What makes someone mean? We know it when we see it—maybe they’re dismissive of your work problems or say something rude about a friend of yours—but it can be hard to measure. Is not leaving a tip at a restaurant mean? Is driving badly mean? Is not giving to charity mean? And, is there a meanest state in the U.S.? At Best Life, we were determined to find out.
To create our Mean Index, we started with something that’s indisputably mean: bullying in high school, as measured by Background Checks, which ranked each U.S state based on bullying on school grounds, online harassment, threats of violence, and more. Then we added Wired magazine's analysis of troll comments, which measures the percentage of toxic comments in the online messages of residents in each state. How people treat customer service workers can also be an indicator of meanness, so we included Stella Connect’s analysis of how friendly (or not) customers are to service reps, with 91.82 being the most polite and 94.25 being the least polite. (This did not include Alaska or Hawaii.)
Next, we considered that kind people are more likely to volunteer their time for charity, so we used National Service data to find out what percentage of residents do volunteer work in each state. Finally, to track the extreme end of the meanness spectrum, we used the Southern Poverty Law Center’s hate map to find out the number of hate groups operating per 100,000 residents in each state. We then gave all five metrics a weighted value and ran them through our exclusive algorithm to determine how they scored on our Mean Index.
The results paint a surprisingly rosy picture for the Northeast, where Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire all rank amongst the 10 least mean states, and the meanest East Coast state still only ranks 19th. By contrast, the South—famed home of hospitality—fares poorly: Seven of the meanest states are part of the Sun Belt. Read on to discover the meanest state in America and find out where your state falls in the mix. And to see which states other states are meanest to, check out This Is the Most Hated State in America.
Read the original article on Best Life.
50 | Maine
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 43
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.5 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.53
Residents who volunteer: 38.7 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 1.49
Mean Index Score: 0.0
49 | Minnesota
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 47
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.6 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.94
Residents who volunteer: 45.1 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.14
Mean Index Score: 1.2
48 | Utah
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 37
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.9
Customer politeness score: 93.14
Residents who volunteer: 51
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 1.59
Mean Index Score: 1.5
And for the place that will get you thinking about your mortality the most, This Is the Deadliest State in America.
47 | North Dakota
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 50
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.7 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.42
Residents who volunteer: 37.4 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.64
Mean Index Score: 7.1
46 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 48
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.8 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.74
Residents who volunteer: 32.6 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.18
Mean Index Score: 7.5
45 | Kansas
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 34
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.0 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.06
Residents who volunteer: 36.5 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 1.03
Mean Index Score: 14.2
44 | Oregon
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 46
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.8 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.45
Residents who volunteer: 43.2 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.59
Mean Index Score: 14.9
And for more measures of a state's attitude, check out This Is the Unfriendliest State in the U.S.
43 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 36
Toxic internet troll comments: 4.7 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.66
Residents who volunteer: 35.7 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.96
Mean Index Score: 19.4
42 | Oklahoma
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 41
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.2 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.60
Residents who volunteer: 32.0 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.54
Mean Index Score: 20.0
41 | Washington
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 49
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.8 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.60
Residents who volunteer: 35.7 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.99
Mean Index Score: 21.8
40 | Delaware
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 44
Toxic internet troll comments: 8.8 percent
Customer politeness score: 94.19
Residents who volunteer: 31.8 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.11
Mean Index Score: 25.3
And if you're curious about your location's connection to your lifespan, find out How Long You're Likely to Live in Every State.
39 | Connecticut
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 32
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.9 percent
Customer politeness score: 94.25
Residents who volunteer: 31.8 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.24
Mean Index Score: 27.2
38 | New Jersey
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 42
Toxic internet troll comments: 8.8 percent
Customer politeness score: 94.11
Residents who volunteer: 26.1 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.24
Mean Index Score: 27.4
37 | New Mexico
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 30
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.9 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.54
Residents who volunteer: 27.1 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 0.48
Mean Index Score: 27.5
And to find out where being inebriated is anything but uncommon, This Is the Drunkest State in America.
36 | Hawaii
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 38
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.7 percent
Customer politeness score: N/A
Residents who volunteer: 28.0 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.82
Mean Index Score: 31.7
35 | Wyoming
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 25
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.3 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.74
Residents who volunteer: 32.7 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 1.73
Mean Index Score: 33.6
34 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 33
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.5 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.48
Residents who volunteer: 34.2 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.81
Mean Index Score: 34.3
And for a measure of what each state looks like on the outside, here is This Is the Ugliest State in the U.S.
