The U.S. is a nation of hustle and bustle. Traffic can be a nightmare, construction projects are endless, and the country is home to some of the busiest airports—not to mention an enormous number of people. So, unless you’ve found a hideaway in Washington’s Olympic National Park, dubbed one of the quietest places on earth, chances are your home state can get pretty loud—and that can interfere with your quality of life. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls noise pollution an “underestimated threat” that can cause health problems like sleep disruption, cardiovascular issues, and hearing loss. This all got us wondering which U.S. state is the loudest—so we crunched the numbers to find out.
To start, we calculated the population density—the number of people per square mile—for each of the 50 states using the latest U.S. Census population data and each state’s total land area in square miles. Then, we compared the U.S. Department of Transportation’s total motor vehicle registrations to the state's population to determine the number of vehicles per capita. We also looked into how much noise construction and air traffic added to the mix. For that, we tallied the construction spending per capita based on a report from the Associated General Contractors of America, comparing private nonresidential spending and state and local spending with the total population. And for air traffic we calculated the number of flights that land and fly over each state every year using travel data site ChampionTraveler.
We ran each of these metrics through our exclusive algorithm to generate a loudness score based on a 100-point scale with 100 being the noisiest. According to our Loudness Index, the East Coast is not the place to go for some peace and quiet. Which other parts of the country are bringing the noise? Read on to discover where your state falls as we rank all 50 of them from quietest to loudest. And to see where you're most likely to find people that enjoy a cocktail or two, This Is the Drunkest State in America.
50 | Vermont
ShutterstockPopulation density: 67.70
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.99
Construction spending per capita: $924.70
Number of flights: 19,389
Loudness Score: 0.00
And for the place that is the least polite, This Is the Rudest State in America.
49 | Maine
ShutterstockPopulation density: 43.58
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.84
Construction spending per capita: $1,665.66
Number of flights: 7,299
Loudness Score: 3.64
48 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockPopulation density: 151.87
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.99
Construction spending per capita: $950.94
Number of flights: 26,036
Loudness Score: 5.24
And if you don't want to live in a place where you'll be surrounded by big spenders, This Is the Stingiest State in America.
47 | Mississippi
ShutterstockPopulation density: 63.43
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.69
Construction spending per capita: $861.18
Number of flights: 433,673
Loudness Score: 15.17
46 | Idaho
ShutterstockPopulation density: 21.62
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.07
Construction spending per capita: $1,473.37
Number of flights: 215,391
Loudness Score: 21.59
And for the place that may lower your chances of living a long life, This Is the Deadliest State in America.
45 | Alaska
ShutterstockPopulation density: 1.28
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.09
Construction spending per capita: $2,505.66
Number of flights: 35,897
Loudness Score: 24.98
Want more state guides delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for our daily newsletter.
44 | Michigan
ShutterstockPopulation density: 176.64
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.84
Construction spending per capita: $1,345.87
Number of flights: 397,548
Loudness Score: 31.20
And to find out what part of the U.S. is most pungent, This Is the Smelliest State in America.
43 | Oregon
ShutterstockPopulation density: 43.94
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.94
Construction spending per capita: $2,269.46
Number of flights: 245,511
Loudness Score: 31.97
42 | West Virginia
ShutterstockPopulation density: 74.55
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.94
Construction spending per capita: $1,267.20
Number of flights: 468,751
Loudness Score: 32.94
And for more about states that aren't very generous, This Is the Stingiest State in America.
41 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockPopulation density: 107.51
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.98
Construction spending per capita: $2,191.52
Number of flights: 209,976
Loudness Score: 33.04
40 | Minnesota
ShutterstockPopulation density: 70.83
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.96
Construction spending per capita: $2,406.36
Number of flights: 199,222
Loudness Score: 33.14
39 | Arkansas
ShutterstockPopulation density: 58.00
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.94
Construction spending per capita: $1,652.53
Number of flights: 409,850
Loudness Score: 33.92
38 | Washington
ShutterstockPopulation density: 114.59
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.95
Construction spending per capita: $2,449.67
Number of flights: 175,241
Loudness Score: 33.99
37 | New Mexico
ShutterstockPopulation density: 17.29
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.87
Construction spending per capita: $1,383.99
Number of flights: 597,261
Loudness Score: 37.73
36 | Utah
ShutterstockPopulation density: 39.02
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.75
Construction spending per capita: $2,013.44
Number of flights: 532,843
Loudness Score: 39.83
35 | Montana
ShutterstockPopulation density: 7.34
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.74
Construction spending per capita: $1,673.87
Number of flights: 108,714
Loudness Score: 40.75
34 | Hawaii
ShutterstockPopulation density: 220.44
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.89
Construction spending per capita: $3,015.10
Number of flights: 102,602
Loudness Score: 41.10
33 | Kansas
ShutterstockPopulation density: 35.63
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.92
Construction spending per capita: $1,847.72
Number of flights: 517,341
Loudness Score: 42.23
32 | Wyoming
ShutterstockPopulation density: 5.96
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.45
