohio 0.4615

27. Michigan 0.4624

28. Arkansas 0.4632

29. West Virginia 0.4638

30. Pennsylvania 0.4642

31. Oklahoma 0.4643

32. Rhode Island 0.4647

33. Virginia 0.4661

34. Kentucky 0.4667

35. South Carolina 0.4684

36. North Carolina 0.4691

37. New Mexico 0.4713

38. Illinois 0.4716

39. New Jersey 0.4718

40. Alabama 0.4726

41. Tennessee 0.4732

42. Texas 0.4767

43. Georgia 0.4809

44. Massachusetts 0.4813

45. California 0.4822

46. Florida 0.4828

47. Louisiana 0.4859

48. Mississippi 0.487

49. Connecticut 0.4915

50. New York 0.5009

51. District of Columbia 0.5343

Source: U.S. Census





Lowest crime rate

Rank / State / Crime rate

1. Maine 122.7

2. Vermont 142.6

3. New Hampshire 187.9

4. Virginia 190.1

5. Wyoming 201.4

6. Utah 205.8

7. Idaho 207.9

8. Kentucky 222.6

9. Minnesota 230.9

10. Hawaii 239.2

11. North Dakota 244.7

12. Oregon 247.6

13. Rhode Island 252.4

14. Nebraska 259.4

15. Mississippi 260.8

16. Iowa 263.9

17. Montana 272.2

18. Wisconsin 280.5

19. Connecticut 283

20. New Jersey 290.2

21. Washington 295.6

22. Ohio 299.7

23. Colorado 308.9

24. West Virginia 316.3

25. South Dakota 321.8

26. Indiana 345.7

27. Pennsylvania 348.7

28. North Carolina 353.4

29. Kansas 354.6

30. Georgia 378.9

31. Massachusetts 405.5

32. New York 406.8

33. Texas 408.6

34. Illinois 414.8

35. California 423.1

36. Arizona 428.9

37. Alabama 449.9

38. Missouri 450.9

39. Michigan 454.5

40. Arkansas 469.1

41. Oklahoma 469.3

42. Maryland 476.8

43. Florida 487.1

44. Louisiana 496.9

45. Delaware 547.4

46. South Carolina 558.8

47. New Mexico 559.1

48. Alaska 603.2

49. Nevada 607.6

50. Tennessee 643.6

51. District of Columbia 1,243.7

Source: FBI





Highest percentage employed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs

Rank / State / Percent employed in STEM jobs

1. District of Columbia 9.7

2. Maryland 9.1

3. Virginia 7.8

4. Washington 7.7

5. Massachusetts 7.4

6. Colorado 7.2

7. New Hampshire 6.9

8. California 6.2

9. New Jersey 6.1

9. Utah 6.1

11. Connecticut 6

11. Delaware 6

11. Minnesota 6

14. Oregon 5.8

15. Vermont 5.7

16. Alaska 5.6

16. Michigan 5.6

18. Arizona 5.5

19. New Mexico 5.4

20. Illinois 5.1

20. Pennsylvania 5.1

20. Texas 5.1

23. Wisconsin 5

24. North Carolina 4.9

25. Georgia 4.8

25. Idaho 4.8

27. Nebraska 4.7

27. Ohio 4.7

29. Alabama 4.6

30. Kansas 4.5

30. Missouri 4.5

32. Iowa 4.4

32. New York 4.4

32. Rhode Island 4.4

35. South Carolina 4.3

36. Hawaii 4.2

37. Maine 4.1

38. Montana 4

38. Oklahoma 4

38. Tennessee 4

41. Florida 3.9

41. Indiana 3.9

41. West Virginia 3.9

44. South Dakota 3.7

45. North Dakota 3.6

46. Kentucky 3.5

46. Louisiana 3.5

48. Wyoming 3.3

49. Arkansas 3.1

49. Nevada 3.1

51. Mississippi 2.7

Source: U.S. Census





H.L. Mencken and Charles Angoff’s 1931 rankings (before Alaska and Hawaii were states)

Rank / State

1. Massachusetts

2. Connecticut

3. New York

4. New Jersey

5. California

6. District of Columbia

7. Minnesota

8. Iowa

9. Illinois

10. Oregon

11. Rhode Island

12. Michigan

13. Maine

14. Washington

15. Wisconsin

16. New Hampshire

17. Ohio

18. Nebraska

19. Utah

20. Kansas

21. Pennsylvania

22. Vermont

23. Colorado

24. Indiana

25. Nevada

26. Delaware

27. Missouri

28. Maryland

29. North Dakota

30. Wyoming

31. Montana

32. Idaho

33. South Dakota

34. West Virginia

35. Arizona

36. Oklahoma

37. Florida

38. Virginia

39. Texas

40. New Mexico

41. Kentucky

42. Louisiana

43. North Carolina

44. Tennessee

45. Arkansas

46. Georgia

47. South Carolina

48. Alabama

49. Mississippi



Corrections: An earlier version of the lead art incorrectly identified New Hampshire. An earlier version of the overall ranking inverted the rankings for Delaware and the District of Columbia, and the home ownership ranking had incorrect information for Massachusetts. The article also referred incorrectly to the number of states in 1931.