In 2020, you've heard the phrase "America has never been more divided" time and time again. These days, it can seem particularly hard to find friendliness toward one’s neighbors, let alone strangers. But some parts of the country are warmer and more welcoming than others. To find out where you're more likely to get a wave and a smile rather than a scream and a honk, we've gathered some statistics—four in particular—to determine the friendliest state of them all. And for the other side of this coin, This Is the Unfriendliest State in the U.S.
We started with the reported population change in each state over the past decade, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, figuring that states that welcomed more residents than they lost were friendlier than others. We also factored in the Friendly Ranking according to Big 7 Travel, which drew on recent survey results from their 2.5 million social media followers. Thirdly, we looked at the number of volunteer opportunities per 100,000 people, according to VolunteerMatch, which reflects the "community spirit" of a state. And lastly, we considered what could be considered the opposite of "community spirit," each state’s violent crime rate, per the latest FBI data. When put through our algorithm, we determined a Friendly Index score for each state. The lower the score, the friendlier you can expect that state to be.
And it turns out, the friendliest state of them all might surprise you. It has a high number of volunteer opportunities per capita at more than 13 and its violent crime rate is fairly low. But what really pushed this state to the top of the list in terms of its friendly factor is its population growth. You may not have heard that people are flocking to this state, but its population quietly grew an impressive 14 percent over the past decade.
Looking at the scores, the friendliest states in the country run the gamut from the West to Midwest and down to the South—though it seems no northeastern states cracked the top 10. Read on to find out where your state falls as we rank every state from the least welcoming to the one where everybody may just know your name. And for an area you may want to avoid, check out This Is the State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.
50 | New Mexico
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +1.80 precent
Friendly Ranking: 17
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 856.6
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 9.87
Friendly Index: 118.79
And to find out where the Land of Enchantment ranks in terms of cleanliness, check out This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S.
49 | Arkansas
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +3.50 precent
Friendly Ranking: 49
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 543.6
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 6.40
Friendly Index: 114.46
48 | New York
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +0.40 precent
Friendly Ranking: 50
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 350.5
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 4.08
Friendly Index: 113.97
And for the states that tend to be a bit of a snoozefest, check out The Most Boring State in the U.S.
47 | Michigan
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +1.00 precent
Friendly Ranking: 28
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 449.4
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 1.30
Friendly Index: 101.64
46 | West Virginia
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: –3.30 precent
Friendly Ranking: 30
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 289.9
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 12.83
Friendly Index: 97.66
And for another reason West Virginia's not lookin' so hot right now, see where it ranks on our list of The Worst States If You're Out of Work Now.
45 | Alaska
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +3.00 precent
Friendly Ranking: 37
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 885
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 49.35
Friendly Index: 96.15
44 | Connecticut
iStockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: –0.20 precent
Friendly Ranking: 38
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 207.4
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 5.82
Friendly Index: 88.92
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43 | New Jersey
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +1.00 precent
Friendly Ranking: 46
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 208.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 8.93
Friendly Index: 87.88
42 | Alabama
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +2.60 precent
Friendly Ranking: 21
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 519.6
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 7.67
Friendly Index: 87.29
41 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +0.60 precent
Friendly Ranking: 41
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 219.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 11.52
Friendly Index: 83.39
40 | Louisiana
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +2.50 precent
Friendly Ranking: 12
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 537.5
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 6.95
Friendly Index: 81.30
39 | Missouri
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +2.50 precent
Friendly Ranking: 22
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 502.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 14.84
Friendly Index: 79.87
38 | Massachusetts
iStockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +5.30 precent
Friendly Ranking: 47
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 338.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 12.16
Friendly Index: 77.15
And if you're willing to put up with some attitude, then head to Massachusetts, which is among The States Where You Can Make the Most Money.
