This Is the Most Hated State in America
Both residents and rivals agree, this is the most hated state in the U.S.
![woman showing disgust](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/disgust-hate.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&resize=640%2C360)
Hate is a harsh word, especially in today's divisive times. However, when it comes to regional rivalries, there tends to be no love lost. For instance, if you ask a New Yorker what they think about Boston, Massachusetts—particularly if they're a baseball fan—you'll likely be given a look of disgust. On the other hand, it can also be easy to hate on the place where you live as well. To figure out which state is the most disliked by both residents and rivals, we've done some digging and crunched the numbers–and you may be surprised by the answer.
We started off by calculating the percentage of the population that has recently moved out of each state. While locals don't give reviews of their hometowns like they would a restaurant on Yelp, they do tend to vote with their feet, so we compared the population increase or decrease in each state to the national average of 0.6 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Next, we analyzed a Gallup poll of which citizens felt the most pride in their home states—defined as the percentage of people who agreed with the statement that their state is "the best or one of the best possible states to live." The states with the least pride ranked higher in our Hatred Index. Finally, we looked at the findings of illustrator and amateur researcher Matt Shirley, who polled his 320,000 Instagram followers from across the country in 2020 to discover which state they hate the most. We then factored in the population of the states that hated on each state to measure the volume of hostility hurled in every state's direction. (Some states, Shirley found, had no states that hate them.) These results were compiled into an algorithm that produced the final score of our Hatred Index, wherein the higher the number, the more hated that state is.
In the end, the top 10 most hated states spanned every region, from the East Coast to the South. (Yes, even the Midwest isn't as nice as you thought.) But one state drew the most vitriol of them all. Read on to see if your home state is loathed or loved as we rank every state, from least hated to most hated. And for more places where locals aren't the most welcoming, This Is the Unfriendliest State in the U.S.
50
Idaho
![priest lake idaho](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/priest-lake-idaho.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 3.5 percent
State pride: 54 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -304
And to find out which state could be cleaner, This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S.
49
Utah
![The sun rising above Thor's Hammer at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/bryce-canyon-utah.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 3.2 percent
State pride: 70 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -290
48
Washington
![Mt Shuksan in Washington state in late autumn - Picture Lake in foreground.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/mount-shuksan-washington.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 2.8 percent
State pride: 58 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -238
And for the state that'll make you snooze, This Is the Most Boring State in the U.S.
47
Nevada
![las vegas strip in nevada](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/shutterstock_1456957640.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 2.8 percent
State pride: 28 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -208
46
Arizona
![cacti in santa cruz county, arizona](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Santa-Cruz-County-Arizona.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 2.28 percent
State pride: 41 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -169
45
Colorado
![A hiker above lower Blue Lake near Ouray Colorado](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/blue-lakes-colorado.jpeg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 2 percent
State pride: 65 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -165
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44
Oregon
![red, pink, orange, and yellow roses with a forest in the background](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/international-rose-test-garden-portland-oregon.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 2 percent
State pride: 61 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -161
43
South Dakota
![Badlands National Park South Dakota Surreal Places in the U.S.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/badlands-national-park-south-dakota.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 1.7 percent
State pride: 57 percent
States that hate it: North Dakota
Population of states that hate it: 762,062
Hatred Index: -112
42
Montana
![lake ellen wilson in montana](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/lake-ellen-wilson-montana.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 1.7 percent
State pride: 29 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -99
41
Wyoming
![Panoramic aerial view of Jackson Hole homes and beautiful mountains on a summer morning, Wyoming.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/wyoming-state.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 1.2 percent
State pride: 69 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -89
40
North Carolina
![skyline of downtown charlotte north carolina](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/shutterstock_1158438217.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 1.5 percent
State pride: 34 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -84
39
Georgia
![Atlanta Georgia at sunset](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Atlanta-Georgia.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 1.4 percent
State pride: 41 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -81
38
Minnesota
![Sunset over Wayzata Yacht Club on Wayzata Bay, Lake Minnetonka.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/Wayzata-Minnesota.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.9 percent
State pride: 61 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -51
37
Delaware
![The aerial view of the beach town, fishing port and waterfront residential homes along the canal Lewes Delaware](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/lewes-delaware.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 1 percent
State pride: 39 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -39
36
New Hampshire
![sunset over the peaks of a mountain in autumn](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/kancamagus-highway-new-hampshire.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.4 percent
State pride: 67 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: -7
35
Tennessee
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 1.2 percent
State pride: 47 percent
States that hate it: Kentucky
Population of states that hate it: 4,467,673
Hatred Index: 22
34
Virginia
![aerial view of smith mountain lake in virginia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/smith-mountain-lake-virginia.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.6 percent
State pride: 47 percent
States that hate it: West Virginia
Population of states that hate it: 1,792,147
Hatred Index: 29
33
Alaska
![Multiple brown bear at McNeil River State Game Sanctuary fishing for salmon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/katmai-national-park.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.14 percent
State pride: 77 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 37
32
Arkansas
![Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/little-rock-arkansas.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.23 percent
State pride: 37 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 40
31
Hawaii
![Secret beach also known as Kauapea beach is a stunning trail only accessible beach on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/kauapea-beach-kauai-hawaii.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.1 percent
State pride: 68 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 42
30
Nebraska
![cows in pasture in thurston county, nebraska](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Thurston-county-Nebraska.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.6 percent
State pride: 52 percent
States that hate it: Iowa
Population of states that hate it: 3,155,070
Hatred Index: 51
29
Maine
![aerial view of a coastal road](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/acadia-national-park-maine.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.1 percent
