There are many different sources of stress, from inflation to work deadlines to relationship tensions. Last year, Americans’ biggest stressors included money, the economy and health-related issues, according to the American Psychological Association. In addition, every age group except people 65 and older reported being under more stress in 2023 than they were in 2019 before the pandemic. Overall stress levels are not uniform across the country, though.
WalletHub compared the 50 states across 40 key indicators of stress to help people determine where to live in order to achieve a more relaxing life. Our data set ranges from average hours worked per week to the personal bankruptcy rate to the share of adults getting adequate sleep.
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Most Stressed States
Overall Rank* | State | Total Score | Work-Related Stress Rank | Money-Related Stress Rank | Family-Related Stress Rank | Health- & Safety-Related Stress Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Louisiana | 57.84 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 3 |
2 | Mississippi | 57.78 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
3 | Nevada | 57.42 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 8 |
4 | New Mexico | 55.77 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
5 | Arkansas | 53.16 | 12 | 5 | 31 | 1 |
6 | West Virginia | 52.04 | 26 | 8 | 18 | 2 |
7 | Alabama | 51.73 | 39 | 2 | 14 | 6 |
8 | Kentucky | 50.82 | 8 | 6 | 22 | 17 |
9 | Oklahoma | 50.57 | 17 | 11 | 20 | 4 |
10 | Texas | 50.49 | 5 | 23 | 8 | 11 |
11 | Tennessee | 50.16 | 32 | 9 | 19 | 5 |
12 | New York | 49.33 | 11 | 34 | 3 | 28 |
13 | Oregon | 48.40 | 31 | 7 | 27 | 10 |
14 | Alaska | 47.31 | 1 | 38 | 35 | 9 |
15 | Georgia | 46.65 | 27 | 13 | 24 | 16 |
16 | California | 46.41 | 10 | 22 | 23 | 21 |
17 | Ohio | 45.49 | 28 | 24 | 16 | 18 |
18 | Arizona | 45.28 | 43 | 12 | 26 | 19 |
19 | Colorado | 45.15 | 24 | 28 | 17 | 14 |
20 | Maine | 44.88 | 38 | 14 | 34 | 12 |
21 | North Carolina | 44.63 | 35 | 19 | 9 | 32 |
22 | Indiana | 44.45 | 22 | 17 | 30 | 23 |
23 | Wyoming | 43.66 | 2 | 29 | 44 | 24 |
24 | Florida | 43.39 | 46 | 21 | 4 | 33 |
25 | Illinois | 43.01 | 6 | 37 | 15 | 39 |
26 | Missouri | 42.06 | 20 | 32 | 40 | 15 |
27 | Michigan | 41.79 | 41 | 30 | 25 | 22 |
28 | Rhode Island | 41.71 | 40 | 25 | 6 | 43 |
29 | Washington | 41.56 | 29 | 31 | 38 | 20 |
30 | Montana | 41.46 | 47 | 16 | 28 | 26 |
31 | Connecticut | 41.38 | 9 | 44 | 7 | 47 |
32 | Maryland | 40.61 | 14 | 43 | 11 | 45 |
33 | Pennsylvania | 40.46 | 25 | 33 | 37 | 27 |
34 | Virginia | 40.29 | 30 | 45 | 12 | 35 |
35 | Kansas | 39.61 | 23 | 36 | 36 | 30 |
36 | Massachusetts | 38.95 | 21 | 40 | 13 | 49 |
37 | South Carolina | 38.81 | 44 | 26 | 32 | 31 |
38 | Wisconsin | 38.17 | 36 | 39 | 29 | 37 |
39 | New Jersey | 37.63 | 7 | 48 | 41 | 38 |
40 | Vermont | 37.04 | 49 | 20 | 33 | 29 |
41 | Hawaii | 36.87 | 19 | 27 | 39 | 50 |
42 | Nebraska | 36.44 | 13 | 41 | 46 | 40 |
43 | Delaware | 35.99 | 45 | 35 | 21 | 48 |
44 | North Dakota | 35.35 | 18 | 46 | 43 | 42 |
45 | Idaho | 35.23 | 48 | 15 | 48 | 36 |
46 | Iowa | 34.93 | 16 | 49 | 42 | 41 |
47 | New Hampshire | 34.60 | 34 | 47 | 45 | 34 |
48 | Utah | 33.45 | 50 | 18 | 49 | 25 |
49 | South Dakota | 31.94 | 33 | 42 | 50 | 44 |
50 | Minnesota | 30.23 | 42 | 50 | 47 | 46 |
Notes: *No. 1 = Most Stressed
With the exception of “Total Score,” the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of each state, and a rank of 1 represents the worst conditions for each category.
