This Is the Loneliest State in America

The residents of this state are more prone to solitude than to being social.

Whether it's missing family and friends you don't get to see too often or longing for someone to cuddle with in the cold winter months, there are plenty of reasons why people experience feelings of loneliness this time of year—and that's when things are "normal." With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, those feelings are likely to be amplified more than ever. That's why we at Best Life set out to find the loneliest state in America.

To get to the bottom of loneliness at the state level, we looked at three metrics: romantic loneliness, social relationships, and personality type. For the first number, we used a Move.org report measuring the number of single residents in each state, as well as and their most popular Google searches on Valentine's Day. Based on these two factors, each state was given a score on a scale of one (least lonely) to 10 (most lonely).

Secondly, we used data from the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index to see what percentage of residents in each state reported having at least one close social relationship. Finally, we looked at a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, which examined data from 1.5 million Americans and rated each state on a 100-point scale in five different personality categories, including "extraversion." (This data did not include Alaska or Hawaii, which resulted in their exclusion from our final rankings.)

We then gave all three metrics a weighted value and ran them through our exclusive algorithm to determine how each state scored on our Loneliness Index. And the results included some interesting surprises. Read on to discover the loneliest state in America and find out where your home state falls in the ranks. And for the places in the U.S. where people are most active between the sheets, This Is the Promiscuous State in America.

48
South Dakota

rocks reflecting a lake at Palisade State Park in Garretson, South Dakota
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.20

Residents with a strong social relationship: 78 percent

Extraversion score: 58.7

Loneliness Index Score: 0.00

47
North Dakota

bridge runs over the valley and next to trees in Valley City, North Dakota
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.16

Residents with a strong social relationship: 78.1 percent

Extraversion score: 52.4

Loneliness Index Score: 2.69

46
Utah

orange rocks and mountains in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah at sunrise
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 1.95

Residents with a strong social relationship: 77 percent

Extraversion score: 55.8

Loneliness Index Score: 6.07

45
Wyoming

landscape photo of trees, a glacier, and lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.50

Residents with a strong social relationship: 79.1 percent

Extraversion score: 46

Loneliness Index Score: 6.86

44
Minnesota

landscape photo of rocks, ocean, and lighthouse in Lake County, Minnesota
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.17

Residents with a strong social relationship: 77 percent

Extraversion score: 52.9

Loneliness Index Score: 12.31

43
Missouri

green fields by the Missouri River in Glasgow, Missouri
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.31

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.9 percent

Extraversion score: 62.9

Loneliness Index Score: 15.36

42
Nebraska

landscape photo of Halsey, Nebraska at sunrise
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.11

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.6 percent

Extraversion score: 60.0

Loneliness Index Score: 16.67

41
Tennessee

fall trees reflecting on the shoreline of Bay Mountain Lake Park in Kingsport, Tennessee
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.29

Residents with a strong social relationship: 76.8 percent

Extraversion score: 51.3

Loneliness Index Score: 17.33

40
Wisconsin

landscape photo of Baraboo, Wisconsin
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.24

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.3 percent

Extraversion score: 69.8

Loneliness Index Score: 21.33

39
Texas

landscape photo of Garner State Park, Texas
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.28

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.7 percent

Extraversion score: 55.2

Loneliness Index Score: 22.80

And to find out where the biggest drinkers are, This Is the Drunkest State in America.

38
Indiana

landscape photo of Brown County State Park, Indiana
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.29

Residents with a strong social relationship: 76.2 percent

Extraversion score: 48.9

Loneliness Index Score: 24.14

37
Georgia

square and pink trees in downtown Macon, Georgia
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.38

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.8 percent

Extraversion score: 63.2

Loneliness Index Score: 25.19

36
Iowa

Hogback Cover Bridge and trees in Madison County, Iowa
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.04

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.9 percent

Extraversion score: 62.8

Loneliness Index Score: 28.21

35
Florida

wooden bridge and lake at John S. Taylor Park in Largo, Florida
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.82

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.5 percent

Extraversion score: 60.9

Loneliness Index Score: 29.15

And to find out where people have the worst manners, This Is the Rudest State in America.

34
North Carolina

garden filled with flowers and trees in Raleigh, North Carolina
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.31

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.2 percent

Extraversion score: 51.0

Loneliness Index Score: 30.81

33
Illinois

landscape photo of flowers and a field in Naperville, Illinois at sunset
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.27

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.9 percent

Extraversion score: 62.5

Loneliness Index Score: 32.48

32
Pennsylvania

landscape photo of Forest County, Pennsylvania
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.74

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.4 percent

Extraversion score: 54.6

Loneliness Index Score: 33.75

31
Vermont

road and trees in front of a mountain in Huntington, Vermont at sunrise
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.25

Residents with a strong social relationship: 79.3 percent

Extraversion score: 26.5

Loneliness Index Score: 34.21

30
Virginia

landscape photo of Buchanan, Virginia
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.26

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.8 percent

Extraversion score: 48.5

Loneliness Index Score: 35.21

29
Alabama

empt street and store in Union Springs, Alabama
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.39

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.8 percent

Extraversion score: 55.5

Loneliness Index Score: 35.74

28
Arizona

landscape photo of Phoenix, Arizona at sunset
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.29

Residents with a strong social relationship: 76.7 percent

Extraversion score: 50.6

Loneliness Index Score: 36.21

27
Maine

lake and autumn trees in Augusta, Maine
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.20

