This Is the Least Successful State in the U.S.

Success—or a lack thereof—can often be in the eye of the beholder. While some people see money and material wealth as the basic definition of success, others might point to more intangible things, like one's happiness or sense of fulfillment. But when it comes to determining whether a state as a whole is more or less successful than others, it's important to use the most recent and measurable data points available. To start, we looked at the ratio of millionaires to total households in the state, compiled by Phoenix Marketing International, as well as the median household income, according to the U.S. Census (the lower these numbers, the less successful the state was considered). We combined these metrics with those that indicated economic challenges, including which states had the highest poverty rate, per the U.S. Census, and highest unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Taking all of these numbers into account, we came up with a final "Unsuccessful Score" for each state.

In the end, the state that's struggling the most may surprise you. Though it is known for its glitz and glamour, this western state has seen many setbacks, especially in 2020. It has an extremely high poverty rate and one of the worst unemployment rates in the country. Additionally, the median household income is only around $63,000, which is a staggering $23,000 less than the most successful state. To find out which state fared the worst, scroll through our ranking from the most successful to the least successful states. And for more state rivalries, This Is the Most Hated State in America.

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 8.85 percent

Poverty rate: 9 percent

Median household income: $86,738

Unemployment rate: 7.2 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 0.26

And for more places that are struggling this year, This Is the Worst State to Live in Right Now.

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 6.39 percent

Poverty rate: 8.9 percent

Median household income: $75,780

Unemployment rate: 5 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 1.89

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 7.48 percent

Poverty rate: 9.3 percent

Median household income: $77,127

Unemployment rate: 6.4 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 8.24

And for more states that could look better, This Is the Ugliest State in the U.S.

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 6.06 percent

Poverty rate: 7.3 percent

Median household income: $77,933

Unemployment rate: 6 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 8.48

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.74 percent

Poverty rate: 9.9 percent

Median household income: $63,229

Unemployment rate: 3.5 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 8.54

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.79 percent

Poverty rate: 10.2 percent

Median household income: $63,001

Unemployment rate: 4.2 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 8.67

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 6.69 percent

Poverty rate: 9.2 percent

Median household income: $85,751

Unemployment rate: 6.7 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 12.55

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Percentage of millionaires in the state: 8.89 percent

Poverty rate: 10 percent

Median household income: $78,833

Unemployment rate: 7.8 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 12.91

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 8.18 percent

Poverty rate: 10.1 percent

Median household income: $75,463

Unemployment rate: 7.2 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 14.22

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 6.00 percent

Poverty rate: 9 percent

Median household income: $74,593

Unemployment rate: 6 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 15.70

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.83 percent

Poverty rate: 10.4 percent

Median household income: $64,168

Unemployment rate: 5.4 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 20.39

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.45 percent

Poverty rate: 9.9 percent

Median household income: $76,456

Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 23.6

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.73 percent

Poverty rate: 10.6 percent

Median household income: $64,577

Unemployment rate: 4.4 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 26.54

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 8.60 percent

Poverty rate: 9.4 percent

Median household income: $85,843

Unemployment rate: 9.6 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 27.78

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.89 percent

Poverty rate: 11.9 percent

Median household income: $59,533

Unemployment rate: 4.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 28.76

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.45 percent

Poverty rate: 10.1 percent

Median household income: $65,003

Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 28.92

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.10 percent

Poverty rate: 11.2 percent

Median household income: $61,691

Unemployment rate: 4.7 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 30

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.60 percent

Poverty rate: 10.9 percent

Median household income: $58,924

Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 33.24

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.43 percent

Poverty rate: 12.9 percent

Median household income: $57,409

Unemployment rate: 4.9 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 36.77

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.48 percent

Poverty rate: 11.4 percent

Median household income: $62,087

Unemployment rate: 5.9 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 39.56

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.30 percent

Poverty rate: 12.6 percent

Median household income: $57,153

Unemployment rate: 5.3 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 40.97

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 6.70 percent

Poverty rate: 11.3 percent

Median household income: $70,176

Unemployment rate: 8.2 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 41.56

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.86 percent

Poverty rate: 9.8 percent

Median household income: $78,687

Unemployment rate: 7.8 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 42.61

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.08 percent

Poverty rate: 13.8 percent

Median household income: $56,227

Unemployment rate: 5.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 44.69

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.76 percent

Poverty rate: 11.2 percent

Median household income: $60,999

Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 46.9

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.23 percent

Poverty rate: 11.9 percent

Median household income: $57,603

Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 48.17

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.21 percent

Poverty rate: 13.9 percent

Median household income: $56,071

Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 48.59

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.67 percent

Poverty rate: 13.3 percent

Median household income: $61,980

Unemployment rate: 6.4 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 48.89

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.78 percent

Poverty rate: 13.5 percent

Median household income: $62,055

Unemployment rate: 6.7 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 51.62

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 8.51 percent

Poverty rate: 11.8 percent

Median household income: $80,440

Unemployment rate: 11 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 52.36

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.47 percent

Poverty rate: 12.7 percent

Median household income: $59,227

Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 54.46

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 6.32 percent

Poverty rate: 13.6 percent

Median household income: $64,034

Unemployment rate: 8.3 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 55.38

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.51 percent

Poverty rate: 15.2 percent

Median household income: $54,449

Unemployment rate: 5.3 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 56.05

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.75 percent

Poverty rate: 12 percent

Median household income: $63,463

Unemployment rate: 8.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 60.64

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.12 percent

Poverty rate: 11.4 percent

Median household income: $67,058

Unemployment rate: 8 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 60.77

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.87 percent

Poverty rate: 15.5 percent

Median household income: $51,734

Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 61.11

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.71 percent

Poverty rate: 16.3 percent

Median household income: $52,295

Unemployment rate: 5.6 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 61.93

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.87 percent

Poverty rate: 13.6 percent

Median household income: $57,341

Unemployment rate: 7.3 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 67.1

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.82 percent

Poverty rate: 13 percent

Median household income: $59,584

Unemployment rate: 8.5 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 69.06

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.25 percent

Poverty rate: 13 percent

Median household income: $72,108

Unemployment rate: 9.7 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 71.57

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.50 percent

Poverty rate: 11.5 percent

Median household income: $69,187

Unemployment rate: 10.2 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 71.66

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.32 percent

Poverty rate: 10.8 percent

Median household income: $71,169

Unemployment rate: 10.5 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 72.92

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.89 percent

Poverty rate: 13.1 percent

Median household income: $58,642

Unemployment rate: 8.4 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 75.80

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 9.20 percentae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Poverty rate: 9.3 percent

Median household income: $83,102

Unemployment rate: 15.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 79.35

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.71 percent

Poverty rate: 16.2 percent

Median household income: $48,952

Unemployment rate: 7.3 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 80.3

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.94 percent

Poverty rate: 19.6 percent

Median household income: $45,792

Unemployment rate: 7.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 88.35

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.60 percent

Poverty rate: 16 percent

Median household income: $48,850

Unemployment rate: 8.6 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 93.58

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 3.79 percent

Poverty rate: 19 percent

Median household income: $51,073

Unemployment rate: 8.1 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 95.04

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 4.07 percent

Poverty rate: 18.2 percent

Median household income: $51,945

Unemployment rate: 9.4 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 103.1

Percentage of millionaires in the state: 5.13 percent

Poverty rate: 12.5 percent

Median household income: $63,276

Unemployment rate: 12.6 percent

Unsuccessful Score: 104.39