STATE OF THE STATES

Most and least stressed states in 2021

Stressors are highest on average in Nevada and Louisiana and lowest in South Dakota and Utah, a Wallethub analysis finds.

Nevada is the most stressed state in the nation, according to a new report by personal finance website WalletHub.

On average, adults living in Nevada are contending with lower job security than those in other states. Nevada also has the nation’s highest divorce rate as well as a significant physician shortage.

This map shows each state's ranking by color, darker being more stressed and lighter being less stressed. Click on the map to see an interactive version on the WalletHub website.

South Dakota is the country’s least-stressed state, according to WalletHub, which noted that its residents enjoy high job security and more nightly sleep, on average, than residents of most other states.

Main findings

A recent WalletHub survey found that financial worries are the biggest source of stress for Americans, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic. When calculating this year’s state rankings for stress, WalletHub took into account each state’s COVID restrictions, an indicator of the severity of the pandemic in a given state.

Residents of Alaska, North Dakota and Wyoming put in the most hours at work each week, while those living in Utah, Rhode Island and Oregon worked the least, according to the report.

The drowsiest denizens of the U.S. live in Hawaii, West Virginia and Kentucky, where residents get the fewest hours of sleep per night, while those in Minnesota, South Dakota and Vermont get the most sleep.

Another finding: Unsurprisingly, California, Hawaii and New York offer the least affordable housing options while Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas will give you the most bang for your real estate buck.

The most and least stressed states in 2021 (1 = most stressed)

1. Nevada

2. Louisiana

3. New Mexico

4. West Virginia

5. Mississippi

6. Oklahoma

7. Tennessee

8. California

9. Kentucky

10. Texas

11. Arkansas

12. Alabama

13. Florida

14. North Carolina

15. Michigan

16. Arizona

17. Georgia

18. Indiana

19. New York

20. Rhode Island

21. Ohio

22. Pennsylvania

23. Alaska

24. Oregon

25. Vermont

26. Hawaii

27. Massachusetts

28. Washington

29. Connecticut

30. Illinois

31. Colorado

32. Virginia

33. New Jersey

34. South Carolina

35. Delaware

36. Wyoming

37. Maine

38. Idaho

39. Maryland

40. Missouri

41. Kansas

42. Montana

43. New Hampshire

44. Nebraska

45. Wisconsin

46. North Dakota

47. Iowa

48. Minnesota

49. Utah

50. South Dakota

For the full report and to learn more about the methodology, visit WalletHub.

Related reading:

The best and worst states for doctors in 2021

The best and worst states for health care in 2020

One comment

  1. Robert Charles

    A recent WalletHub survey found that financial worries are the biggest source of stress for Americans, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic. When calculating this year’s state rankings for stress an indicator of the severity of the pandemic in a given state. Its a important things. Thanks for this.

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