This Is the Most Promiscuous State in America

While hookup culture is often depicted as the norm in today's popular culture, according to a 2020 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Americans between the ages of 18 to 44 are having less sex compared with that same age group in the 1990s. However, the topic of sexual activity—even if we're talking about a lack thereof—is still an intriguing one. You may remember the subject dominating headlines a few years back when Ashley Madison, an infamous extramarital affair site, was subjected to a major data breach. The hackers responsible stole 32 million records containing personal information about the site's users. Curiously, some U.S. states were home to far more users of the scandalous site than others, indicating that where one lives might influence how sexually active they are. So, we here at Best Life combed through various data sources to find which state's residents are most prone to all forms, and consequences, of promiscuity—ranging from adultery to the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

First, we determined the number of Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people in each state. Then, we gathered data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) most recent STD surveillance report on the number of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases in all 50 states to determine the number of STD cases per 100,000 people. In addition, we considered the CDC's estimates on the number of sexually active high school students, though data was only available for 29 states, which we accounted for in our final rankings.

Finally, we looked at the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent available data for the median household income in each state. What does that have to do with promiscuity? Well, in the same JAMA study, earning a lower income, working part-time, or being unemployed were all associated with sexual inactivity, especially in men. On the other hand, those who earned a higher annual income were more likely to be sexually active.

We then gave all four metrics a weighted value and ran them through our exclusive algorithm to determine how each state scored on our Promiscuity Index. Read on to discover the most promiscuous state in America and find out where your home state falls in the mix. And to find out the place where kindness isn't exactly king, This Is the Meanest State in America.

STDs per 100,000 people: 264.70

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 189.30

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 12.78

Median household income: $50,573

Promiscuity Index Score: 0.01

STDs per 100,000 people: 451.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 231.70

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $58,728

Promiscuity Index Score: 19.53

STDs per 100,000 people: 383.80

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 244.40

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 68.43

Median household income: $58,663

Promiscuity Index Score: 24.88

And if you are more monogamy minded and want to avoid being single again, If You Sleep in This Position, You're More Likely to Divorce, Survey Says.

STDs per 100,000 people: 578.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 258

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $57,679

Promiscuity Index Score: 28.34

STDs per 100,000 people: 612.30

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 232.70

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 18.91

Median household income: $54,555

Promiscuity Index Score: 28.52

STDs per 100,000 people: 432.10

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 383.40

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $62,539

Promiscuity Index Score: 31.99

STDs per 100,000 people: 840.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 193.90

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 1.76

Median household income: $49,781

Promiscuity Index Score: 33.83

STDs per 100,000 people: 708.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 245.60

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $59,463

Promiscuity Index Score: 36.97

STDs per 100,000 people: 668.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 304.30

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 23.58

Median household income: $54,644

Promiscuity Index Score: 37.64

And to find out which part of the U.S. outsiders like the least, This Is the Most Hated State in America.

STDs per 100,000 people: 854.60

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 239.30

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $49,936

Promiscuity Index Score: 37.76

STDs per 100,000 people: 712.30

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 256.10

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Average income per capita: $59,892

Promiscuity Index Score: 38.29

STDs per 100,000 people: 795.00

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 234.30

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $56,060

Promiscuity Index Score: 38.75

STDs per 100,000 people: 616.90

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 259

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $69,165

Promiscuity Index Score: 40.18

STDs per 100,000 people: 319.30

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 307.10

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 119.44

Median household income: $70,066

Promiscuity Index Score: 41.08

STDs per 100,000 people: 564.60

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 305.60

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 17.66

Median household income: $67,575

Promiscuity Index Score: 41.14

STDs per 100,000 people: 681.80

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 302.80

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 12.43

Median household income: $60,449

Promiscuity Index Score: 41.69

And to find out where in the U.S. people need to be taught some manners, This Is the Rudest State in America.

