This Is the Meanest State in America
You better have thick skin if you live in this surly state.
![Mean woman](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/Mean-woman_shutterstock_184064648.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&resize=640%2C360)
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
![townhouses and building behind a lake in Portland, Maine](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/portland-maine.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![downtown minneapolis skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/minneapolis-minnesota.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![park city utah skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_1537714529.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![cityscape photo Fargo, North Dakota in the afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Fargo-North-Dakota.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![boston massachusetts state capitol buildings](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/boston-massachusetts-with-state-house.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![buildings and the Cooper dome in the downtown area of Topeka, Kansas](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/topeka-kansas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/columbia-river-gorge-oregon.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![boats on a lake in the summer](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/lake-winnipesaukee-new-hampshire.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![U.S.A. Oklahoma, Elk City, shops on the Route 66](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/oklahoma.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![downtown kirkland washington](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_616396595.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![View from inside the Ashland covered bridge in Yorklyn, New Castle County, Delaware during the fall with colorful foliage in bright sunlight](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/delaware-in-fall.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Hartford Connecticut](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/ct.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Morristown, New Jersey](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/new-jersey.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Suburb in Albuquerque, NM](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/01/Albuquerque-NM.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![coastline of maui hawaii](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/shutterstock_6391633.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![sheridan wyoming](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/06/sheridan-wyoming.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![erie pennsylvania overview, heart attack cities](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/erie-pennsylvania.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Church Street in Burlington, Vermont in the afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/burlington-vermont.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Aerial photo of the Manhattan Beach California pier](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/manhattan-california.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Scenic Small Town Nestled in Autumn Valley, Beautiful Rural Wisconsin Fall colors.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/wisconsin-state-scenery.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![street and Hialeah Monument in downtown Hialeah, Florida](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/hialeah-florida.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![marion iowa](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/marion-iowa.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![aerial view of smith mountain lake in virginia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/smith-mountain-lake-virginia.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Topsail Island North Carolina Enchanting Hideaways in the U.S.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/topsail-island-north-carolina.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![cityscape photos of mountains, moving cars, buildings, and the state capitol in Boise, Idaho at sunset](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/boise-idaho-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![new rochelle new york](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/06/new-rochelle-new-york.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![the naperville illinois riverwalk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/06/naperville-illinois.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![the high arched bridge in fayetteville west virginia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/fayetteville-west-virginia.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![cityscape photo of downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/sioux-falls-south-dakota.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![main street fredericksburg with shops lined up](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/fredericksburg-texas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![city skyline and bridge in Columbus, Ohio](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/columbus-ohio.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Light house and cliff](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/RI.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![trees, sand hills and a bridge overcasting Dismal River in Nebraska Sandhills, Nebraska](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/nebraska-sandhills-nebraska.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![south bend indiana aerial scene, heart attack cities](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/south-bend-indiana.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![docked sailboats in sitka alaska harbor](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/06/sitka-alaska.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Michigan](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/mich.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![charleston south carolina from above](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_709037020.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![view from mountain in montana](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_1031992204.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![chapel of the ozarks at sunset overlooking table rock lake in missouri](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/table-rock-lake-missouri.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![skyline and mountains in Colorado Springs, Colorado at dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/colorado-springs-colorado-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Aerial over Piedmont Park with Atlanta, GA Skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/georgia-street.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![baltimore skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/maryland-state.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![cityscape photo of downtown Lexington, Kentucky at night](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/lexington-kentucky.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![phoenix arizona](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_472928563.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![bridge in glensdale alabama](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/alabama.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![downtown jackson mississippi](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_555820978.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![Downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, around sunset.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/arkansas-divorce-rate.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![reno nevada skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_128052527.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![city skyline and river in Nashville, Tennessee](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/nashville-tennessee.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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
![walking path along Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/baton-rouge-louisiana.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
School 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.