37 | California
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +6.10 precent
Friendly Ranking: 40
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 447.4
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 14.60
Friendly Index: 74.64
36 | Mississippi
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +0.30 precent
Friendly Ranking: 23
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 234.4
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 5.85
Friendly Index: 74.09
35 | Maryland
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +4.70 precent
Friendly Ranking: 27
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 468.7
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 13.17
Friendly Index: 72.20
34 | Illinois
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: –1.2 precent
Friendly Ranking: 14
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 404.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 11.78
Friendly Index: 71.63
33 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +0.80 precent
Friendly Ranking: 18
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 306
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 14.92
Friendly Index: 64.68
32 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +3.30 precent
Friendly Ranking: 44
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 173.2
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 15.37
Friendly Index: 64.45
31 | Kansas
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +2.10 precent
Friendly Ranking: 8
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 439
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 15.31
Friendly Index: 61.09
30 | Iowa
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +3.60 percent
Friendly Ranking: 29
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 250.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 10.90
Friendly Index: 60.11
29 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +2.40 percent
Friendly Ranking: 26
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 295.4
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 18.96
Friendly Index: 59.58
28 | Maine
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +1.20 percent
Friendly Ranking: 31
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 112.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 13.76
Friendly Index: 57.45
27 | Tennessee
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +7.60 percent
Friendly Ranking: 2
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 623.7
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 7.60
Friendly Index: 53.77
26 | Vermont
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: –0.30 percent
Friendly Ranking: 34
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 172
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 34.94
Friendly Index: 52.76
25 | Nevada
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +14.10 percent
Friendly Ranking: 43
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 541.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 8.90
Friendly Index: 52.71
24 | Montana
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +8.00 percent
Friendly Ranking: 36
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 374.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 17.68
Friendly Index: 50.73
23 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +5.50 percent
Friendly Ranking: 9
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 466.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 12.46
Friendly Index: 50.65
22 | Ohio
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +1.30 percent
Friendly Ranking: 11
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 279.9
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 16.96
Friendly Index: 50.53
21 | Kentucky
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +3.00 percent
Friendly Ranking: 19
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 211.9
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 10.14
Friendly Index: 50.05
20 | Indiana
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +3.80 percent
Friendly Ranking: 6
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 382.3
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 13.12
Friendly Index: 47.11
19 | Virginia
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +6.70 percent
Friendly Ranking: 35
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 200
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 13.43
Friendly Index: 43.07
18 | North Carolina
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +10.00 percent
Friendly Ranking: 33
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 377.6
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 13.42
Friendly Index: 42.34
17 | Arizona
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +13.90 percent
Friendly Ranking: 39
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 474.9
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 10.33
Friendly Index: 41.66
16 | Delaware
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +8.40 percent
Friendly Ranking: 48
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 423.6
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 43.50
Friendly Index: 39.86
15 | Hawaii
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +4.10 percent
Friendly Ranking: 10
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 248.6
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 11.58
Friendly Index: 37.78
14 | Washington
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +13.20 percent
Friendly Ranking: 45
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 311.5
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 7.55
Friendly Index: 37.60
13 | South Dakota
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +8.70 percent
Friendly Ranking: 20
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 404.7
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 16.62
Friendly Index: 35.35
12 | Florida
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +14.20 percent
Friendly Ranking: 42
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 384.9
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 10.57
Friendly Index: 33.92
11 | Wyoming
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +2.70 percent
Friendly Ranking: 5
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 212.2
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 16.93
Friendly Index: 30.79
10 | Nebraska
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +5.90 percent
Friendly Ranking: 13
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 284.8
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 17.83
Friendly Index: 29.15
9 | Georgia
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +9.60 percent
Friendly Ranking: 16
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 326.6
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 14.95
Friendly Index: 20.71
8 | Oregon
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +10.10 percent
Friendly Ranking: 24
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 285.5
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 18.33
Friendly Index: 18.72
7 | South Carolina
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +11.30 percent
Friendly Ranking: 3
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 488.3
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 13.36
Friendly Index: 16.97
6 | Minnesota
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +6.30 percent
Friendly Ranking: 1
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 220.4
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 14.27
Friendly Index: 12.27
5 | North Dakota
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +13.30 percent
Friendly Ranking: 25
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 280.6
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 15.22
Friendly Index: 6.34
4 | Colorado
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +14.50 percent
Friendly Ranking: 7
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 397.2
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 5.67
Friendly Index: 3.55
3 | Utah
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +16.00 percent
Friendly Ranking: 32
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 233.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 8.80
Friendly Index: 1.51
2 | Texas
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +15.30 percent
Friendly Ranking: 4
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 410.9
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 10.08
Friendly Index: -6.49
1 | Idaho
ShutterstockPopulation Change in the Past Decade: +14.00 percent
Friendly Ranking: 15
Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 227.1
Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 13.09
Friendly Index: -10.38