Residents with a strong social relationship: 77.1 percent

Extraversion score: 44.2

Loneliness Index Score: 36.74

26
Kentucky

landscape photo of Frankfort, Kentucky at sunrise
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.18

Residents with a strong social relationship: 76 percent

Extraversion score: 53.4

Loneliness Index Score: 37.61

25
South Carolina

landscape photo of a garden in Charleston, South Carolina
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.29

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.5 percent

Extraversion score: 60

Loneliness Index Score: 38.11

24
Kansas

landscape photo of Little Rock, Arkansas at sunset
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.14

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.4 percent

Extraversion score: 45.5

Loneliness Index Score: 38.81

23
Colorado

reflection of the Rocky Mountains in front of lake in Denver, Colorado
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.62

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.4 percent

Extraversion score: 45.3

Loneliness Index Score: 39.32

22
Idaho

the Sawtooth Mountain Range and lake in Stanley, Idaho
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.44

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.1 percent

Extraversion score: 40.7

Loneliness Index Score: 42.38

21
Arkansas

landscape photo of Little Rock, Arkansas at sunset
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.65

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.6 percent

Extraversion score: 49.9

Loneliness Index Score: 42.49

20
New Jersey

landscape photo of a beach in Ventnor City, New Jersey
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.67

Residents with a strong social relationship: 73.6 percent

Extraversion score: 59.9

Loneliness Index Score: 42.64

19
Connecticut

Five Mile Point Lighthouse and lake in New Haven, Connecticut
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.76

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74 percent

Extraversion score: 57.6

Loneliness Index Score: 42.90

18
Montana

glaciers and a meadow in Glacier National Park, Montana at dusk
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.08

Residents with a strong social relationship: 77.2 percent

Extraversion score: 33.1

Loneliness Index Score: 42.94

17
Ohio

Lake Erie and Ohio's Marblehead Lighthouse in Erie County, Ohio
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.36

Residents with a strong social relationship: 73.1 percent

Extraversion score: 54.6

Loneliness Index Score: 45.62

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16
West Virginia

landscape photo of Harper's Ferry, West Virginia at sunset
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.31

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.6 percent

Extraversion score: 38.5

Loneliness Index Score: 45.94

15
Michigan

ocean and rocks in Munising, Michigan at dusk
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.24

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.7 percent

Extraversion score: 55.2

Loneliness Index Score: 47.64

14
Massachusetts

landscape photo of homes and lake in Boston, Massachusetts at dusk
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.79

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.8 percent

Extraversion score: 44.4

Loneliness Index Score: 47.86

13
California

rocks and mountains on the Big Sur street in Carmel, California at dusk
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.77

Residents with a strong social relationship: 73.9 percent

Extraversion score: 51.4

Loneliness Index Score: 48.99

And to find out the most unpopular place in the U.S., This Is the Most Hated State in America.

12
Louisiana

boat docked in the channel next to tress in New Orleans, Louisiana
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.56

Residents with a strong social relationship: 73.3 percent

Extraversion score: 52.2

Loneliness Index Score: 49.48

11
Oregon

glaciers, lake, and tress in Deschutes County, Oregon
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.30

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.6 percent

Extraversion score: 30.9

Loneliness Index Score: 52.03

10
Nevada

mountains along Red Rock Canyon National Conservation in Las Vegas, Nevada
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.83

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.6 percent

Extraversion score: 30.9

Loneliness Index Score: 53.35

9
New Hampshire

autumn trees and lake in North Conway, New Hampshire
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.11

Residents with a strong social relationship: 75.1 percent

Extraversion score: 40.2

Loneliness Index Score: 54.51

8
New Mexico

landscape photo of Sandia Mountains, New Mexico
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.53

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.3 percent

Extraversion score: 32.4

Loneliness Index Score: 57.23

7
Washington

landscape photo of mountains and flowers at Mt. Rainier in Seattle, Washington
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.61

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.6 percent

Extraversion score: 30.6

Loneliness Index Score: 57.70

6
Maryland

the Great Falls of Potomac in Potomac, Maryland
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.39

Residents with a strong social relationship: 73.6 percent

Extraversion score: 35.2

Loneliness Index Score: 58.11

5
Oklahoma

photo of rock formation, the Wedding Party, in the Black Mesa Area, Oklahoma
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 3.19

Residents with a strong social relationship: 74.8 percent

Extraversion score: 39.7

Loneliness Index Score: 58.74

4
Delaware

canal next to a dock, restaurant, and roses in the foreground in Lewes, Delaware
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.38

Residents with a strong social relationship: 72.2 percent

Extraversion score: 47.0

Loneliness Index Score: 59.93

3
Mississippi

dock and Elvis Presley Lake in Lee County, Mississippi at dusk
iStock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.50

Residents with a strong social relationship: 71.4 percent

Extraversion score: 56.8

Loneliness Index Score: 59.93

2
New York

field of flowers and tress and a lake in Fort Montgomery, New York
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.88

Residents with a strong social relationship: 72.7 percent

Extraversion score: 47.0

Loneliness Index Score: 64.20

1
Rhode Island

flowers and beach in Newport, Rhode Island
Shutterstock

Romantic loneliness score: 2.82

Residents with a strong social relationship: 68.5 percent

Extraversion score: 43.3

Loneliness Index Score: 100.00

And for the place only a mother could love, This Is the Ugliest State in America.

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