- Most
- 1. Alaska
- T-2. Texas
- T-2. Wyoming
- T-4. Louisiana
- T-4. North Dakota
- T-4. South Dakota
- Fewest
- T-45. Connecticut
- T-45. Massachusetts
- 47. Oregon
- 48. Rhode Island
- 49. Vermont
- 50. Utah
- Fewest
- 1. West Virginia
- 2. Hawaii
- 3. Alabama
- 4. Kentucky
- 5. Pennsylvania
- Most
- 46. South Dakota
- 47. Nebraska
- 48. Vermont
- 49. Minnesota
- 50. Colorado
- Highest
- 1. Mississippi
- 2. West Virginia
- 3. Arkansas
- 4. Alabama
- 5. Louisiana
- Lowest
- 46. Minnesota
- 47. Wyoming
- 48. Vermont
- T-49. Massachusetts
- T-49. Hawaii
- Lowest
- 1. Mississippi
- 2. Connecticut
- 3. Kentucky
- 4. New Hampshire
- 5. Iowa
- Highest
- 46. Virginia
- 47. Florida
- 48. Oklahoma
- 49. Nevada
- 50. Michigan
- Lowest
- 1. Mississippi
- 2. Louisiana
- 3. Alabama
- T-4. Texas
- T-4. Oklahoma
- Highest
- T-45. Washington
- T-45. Massachusetts
- 47. Wisconsin
- 48. Vermont
- 49. New Hampshire
- 50. Minnesota
- Least
- 1. California
- 2. New York
- 3. Hawaii
- 4. Florida
- 5. Nevada
- Most
- 46. Ohio
- 47. North Dakota
- 48. Nebraska
- 49. Kansas
- 50. Iowa
- Highest
- 1. Mississippi
- 2. Louisiana
- 3. New Mexico
- 4. West Virginia
- 5. Arkansas
- Lowest
- T-45. Colorado
- T-45. Hawaii
- T-47. Maryland
- T-47. Minnesota
- 49. Utah
- 50. New Hampshire
- Highest
- 1. New Mexico
- 2. Nevada
- 3. Louisiana
- 4. Mississippi
- 5. Florida
- Lowest
- 46. Minnesota
- 47. Hawaii
- 48. New Jersey
- 49. North Dakota
- 50. Utah
- Highest
- 1. New Mexico
- 2. Louisiana
- 3. Colorado
- 4. Arkansas
- 5. Tennessee
- Lowest
- 46. Connecticut
- 47. Rhode Island
- 48. Idaho
- 49. Maine
- 50. New Hampshire
- Fewest
- 1. Alabama
- 2. Mississippi
- 3. Georgia
- 4. Louisiana
- 5. Nevada
- Most
- 46. West Virginia
- 47. New York
- 48. Rhode Island
- 49. Illinois
- 50. Massachusetts
In-Depth Look at the Most Stressed States
Louisiana
Louisiana is the most stressed state, in large part because it has one of the highest violent crime rates per capita and property crime rates per capita. These types of threats cause residents to worry about their safety.
Residents of the Bayou State also have the third-highest separation and divorce rate in the country, and Louisiana has the second-highest share of households that have a single parent. These conditions can put excess stress on children and parents alike.
Financial conditions in Louisiana also contribute to people’s stress levels. Louisiana has the second-highest poverty rate in the country, and residents have the second-lowest median credit score, at just 675. Low incomes and low credit scores make it difficult for residents to get credit, purchase homes and vehicles, and otherwise improve their economic status.
Mississippi
Mississippi has the second-most stressed residents, and many of the largest contributing factors are financial in nature. The state has the lowest job security in the country, the highest poverty rate, and the lowest median credit score, at 672. These difficult conditions are part of the reason why residents have the second-highest personal bankruptcy rate in the country – which will impact their credit scores and financial capabilities for years to come.
Magnolia State residents experience a lot of stress in their family lives, too, with some of the highest rates of separation, divorce and single-parent households in the country.
Finally, health is a big concern. Around 23% of Mississippians report that their health is “fair” or “poor,” the highest rate in the country. Some contributing factors include lower rates of physical activity and less widespread health insurance coverage compared to residents of other states.
Nevada
Nevada ranks as the third-most stressed state, with residents’ physical and mental health being among the largest factors. Around 16% of Nevadans haven’t seen a doctor in the past year due to the cost, the second-highest percentage in the country. In addition, Nevada ranks among the 10 worst states for both the share of adults reporting poor mental health and the death rate from suicide. Residents may also find it difficult to find someone to address mental health issues, since Nevada has fewer psychologists per capita than most other states.