Construction spending per capita: $1,847.06
Number of flights: 252,633
Loudness Score: 42.28
31 | Nebraska
ShutterstockPopulation density: 25.18
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.02
Construction spending per capita: $2,009.92
Number of flights: 437,382
Loudness Score: 42.35
30 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockPopulation density: 57.69
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.94
Construction spending per capita: $1,988.90
Number of flights: 463,752
Loudness Score: 42.58
29 | Missouri
ShutterstockPopulation density: 89.28
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.90
Construction spending per capita: $1,479.77
Number of flights: 591,675
Loudness Score: 43.47
28 | South Carolina
ShutterstockPopulation density: 171.28
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.88
Construction spending per capita: $1,943.79
Number of flights: 465,641
Loudness Score: 45.67
27 | Louisiana
ShutterstockPopulation density: 107.60
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.83
Construction spending per capita: $2,930.87
Number of flights: 351,380
Loudness Score: 48.19
26 | Connecticut
ShutterstockPopulation density: 736.33
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.81
Construction spending per capita: $1,429.34
Number of flights: 215,979
Loudness Score: 48.29
25 | Alabama
ShutterstockPopulation density: 96.81
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.08
Construction spending per capita: $1,989.12
Number of flights: 471,774
Loudness Score: 50.36
24 | Florida
ShutterstockPopulation density: 400.52
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.82
Construction spending per capita: $1,763.87
Number of flights: 455,357
Loudness Score: 52.23
23 | Arizona
ShutterstockPopulation density: 64.08
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.81
Construction spending per capita: $1,705.52
Number of flights: 744,219
Loudness Score: 52.41
22 | Georgia
ShutterstockPopulation density: 184.61
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.81
Construction spending per capita: $1,819.74
Number of flights: 646,556
Loudness Score: 53.93
21 | Tennessee
ShutterstockPopulation density: 165.62
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.85
Construction spending per capita: $1,827.01
Number of flights: 646,301
Loudness Score: 54.55
20 | South Dakota
ShutterstockPopulation density: 11.67
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.44
Construction spending per capita: $3,079.15
Number of flights: 159,320
Loudness Score: 54.80
19 | North Dakota
ShutterstockPopulation density: 11.04
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.19
Construction spending per capita: $4,154.52
Number of flights: 71,814
Loudness Score: 55.98
18 | Kentucky
ShutterstockPopulation density: 113.15
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.98
Construction spending per capita: $2,089.68
Number of flights: 592,471
Loudness Score: 56.83
17 | Colorado
ShutterstockPopulation density: 55.56
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.94
Construction spending per capita: $1,921.78
Number of flights: 706,852
Loudness Score: 57.45
16 | Indiana
ShutterstockPopulation density: 187.91
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.92
Construction spending per capita: $1,735.24
Number of flights: 700,420
Loudness Score: 60.47
15 | California
ShutterstockPopulation density: 253.64
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.79
Construction spending per capita: $1,628.64
Number of flights: 755,344
Loudness Score: 60.89
14 | Ohio
ShutterstockPopulation density: 286.07
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.93
Construction spending per capita: $1,642.13
Number of flights: 697,626
Loudness Score: 64.31
13 | Iowa
ShutterstockPopulation density: 56.48
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.17
Construction spending per capita: $2,671.89
Number of flights: 512,782
Loudness Score: 64.36
12 | Illinois
ShutterstockPopulation density: 228.24
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.83
Construction spending per capita: $1,312.28
Number of flights: 889,783
Loudness Score: 65.26
11 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockPopulation density: 883.65
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.74
Construction spending per capita: $2,581.94
Number of flights: 146,056
Loudness Score: 66.08
10 | Nevada
ShutterstockPopulation density: 28.06
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.83
Construction spending per capita: $2,877.45
Number of flights: 713,776
Loudness Score: 66.86
9 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockPopulation density: 286.12
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.84
Construction spending per capita: $1,733.09
Number of flights: 769,222
Loudness Score: 66.91
8 | North Carolina
ShutterstockPopulation density: 215.72
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.79
Construction spending per capita: $1,836.94
Number of flights: 838,934
Loudness Score: 67.68
7 | New York
ShutterstockPopulation density: 412.80
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.59
Construction spending per capita: $2,884.10
Number of flights: 574,296
Loudness Score: 69.00
6 | Texas
ShutterstockPopulation density: 111.00
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.77
Construction spending per capita: $2,824.09
Number of flights: 740,976
Loudness Score: 70.13
5 | Delaware
ShutterstockPopulation density: 499.62
Number of vehicles per capita: 1.04
Construction spending per capita: $2,447.20
Number of flights: 383,906
Loudness Score: 70.88
4 | Maryland
ShutterstockPopulation density: 622.82
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.70
Construction spending per capita: $1,571.87
Number of flights: 680,633
Loudness Score: 71.00
3 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockPopulation density: 1024.53
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.82
Construction spending per capita: $2,236.25
Number of flights: 152,695
Loudness Score: 71.80
2 | Virginia
ShutterstockPopulation density: 216.14
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.89
Construction spending per capita: $1,867.61
Number of flights: 954,182
Loudness Score: 79.44
1 | New Jersey
ShutterstockPopulation density: 1207.80
Number of vehicles per capita: 0.68
Construction spending per capita: $1,395.04
Number of flights: 710,816
Loudness Score: 100.00
