Everyone would like to think they're smart, but intelligence is a spectrum. And, well, some of us just aren't the sharpest tools in the shed. One of the easiest ways to gauge your own cognitive skills is to take an IQ test, which scores your mental capacity based on a set of standardized questions. The average score of an IQ test is 100, and many psychologists use that value as a baseline to compare places and people. For instance, the United States has a national IQ of 98, however, each state varies on the scale—and quite a few fall under the 100 benchmark. To see how your state stacks up, here are the states with residents whose IQs are below average, according to the most recent data collected by The Washington Post and Inc. And if you're wondering how unsafe your area is, This Is the Most Dangerous State in the U.S.
20 | Illinois
iStockAverage IQ: 99.9
19 | Maryland
iStockAverage IQ: 99.7
And if you want to have a long and happy life, Here's How Long You're Likely to Live in Every State.
18 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 99.5
17 | Kentucky
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 99.4
And to see where your dollar doesn't go far, This Is the State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.
16 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 99.3
15 | Alaska
iStockAverage IQ: 99
14 | West Virginia
iStockAverage IQ: 98.7
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13 | Florida
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 98.4
12 | South Carolina
iStockAverage IQ: 98.4
11 | Georgia
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 98
10 | Tennessee
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 97.7
9 | Arkansas
iStockAverage IQ: 97.5
8 | Arizona
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 97.4
7 | Nevada
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 96.5
6 | Alabama
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 95.7
5 | New Mexico
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 95.7
4 | Hawaii
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 95.6
3 | California
iStockAverage IQ: 95.5
2 | Louisiana
ShutterstockAverage IQ: 95.3
1 | Mississippi
iStockAverage IQ: 94.2
And if you'd like to show off your knowledge, check out these 40 Random Obscure Facts That Will Make Everyone Think You're a Genius.