Parenting is another source of stress for many people in Nevada. The state has the highest share of parents who had to change or quit their jobs due to problems with child care, and the second-highest share of parents who did not receive emotional support with parenting in the past year. These issues are exacerbated by high rates of separation, divorce and single-parent households.
Lastly, financial factors play a big part in stressing out Nevadans. The Silver State had the highest average unemployment rate in the country last year, and it has some of the highest home prices and rents relative to residents’ incomes.
Ask the Experts
For the best ways to cope with negative stressors, we turned to a panel of experts. You can read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions below.
- What tips do you have for fighting stress without spending money?
- What steps can people take to reduce stressing over finances?
- Should insurance companies cover treatments that help reduce stress?
- What tips do you have for parents trying to minimize their children’s stress levels?
- What can people do to address the financial stress caused by the economic environment?
Ask the Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the most and least stressed states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across four key dimensions: 1) Work-Related Stress, 2) Money-Related Stress, 3) Family-Related Stress, 4) Health- & Safety-Related Stress.
We evaluated those dimensions using 40 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of stress.
We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.
Work-Related Stress – Total Points: 25
- Average Hours Worked per Week: Double Weight (~5.26 Points)
- Average Commute Time: Half Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Average Leisure Time Spent per Day: Full Weight (~2.63 Points)
- Job Security: Full Weight (~2.63 Points)
- Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~5.26 Points)
- Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.63 Points)
- Income Growth Rate (2022 vs. 2021): Double Weight (~5.26 Points)
Money-Related Stress – Total Points: 25
- Median Income: Double Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: Adjusted for cost of living. - Debt per Median Earnings: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
- Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
- Personal Bankruptcy Rate: Double Weight (~3.57 Points)
- Share of Adults with Financial Anxiety: Double Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults who agree that thinking about their personal finances makes them feel anxious. - Economic Security Score: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Note: This metric is based on Sharecare’s “Community Well-Being Index", particularly the “Economic Security” element, defined as “community members who are employed, insured, and otherwise stable financially.” - Share of People Unable to Save for Children’s College: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
- Share of Adults Paying Only Minimum on Credit Card(s): Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
- Share of Population Living in Poverty: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
- Housing Affordability: Double Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Household Income.
Family-Related Stress – Total Points: 25
- Separation and Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Share of Single Parents: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Cost of Childcare: Triple Weight (~8.33 Points)
Note: Adjusted for median household income. - “Parental-Leave Policy” Score: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Parental Stress: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Note: This composite metric considers the percentage of parents who felt angry with their child, felt the child does things to bother them or felt the child is difficult to care for. - Share of Parents Without Emotional Support: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of parents who do not have someone they can turn to for day-to-day emotional support with parenting or raising children. - Share of Parents Who Changed /Quit Jobs Due to Problems with Child Care: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Health- & Safety-Related Stress – Total Points: 25
- Share of Adults in Fair or Poor Health: Double Weight (~2.56 Points)
- Share of Adults Diagnosed with Depression: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
- Mental Health: Double Weight (~2.56 Points)
- Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
- Unaffordability of Doctor Visits: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
Note: Measures percentage of adults aged 18 and older who reported not seeing a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost. - Share of Parents Frustrated in Efforts to Get Health Services for Their Child: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of parents frustrated in their efforts to get health services for their child in the past 12 months. - Increase in Annual Health Insurance Premiums: Double Weight (~2.56 Points)
- Share of Insured Population: Double Weight (~2.56 Points)
Note: “Population” includes noninstitutionalized civilians aged 16 and older. - Psychologists per Capita: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
- Physical Activity Rate: Half Weight (~0.64 Points)
- Share of Adults Getting Adequate Sleep: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
Note: Measures percentage of adults aged 18 and older who reported getting seven or more hours of sleep per 24-hour period. - Bullying Incidents Rate: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
Note: Measures both the percentage of high school students who were bullied on school property and the percentage of high school students who were bullied electronically/online. - Crime Rate per Capita: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
- Hate-Crime Incidents per Capita: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
- Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
- Quality of Infrastructure: Full Weight (~1.28 Points)
Note: “Infrastructure” refers to roads and bridges.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of March 4, 2024 from U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, Council for Community and Economic Research, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, TransUnion, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Child Care Aware of America, National Partnership for Women & Families, Sharecare’s “Community Well-Being Index”, Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kaiser Family Foundation and The Road Information Program.
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