State pride: 57 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 53
28
Maryland
![St. Michaels, Maryland, USA](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/04/st-michaels-maryland.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0 percent
State pride: 29 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 71
27
Iowa
![Iowa](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/iowa.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.1 percent
State pride: 56 percent
States that hate it: Nebraska
Population of states that hate it: 1,934,408
Hatred Index: 73
26
Vermont
![church street peachem vermont](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/church-street-vermont.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.4 percent
State pride: 61 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 79
25
Massachusetts
![Boston Massachusetts Winter Escape](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/03/Boston-Massachusetts.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.4 percent
State pride: 46 percent
States that hate it: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
Population of states that hate it: 3,327,912
Hatred Index: 81
24
South Carolina
![Scenic View of the St. Michaels Church from Broad St. in Charleston, SC](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/south-carolina-street.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 1.8 percent
State pride: 39 percent
States that hate it: North Carolina
Population of states that hate it: 10,488,084
Hatred Index: 91
23
North Dakota
![North Dakota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/dakota.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.4 percent
State pride: 66 percent
States that hate it: South Dakota
Population of states that hate it: 884,659
Hatred Index: 92
22
Connecticut
![Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/stratford-connecticut.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.34 percent
State pride: 31 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 103
21
Louisiana
![new orleans louisiana](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_313883471.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.3 percent
State pride: 27 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 103
20
Pennsylvania
![Autumn Morning View of the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge Spanning the Delaware River , New Hope, Pennsylvania](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/new-hope-pennsylvania.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.5 percent
State pride: 34 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 116
19
Mississippi
![The downtown skyline of Jackson, Mississippi with the state house in the foreground](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/skyline-of-jackson-mississippi-coronavirus-wrong-direction.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.51 percent
State pride: 26 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 125
18
New Mexico
![the native pueblo in Taos New Mexico](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/taos-new-mexico.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.55 percent
State pride: 28 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 127
17
Missouri
![skyline of st. louis missouri](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/shutterstock_1175969386.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0 percent
State pride: 29 percent
States that hate it: Kansas
Population of states that hate it: 2,913,314
Hatred Index: 129
16
Rhode Island
![providence skyline rhode island](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/providence-rhode-island.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.5 percent
State pride: 18 percent
States that hate it: None
Population of states that hate it: N/A
Hatred Index: 132
15
West Virginia
![waterfall with a bridge over it in Blackwater Falls State Park](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/blackwater-falls-state-park-west-virginia.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.9 percent
State pride: 36 percent
States that hate it: Virginia
Population of states that hate it: 8,535,519
Hatred Index: 145
14
Wisconsin
![Wisconsin](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/wi.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0 percent
State pride: 49 percent
States that hate it: Minnesota
Population of states that hate it: 5,639,632
Hatred Index: 164
13
Ohio
![cleveland ohio skyline at dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/06/cleveland-ohio-skyline-at-dusk.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.2 percent
State pride: 32 percent
States that hate it: South Carolina
Population of states that hate it: 5,148,714
Hatred Index: 191
12
Illinois
![Illinois](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/il.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0 percent
State pride: 19 percent
States that hate it: Wisconsin
Population of states that hate it: 5,822,434
Hatred Index: 197
11
New York
![New York City](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/ny.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.1 percent
State pride: 41 percent
States that hate it: Massachusetts
Population of states that hate it: 6,892,503
Hatred Index: 207
10
Kansas
![field of wheat in central Kansas is nearly ready for harvest.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/kansas-countryside.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.57 percent
State pride: 34 percent
States that hate it: Missouri
Population of states that hate it: 6,137,428
Hatred Index: 246
9
Alabama
![river with boats and boathouses in alabama](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/magnolia-springs-alabama-river.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.18 percent
State pride: 39 percent
States that hate it: Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi
Population of states that hate it: 10,642,747
Hatred Index: 292
8
Indiana
![Downtown Indianapolis skyline with the Depew Memorial Fountain, Obelisk, park, and the Indiana World War Memorial in the foreground.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/indiana-cases-rising.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.1 percent
State pride: 34 percent
States that hate it: Illinois
Population of states that hate it: 12,671,821
Hatred Index: 309
7
Kentucky
![Dramatic evening light from along the lush shoreline of Cranks Creek Lake in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/cranks-creek-lake-kentucky.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.1 percent
State pride: 38 percent
States that hate it: Indiana, Tennessee
Population of states that hate it: 13,561,393
Hatred Index: 323
6
Michigan
![Michigan](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/mich.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.2 percent
State pride: 28 percent
States that hate it: Ohio
Population of states that hate it: 11,689,100
Hatred Index: 326
5
Florida
![seaside miami florida](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_1246908805.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.28 percent
State pride: 46 percent
States that hate it: Georgia, Alabama
Population of states that hate it: 15,520,608
Hatred Index: 392
4
Oklahoma
![tulsa oklahoma](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/shutterstock_1176466597.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.4 percent
State pride: 39 percent
States that hate it: Texas
Population of states that hate it: 28,995,881
Hatred Index: 681
3
California
![los angeles california skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_1024954096.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 0.36 percent
State pride: 51 percent
States that hate it: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado
Population of states that hate it: 34,590,799
Hatred Index: 705
2
Texas
![houston texas skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/shutterstock_1013712277.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: 2 percent
State pride: 68 percent
States that hate it: Alaska, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma
Population of states that hate it: 46,297,568
Hatred Index: 758
1
New Jersey
![new jersey skyline from the hudson river](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_192336935.jpg)
Population change compared to the U.S. average: -0.3 percent
State pride: 28 percent
States that hate it: New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut
Population of states that hate it: 35,820,837
Hatred Index: 818
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