This Is the Smelliest State in America
While some states keep it fresh and clean, other states really stink.
![woman holding her nose from a bad smell](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/bad-smell.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&resize=640%2C360)
Some states are known for their crisp air and pine tree scent (looking at you, Vermont). But not all are so lucky—many smell like rotten eggs or sewage when you're driving through. So why are some foul-smelling and others fresh? We decided to find out for ourselves by parsing through the data to rank each state from freshest to stinkiest.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), high emissions of methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide are the main culprits behind the stench. Using the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, we calculated the methane emissions per capita, as well as the percentage of each state that's covered in landfills, from the EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program. We then factored in the natural gas plant liquid production for each state, with data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture's Major Land Uses Survey.
This left us with one final important metric: cropland. According to the USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force, roughly 60 to 85 percent of ammonia emissions in the United States are estimated to come from agricultural sources. Agriculture is also a major source of methane emissions (36 percent) followed by oil and natural gas systems (31 percent), according to the EPA.
Together, we compiled and analyzed these numbers through our exclusive algorithm to determine the Smelliness Score for each state. While the stinkiest state had the second highest amount of landfills (phew!), the runner-up had the most methane emissions. Keep reading to discover which state is really the smelliest and learn where your state stands. And for more places that aren't so fresh and clean, This is the Dirtiest State in the U.S.
50
Nevada
![red rocks and a butte at Red Rock Canyon in Clark County, Nevada](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/clark-county-nevada.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.14 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0016
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 0.8
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 0.01
And for more places that aren't very pleasant, This Is the Rudest State in America.
49
Maine
![Lighthouse in Portland, Maine during the evening](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Portland-Maine.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.19 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0013
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 2
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 1.15
48
Utah
![a field of pink, orange, and purple wildflowers and mountains in Alta, Utah](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/alta-utah.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.31 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0019
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 2.8
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 301
Smelliness Score: 4.43
And for more areas you may not enjoy, This Is the Most Hated State in America.
47
Arizona
![Arizona](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/az.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.24 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0038
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 1.6
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 5.44
46
Vermont
![red farmhouses, orange trees, and rural land in Reading, Vermont at sunrise](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/reading-vermont.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.1 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0026
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 7
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 7.21
45
Oregon
![red stratovolcano and green trees in Broken Top, Oregon at sunset](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/broken-top-oregon.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.23 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0019
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 7.6
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 7.88
44
Idaho
![Idaho](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/idaho.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.32 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0008
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 11
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 2.6
Smelliness Score: 10.05
43
New Hampshire
![a townhouse next to trees, a lake, and canoes in Grafton County, New Hampshire](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/grafton-county-new-hampshire.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.26 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0079
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 1.6
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 12.48
42
Montana
![landscape photo of Glacier National Park, Montana in the afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/glacier-national-park-montana.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.32 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0004
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 17.8
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 136.6
Smelliness Score: 16.03
41
Hawaii
![the Wailua falls and green trees in Kauai, Hawaii](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/kauai-hawaii.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.25 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.006
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 9.1
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 16.36
40
New Mexico
![new mexico](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/new-mexico-fires.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.82 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0013
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 2.5
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 8115.9
Smelliness Score: 16.82
39
Wyoming
![the reflection of glaciers and tress in a lake in Teton, Wyoming](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/teton-range-wyoming.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.75 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0004
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 3.2
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 9511.4
Smelliness Score: 16.93
38
Connecticut
![landscape photo of Shelton, Connecticut in the morning](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/shelton-connecticut.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.09 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0111
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 4
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 18.56
37
Washington
![Washington state](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/washington.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.19 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0038
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 17.7
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 20.17
36
Alaska
![purple flowers and mountain in Valdez, Alaska](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/valdez-alaska.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.76 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.01
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: N/A
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 2,714.4
Smelliness Score: 22.48
35
Colorado
![Colorado](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/co.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.41 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0039
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 16.1
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 2485.7
Smelliness Score: 23.79
34
Mississippi
![bridge on gulf coast ocean springs ms](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/gulf-coast-ocean-springs-mississippi.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.8 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0035
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 17.2
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 0.2
Smelliness Score: 25.22
33
South Carolina
![lake jocassee at sunset](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/lake-jocassee-south-carolina.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.36 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0105
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 9.9
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 25.73
32
Arkansas
![green trees and Hamilton Lake at sunset in Garland County, Arkansas](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/arkansas-garland-county.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.63 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0035
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 24.7
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 8.5
Smelliness Score: 30.65
And for more places that aren't very pretty, This Is the Ugliest State in the U.S.