33 | Vermont
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 45
Toxic internet troll comments: 12.2 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.68
Residents who volunteer: 36 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.20
Mean Index Score: 35.8
32 | California
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 39
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.5 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.04
Residents who volunteer: 25.4 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.23
Mean Index Score: 36.9
31 | Wisconsin
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 26
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.6 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.10
Residents who volunteer: 37.4 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.58
Mean Index Score: 37.7
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30 | Florida
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 40
Toxic internet troll comments: 8.6 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.27
Residents who volunteer: 22.8 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.15
Mean Index Score: 42.5
29 | Iowa
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 21
Toxic internet troll comments: 10.3 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.77
Residents who volunteer: 41.5 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 0.95
Mean Index Score: 43.0
28 | Virginia
Clupton / ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 35
Toxic internet troll comments: 8.1 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.79
Residents who volunteer: 34 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 4.23
Mean Index Score: 43.3
27 | North Carolina
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 27
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.1 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.07
Residents who volunteer: 35.1 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.08
Mean Index Score: 44.1
And for an area where your money won't take you far, check out The State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.
26 | Idaho
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 23
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.6 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.71
Residents who volunteer: 37.9 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 4.00
Mean Index Score: 45.3
25 | New York
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 29
Toxic internet troll comments: 8.3 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.42
Residents who volunteer: 25.3 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.25
Mean Index Score: 45.9
24 | Illinois
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 28
Toxic internet troll comments: 8.2 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.79
Residents who volunteer: 28.1 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 20.4
Mean Index Score: 46.1
23 | West Virginia
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 18
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.4 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.49
Residents who volunteer: 28.1 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.22
Mean Index Score: 46.9
22 | South Dakota
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 31
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.3 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.45
Residents who volunteer: 36.3 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 4.55
Mean Index Score: 49.4
And if you want to know which state is just plain filthy, read up on The Dirtiest State in the U.S.
21 | Texas
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 24
Toxic internet troll comments: 58.2 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.22
Residents who volunteer: 28.4 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.20
Mean Index Score: 50.1
20 | Ohio
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 20
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.2 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.00
Residents who volunteer: 33.2 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.65
Mean Index Score: 52.2
19 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 13
Toxic internet troll comments: 8.0 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.10
Residents who volunteer: 30.7 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 0.94
Mean Index Score: 52.7
18 | Nebraska
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 15
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.3 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.69
Residents who volunteer: 40.2 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.12
Mean Index Score: 54.7
17 | Indiana
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 14
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.5 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.05
Residents who volunteer: 34.9 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.99
Mean Index Score: 58.4
16 | Alaska
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 8
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.9 percent
Customer politeness score: N/A
Residents who volunteer: 40.6 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.72
Mean Index Score: 61.9
15 | Michigan
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 12
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.7 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.57
Residents who volunteer: 29.4 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.70
Mean Index Score: 65.1
And for the snooziest state of them all, check out The Most Boring State in the U.S.
14 | South Carolina
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 19
Toxic internet troll comments: 9.8 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.70
Residents who volunteer: 30.8 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.34
Mean Index Score: 66.5
13 | Montana
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 16
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.6 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.55
Residents who volunteer: 38.8 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 5.66
Mean Index Score: 67.2
12 | Missouri
Donna Chance Hall / ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 17
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.3 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.22
Residents who volunteer: 31.9 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.43
Mean Index Score: 67.5
11 | Colorado
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 11
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.4 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.23
Residents who volunteer: 32.4 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.87
Mean Index Score: 69.9
10 | Georgia
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 22
Toxic internet troll comments: 9.5 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.48
Residents who volunteer: 26.5 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.62
Mean Index Score: 73.5
9 | Maryland
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 3
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.4 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.50
Residents who volunteer: 36.3 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.31
Mean Index Score: 74.9
8 | Kentucky
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 7
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.9 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.72
Residents who volunteer: 28.1 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.36
Mean Index Score: 75.7
7 | Arizona
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 7
Toxic internet troll comments: 5.9 percent
Customer politeness score: 92.72
Residents who volunteer: 28.1 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.36
Mean Index Score: 75.7
6 | Alabama
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 9
Toxic internet troll comments: 9.6 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.43
Residents who volunteer: 27.4 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 3.27
Mean Index Score: 82.5
5 | Mississippi
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 6
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.5 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.38
Residents who volunteer: 23.8 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 4.03
Mean Index Score: 88.1
4 | Arkansas
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 2
Toxic internet troll comments: 6.1 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.59
Residents who volunteer: 30.0 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 4.98
Mean Index Score: 89.3
3 | Nevada
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 10
Toxic internet troll comments: 10.1 percent
Customer politeness score: 91.87
Residents who volunteer: 24.4 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 2.97
Mean Index Score: 91.2
2 | Tennessee
ShutterstockSchool bullying ranking: 5
Toxic internet troll comments: 7.2 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.37
Residents who volunteer: 31.3 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 5.61
Mean Index Score: 94.1
1 | Louisiana
iStockSchool bullying ranking: 1
Toxic internet troll comments: 8.6 percent
Customer politeness score: 93.47
Residents who volunteer: 25.8 percent
Hate groups per 100,000 people: 4.51
Mean Index Score: 100.00
And if you're curious about where your nearest big city stacks up when it comes to safety, This Is the Most Dangerous City in America.
