From the bright lights of New York City to the majestic mountains of Colorado, the United States is full of exciting sights to see and natural wonders to marvel over. But not every state in the U.S. has bustling metropolises and stunning landscapes. Some, if we're being frank, are a bit less exhilarating than others. Whether it's because a large portion of their population is settled down or their number of watering holes per capita could be counted on one hand, some states are just more boring than others. We decided it would be interesting to figure out which ones in particular stand out for being uninteresting. While it's a pretty subjective notion, we tried to determine the most boring state using objective statistics, pulling together demographic data and other relevant metrics.
Drawing on the most recent American Community Survey from the U.S. Census, we looked at a few data points. First, we factored in a state’s population density, with the expectation that more people in a smaller space makes things a little bit more interesting. We also examined the percent of the population that was married, had kids, and was older than 65, all of which could be expected to make a place a bit less exciting. To cap it off, we pulled information from the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns to examine the number of bars in each state per 100,000 residents. Then, each factor was weighed to come up with our Boring Index score, which ultimately determined which state is essentially a snooze fest.
It's also essential to note that these states aren't all boring in the same way; some scored worse because there's very little to do there, while others scored worse because there are so few people to do anything with. But looking at the numbers, the results were clear. The most boring state in the country has less than five bars per 100,000 residents, fewer nightlife options than almost any other state. But where it really scores its “boring points” is in its demographics. More than two-thirds of the state’s households have kids, while 23 percent of adult residents are married—the most of any state in both of those factors.
While these statistics no doubt encourage stability and many other positive qualities, it doesn’t make the state all that exciting. Despite having the lowest rate of residents over the age of 65, its high boring scores in the aforementioned areas make this one state the king of dull. Read on to find out how your state ranked, counting down from least boring to most boring. And if you're more interested in your state's friendly factor, check out This Is the Unfriendliest State in the U.S.
50 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 1,025
Population over age 65: 17.70 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 46.46 percent
Marriage rate: 14.10 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 22.2
Boring Index: 12.17
And for more fun facts about your home state, check out The Biggest Star Who's From Your State.
49 | New Jersey
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 1,208
Population over age 65: 16.60 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 56.19 percent
Marriage rate: 14.30 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 10.4
Boring Index: 21.48
48 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 108
Population over age 65: 17.50 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 54.00 percent
Marriage rate: 15.60 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 47.4
Boring Index: 21.82
And for more states you need to get straight, read up on The Most Mispronounced State in the U.S.
47 | North Dakota
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 11
Population over age 65: 15.80 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 59.17 percent
Marriage rate: 21.50 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 51.9
Boring Index: 22.64
46 | Montana
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 7
Population over age 65: 19.50 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 52.20 percent
Marriage rate: 15.60 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 50.6
Boring Index: 22.81
And to see who's bringing in the big bucks where you live, This Is the Richest Person in Every State.
45 | Massachusetts
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 884
Population over age 65: 17.00 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 54.05 percent
Marriage rate: 15.60 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 10.2
Boring Index: 38.57
44 | South Dakota
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 12
Population over age 65: 17.40 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 56.70 percent
Marriage rate: 18.00 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 37.5
Boring Index: 42.95
43 | Connecticut
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 736
Population over age 65: 17.60 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 53.23 percent
Marriage rate: 13.20 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 8.7
Boring Index: 47.18
And if you're curious about what you can't do in Connecticut, here are the 30 Craziest Small Town Laws in America.
42 | New York
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 413
Population over age 65: 16.90 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 55.73 percent
Marriage rate: 15.00 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 17.3
Boring Index: 51.32
And if you're a proud Empire State resident, here's What People Living in New York Wish You Knew About Their State.