STDs per 100,000 people: 438.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 349.50

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $77,067

Promiscuity Index Score: 41.92

STDs per 100,000 people: 623.20

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 241.60

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 24.44

Median household income: $68,718

Promiscuity Index Score: 42.11

STDs per 100,000 people: 801.40

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 273.80

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 18.23

Median household income: $54,434

Promiscuity Index Score: 42.88

STDs per 100,000 people: 563ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 328.40

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $71,817

Promiscuity Index Score: 43.85

STDs per 100,000 people: 674.10

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 325.50

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $63,938

Promiscuity Index Score: 44.06

STDs per 100,000 people: 653.20

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 318.90

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $66,505

Promiscuity Index Score: 44.41

STDs per 100,000 people: 937.40

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 270.60

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 12.70

Median household income: $42,283

Promiscuity Index Score: 45.32

And to see how safe your nearest big city is, This Is the Most Dangerous City in America.

STDs per 100,000 people: 653

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 349.60

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 17.73

Median household income: $ 62,266

Promiscuity Index Score: 45.33

STDs per 100,000 people: 693.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 329.70

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 27.11

Median household income: $59,785

Promiscuity Index Score: 45.61

STDs per 100,000 people: 764.30

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 309.90

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $61,633

Promiscuity Index Score: 46.67

STDs per 100,000 people: 847.70

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 323.90

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $55,821

Promiscuity Index Score: 48.04

STDs per 100,000 people: 779.90

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 320.70

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $62,283

Promiscuity Index Score: 48.91

STDs per 100,000 people: 828.10

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 288

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $61,726

Promiscuity Index Score: 49.16

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STDs per 100,000 people: 1046.20

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 258.80

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $49,973

Promiscuity Index Score: 50.99

STDs per 100,000 people: 627.30

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 336.50

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $79,726

Promiscuity Index Score: 54.86

STDs per 100,000 people: 512.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 517.60

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $74,176

Promiscuity Index Score: 55.82

STDs per 100,000 people: 622.20

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 266.10

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 162.42

Median household income: $62,629

Promiscuity Index Score: 56.33

STDs per 100,000 people: 822.70

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 308.40

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 48.32

Median household income: $61,864

Promiscuity Index Score: 56.51

STDs per 100,000 people: 327.10

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 502.20

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 64.53

Median household income: $81,346

Promiscuity Index Score: 57.37

STDs per 100,000 people: 806.60

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 385.80

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 6.41

Median household income: $65,012

Promiscuity Index Score: 58.14

STDs per 100,000 people: 684

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 425.40

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $73,034

Promiscuity Index Score: 59.07

STDs per 100,000 people: 957.20

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 245.90

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 69.41

Median household income: $57,444

Promiscuity Index Score: 59.54

STDs per 100,000 people: 654.60

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 415.90

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $77,151

Promiscuity Index Score: 59.96

STDs per 100,000 people: 593.70

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 349.60

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 150.00

Average income per capita: $64,524

Promiscuity Index Score: 60.35

STDs per 100,000 people: 804.80

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 343.70

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 12.47

Median household income: $70,489

Promiscuity Index Score: 60.35

STDs per 100,000 people: 813.60

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 354.50

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 31.45

Median household income: $70,145

Promiscuity Index Score: 63.78

STDs per 100,000 people: 803.50

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 494.1

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 34.43

Median household income: $67,274

Promiscuity Index Score: 65.33

STDs per 100,000 people: 569.70

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 453.30

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 13.86

Median household income: $86,345

Promiscuity Index Score: 66.60

STDs per 100,000 people: 652.90

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 265.30

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 122.72

Median household income: $632.17

Promiscuity Index Score: 67.42

STDs per 100,000 people: 889.40

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 276

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 185.02

Median household income: $53,369

Promiscuity Index Score: 68.83

STDs per 100,000 people: 607

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 414

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: 101.26

Median household income: $72,812

Promiscuity Index Score: 71.79

STDs per 100,000 people: 768.80

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 386.80

Sexually active high school students: N/A

Median household income: $86,223

Promiscuity Index Score: 72.41

STDs per 100,000 people: 1143.60

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 305.80

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $68,734

Promiscuity Index Score: 75.63

STDs per 100,000 people: 1,082.30

Ashley Madison users per 100,000 people: 1,016.00

Sexually active high schoolers per 100,000 people: N/A

Median household income: $42,781

Promiscuity Index Score: 99.99

And for more questionable states, check out This Is the Drunkest State in America.