31
Alabama
![cityscape photo of Birmingham, Alabama at dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/birmingham-alabama.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 1.87 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0058
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 8.7
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 64.6
Smelliness Score: 31.57
30
California
![California](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/cali.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.22 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0153
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 9.6
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 22.2
Smelliness Score: 32.18
29
Georgia
![Georgia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/ga.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.57 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0122
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 11.9
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 32.53
28
North Carolina
![city skyline of Asheville, North Carolina at twilight](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/asheville-north-carolina.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.44 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0119
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 14.4
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 33.1
27
Massachusetts
![boston Massachusetts skyline from harbor](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_545633326.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.13 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0205
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 3
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 33.73
26
Michigan
![cityscape photo of Kalamazoo, Michigan in the afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/kalamazoo-michigan.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.51 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0079
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 21.5
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 11.2
Smelliness Score: 33.81
25
Tennessee
![city skyline and river in Nashville, Tennessee](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/nashville-tennessee.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.44 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0095
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 19.9
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 0.2
Smelliness Score: 34.29
24
Florida
![cityscape photo of the downtown area of Orlando, Florida](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/orlando-florida.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.36 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0166
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 8.3
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 1.4
Smelliness Score: 34.49
23
New York
![Poughkeepsie, New York skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/Poughkeepsie-New-York.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.16 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0146
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 14.1
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 34.67
22
Wisconsin
![Wisconsin](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/wisconsin.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.28 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0058
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 29.1
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 35.26
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21
Texas
![city skyline of and buildings in downtown Houston, Texas](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/houston-texas.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.51 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0083
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 17.5
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 4116.1
Smelliness Score: 35.32
20
Virginia
![city skyline with a bridge, buildings, and the Kanawha River in Charleston, West Virginia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/charleston-west-virginia.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.7 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0136
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 11.8
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 0.6
Smelliness Score: 36.09
19
South Dakota
![yellow flowers and rocks at Badlands National Park in South Dakota at sunrise](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/bandlands-national-park-south-dakota.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.3 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0007
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 39.9
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 0.1
Smelliness Score: 37.07
18
Louisiana
![a pier over and trees next to Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville Louisiana at sunset](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/mandeville-louisiana.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 1.35 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0072
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 16.6
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 1121.5
Smelliness Score: 37.53
17
Missouri
![](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/clayton-missouri.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.27 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0046
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 35.5
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 39.17
16
Oklahoma
![tulsa oklahoma](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/shutterstock_1176466597.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.72 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0034
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 25.7
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 7212.2
Smelliness Score: 40.4
15
Kentucky
![wooden and stone fence on green grass in Lexington, Kentucky](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/kentucky-lexington.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.83 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0086
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 25.2
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 114.1
Smelliness Score: 41.78
14
Minnesota
![Minnesota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/minne.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.35 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0028
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 44.1
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 45.12
13
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)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.64 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0016
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 44.5
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 46.28
12
Pennsylvania
![Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/Wilkes-Barre-Pennsylvania.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.94 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0191
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 15.8
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 746.2
Smelliness Score: 52.32
11
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)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.62 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0032
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 54.6
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 531.4
Smelliness Score: 58.96
10
Maryland
![city skyline and Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland in the afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Annapolis-Maryland.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.21 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0263
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 22.2
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 62.47
9
Rhode Island
![A view of downtown Providence, Rhode Island on a sunny day.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/view-of-downtown-providence-rhode-island-coroanvirus-travel-list.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.23 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0375
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 3.8
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 64.09
8
Ohio
![autumn trees and the Roadway Bridge over the Little Miami River in Ohio](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/little-miami-river-ohio.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.51 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0165
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 41.4
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 444.7
Smelliness Score: 67.63
7
New Jersey
![city skyline and the Passaic River in Newark, New Jersey](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Newark-New-Jersey.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.22 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0421
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 9.5
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 77.09
6
Iowa
![marion iowa](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/marion-iowa.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.54 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0045
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 74.7
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 78.77
5
Indiana
![Indianapolis Indiana skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Indianapolis-Indiana-Skyline.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.89 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0174
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 55.4
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 85.67
4
North Dakota
![university of north dakota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/univ_north_dakota.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.9 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0007
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 61.4
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 21082.5
Smelliness Score: 86.97
3
Illinois
![Open country road in rural Illinois as the sun sets](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/lasalle-illinois.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.51 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.016
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 67.4
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 0.3
Smelliness Score: 90.93
2
West Virginia
![buildings and church in the town of Harper's Ferry, West Virginia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/harpers-ferry-west-virginia.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 7.22 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0067
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 5.1
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: 10497.7
Smelliness Score: 93.8
1
Delaware
![a bridge over and water flowing into Silver Lake in Dover, Delaware](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/dover-delaware.jpg)
Methane emissions per capita: 0.45 tons
Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0399
Percentage of state occupied by cropland: 35.1
Natural gas plant liquid production per capita: N/A
Smelliness Score: 99.91