41 | Iowa
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 57
Population over age 65: 17.50 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 57.14 percent
Marriage rate: 17.50 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 29.5
Boring Index: 52.57
And if you want more state guides and fun facts delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
40 | Nebraska
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 25
Population over age 65: 16.10 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 60.16 percent
Marriage rate: 16.10 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 28.5
Boring Index: 54.61
39 | Illinois
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 228
Population over age 65: 16.10 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 57.40 percent
Marriage rate: 16.70 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 21.5
Boring Index: 54.91
38 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 286
Population over age 65: 18.70 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 52.29 percent
Marriage rate: 14.70 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 19.3
Boring Index: 54.98
37 | Maryland
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 623
Population over age 65: 15.90 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 58.36 percent
Marriage rate: 16.90 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 7.5
Boring Index: 56.30
36 | Wyoming
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 6
Population over age 65: 17.10 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 53.64 percent
Marriage rate: 22.90 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 29.4
Boring Index: 57.31
35 | Ohio
Sean Pavone / ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 286
Population over age 65: 17.50 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 50.98 percent
Marriage rate: 16.10 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 15.9
Boring Index: 60.02
34 | Delaware
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 500
Population over age 65: 19.50 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 48.87 percent
Marriage rate: 15.00 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 6.9
Boring Index: 63.02
33 | Nevada
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 28
Population over age 65: 16.20 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 55.53 percent
Marriage rate: 18.70 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 22.4
Boring Index: 64.39
32 | West Virginia
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 75
Population over age 65: 20.50 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 50.94 percent
Marriage rate: 15.60 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 20.2
Boring Index: 65.39
31 | Hawaii
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 221
Population over age 65: 14.30 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 58.53 percent
Marriage rate: 19.60 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 14.5
Boring Index: 66.49
30 | Oregon
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 44
Population over age 65: 18.20 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 53.56 percent
Marriage rate: 18.70 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 20.8
Boring Index: 66.75
29 | Florida
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 401
Population over age 65: 20.90 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 51.18 percent
Marriage rate: 15.70 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 8.4
Boring Index: 67.07
28 | Louisiana
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 108
Population over age 65: 16.50 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 55.70 percent
Marriage rate: 14.80 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 16.5
Boring Index: 67.48
27 | Alaska
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 1
Population over age 65: 12.40 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 61.98 percent
Marriage rate: 21.00 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 21.2
Boring Index: 67.58
26 | Indiana
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 188
Population over age 65: 16.10 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 55.95 percent
Marriage rate: 16.60 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 13.6
Boring Index: 68.55
25 | Michigan
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 177
Population over age 65: 17.70 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 52 percent
Marriage rate: 15.80 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 13.4
Boring Index: 69.32
24 | Minnesota
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 71
Population over age 65: 16.30 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 58.29 percent
Marriage rate: 16.90 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 16.5
Boring Index: 70.59
23 | Idaho
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 22
Population over age 65: 16.20 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 60.72 percent
Marriage rate: 22.60 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 20
Boring Index: 70.91
22 | California
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 254
Population over age 65: 14.80 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 60.96 percent
Marriage rate: 15.90 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 8.4
Boring Index: 72.69
21 | Vermont
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 68
Population over age 65: 20.10 percent
Percentage of households with kids: 50.27 percent
Marriage rate: 19.00 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 16.2
Boring Index: 73.15
20 | Washington
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 115
Population Over Age 65: 15.90 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 55.16 percent
Marriage rate: 18.70 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 12.2
Boring Index: 75.16
19 | Colorado
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 56
Population Over Age 65: 14.70 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 59.30 percent
Marriage rate: 19.50 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 13.3
Boring Index: 76.78
18 | North Carolina
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 216
Population Over Age 65: 16.70 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 55.23 percent
Marriage rate: 15.70 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 6.8
Boring Index: 77.11
17 | Texas
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 111
Population Over Age 65: 12.90 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 62.69 percent
Marriage rate: 18.10 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 9.6
Boring Index: 78.39
16 | South Carolina
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 171
Population Over Age 65: 18.20 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 51.45 percent
Marriage rate: 14.50 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 7.2
Boring Index: 78.42
15 | Missouri
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 89
Population Over Age 65: 17.20 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 55.30 percent
Marriage rate: 19.30 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 10.6
Boring Index: 79.80
14 | Georgia
Sean Pavone / ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 184
Population Over Age 65: 14.30 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 55.90 percent
Marriage rate: 16.20 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 4.1
Boring Index: 81.87
13 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 58
Population Over Age 65: 16.10 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 58.45 percent
Marriage rate: 20.30 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 10.2
Boring Index: 82.32
12 | Kansas
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 36
Population Over Age 65: 16.40 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 61.34 percent
Marriage rate: 18.80 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 10.6
Boring Index: 82.59
11 | Tennessee
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 166
Population Over Age 65: 16.70 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 51.52 percent
Marriage rate: 17.40 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 5
Boring Index: 82.71
10 | Kentucky
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 113
Population Over Age 65: 16.90 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 55.07 percent
Marriage rate: 16.80 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 6.9
Boring Index: 82.72
9 | Maine
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 44
Population Over Age 65: 21.30 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 50.63 percent
Marriage rate: 13.20 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 9
Boring Index: 82.90
8 | Arizona
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 64
Population Over Age 65: 18.00 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 57.38 percent
Marriage rate: 19.50 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 8.6
Boring Index: 84.82
7 | Virginia
David A. Barnes / AlamyDensity (people per square mile): 216
Population Over Age 65: 15.90 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 58.46 percent
Marriage rate: 18.10 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 2.1
Boring Index: 85.35
6 | Alabama
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 97
Population Over Age 65: 17.40 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 50.65 percent
Marriage rate: 17.10 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 5.1
Boring Index: 86.09
5 | New Hampshire
iStockDensity (people per square mile): 152
Population Over Age 65: 18.60 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 49.64 percent
Marriage rate: 15.50 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 2.1
Boring Index: 87.51
4 | Mississippi
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 63
Population Over Age 65: 16.40 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 53.97 percent
Marriage rate: 16.40 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 3.2
Boring Index: 90.17
3 | New Mexico
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 17
Population Over Age 65: 18.00 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 54.47 percent
Marriage rate: 16.40 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 5.2
Boring Index: 90.34
2 | Arkansas
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 58
Population Over Age 65: 17.40 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 53.76 percent
Marriage rate: 17.90 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 3.8
Boring Index: 90.77
1 | Utah
ShutterstockDensity (people per square mile): 39
Population Over Age 65: 11.40 percent
Percentage of Households with Kids: 68.53 percent
Marriage rate: 23.10 percent
Bars per 100,000 residents: 4.60
Boring Index: 98.80
