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This Is the Stingiest State in America

While many places are generous, one state is a serious penny-pincher.

piggy bank
Shutterstock

Good news, America: The U.S. is the most generous country in the world, according to the Charity Aid Foundation’s World Giving Index. The report interviewed residents of 128 countries over 10 years, tracking which nations’ inhabitants were most likely to help a stranger in need, donate money to charity, or volunteer their time. While that’s lovely, we got curious about the opposite. If the U.S. as a whole is generous, which state is the stingiest?


For our calculations, we took “stingy” to mean miserly in a purely monetary sense, and focused our efforts on data that just reflects financial decisions. We first analyzed the Fraser Institute’s Generosity Index, which ranked American states and Canadian provinces by their tax-declared donations to charity per capita, and the size of these donations. We then added data from TSheets’ survey of 10,400 tipped workers across the country to determine which state was the best tipper. Lastly, we averaged holiday spending data from TitleMax and 24/7 Wall St. and calculated that as a percentage of disposable income per capita (using income data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis). All of these metrics measure positive financial spending, of course, so we ranked them in reverse order to make the Stingy Index.

What did we discover? The stingiest state of all was notable due to its relatively high disposable income, coupled with low rates of charity donation. Read on to find out how all the states rank, from the most generous to the stingiest, and for more places where your dollar isn't strong, check out This Is the State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.

Read the original article on Best Life.

50 | Utah

a field of pink, orange, and purple wildflowers and mountains in Alta, UtahShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 8.8

Average tip: 16.49 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.18

Stingy Index: 0

49 | Connecticut

landscape photo of Shelton, Connecticut in the morningShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 6.8

Average tip: 18.58 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.74

Stingy Index: 9.25

48 | New Jersey

city skyline and the Passaic River in Newark, New JerseyShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 6.3

Average tip: 18.65 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.88

Stingy Index: 12.21

And for more about states that have a bad reputation, This Is the Most Hated State in America.

47 | Georgia

GeorgiaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 7.5

Average tip: 16.73 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.21

Stingy Index: 15.15

46 | Maryland

city skyline and Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland in the afternoonShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 7.7

Average tip: 16.92 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.87

Stingy Index: 17.73

45 | Virginia

city skyline and river in downtown Charleston, West Virginia at duskShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 6.1

Average tip: 17.98

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.94

Stingy Index: 24.04

44 | Delaware

city skyline and Christiana River in Wilmington, DelawareShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.9

Average tip: 18.44 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.36

Stingy Index: 24.7

43 | Maine

Lighthouse in Portland, Maine during the eveningShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.2

Average tip: 19.36 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.69

Stingy Index: 28.24

42 | Rhode Island

downtown east greenwich rhode-islandShutterstock

 

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.5

Average tip: 19.09 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.03

Stingy Index: 28.95

41 | Massachusetts

the Boston Harbor in Boston, Massachusetts at duskShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.9

Average tip: 17.96 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.84

Stingy Index: 29.86

40 | Florida

aerial view of stuart, floridaNoah Densmore / Shutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.7

Average tip: 18.21 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.33

Stingy Index: 31.96

39 | Minnesota

Minnesotaf11photo / Shutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 33.38

Average tip: 17.57 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.12

Stingy Index: 33.38

38 | Alabama

huntsville alabama cityscapeShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.6

Average tip: 16.62 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.43

Stingy Index: 40.19

37 | Mississippi

Lamar Life Building in Jackson, Mississippi in the afternoonShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.7

Average tip: 17.31 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.54

Stingy Index: 40.41

36 | Arizona

ArizonaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.8

Average tip: 17.49 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.36

Stingy Index: 40.73

And for the states where you'd have financial success, check out This Is the State Where You Can Make the Most Money.

35 | Michigan

waterfall, green trees, and rocks in Marquette, MichiganShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.3

Average tip: 18.03 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.27

Stingy Index: 42.2

34 | Colorado

tall beige rocks and green trees at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, ColoradoShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.2

Average tip: 17.7 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.87

Stingy Index: 43.72

33 | New York

city skyline and skyscrapers along the Hudson River in New York, New York at sunsetShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 6

Average tip: 17.14 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.72

Stingy Index: 43.73

32 | Vermont

Church Street in Burlington, Vermont at night.iStock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.4

Average tip: 18.32 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.54

Stingy Index: 44.79

31 | New Hampshire

townscape photo of Portsmouth, New Hampshire at sunsetShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.9

Average tip: 17.89 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.45

Stingy Index: 46.04

30 | South Carolina

downtown area of Charleston, South Carolina in the afternoonShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.2

Average tip: 16.87 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.23

Stingy Index: 47.33

29 | Illinois

IllinoisShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5

Average tip: 17.52 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.95

Stingy Index: 47.44

And for more on how to manage your finances in your state, check out This Is the Cheapest State in America.

28 | Arkansas

green trees and Hamilton Lake at sunset in Garland County, ArkansasShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.4

Average tip: 16.37 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.39

Stingy Index: 47.96

27 | Idaho

boise idahoShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.2

Average tip: 16.51 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.38

Stingy Index: 47.96

26 | Missouri

city skyline and Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MissouriShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.4

Average tip: 17.31 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.34

Stingy Index: 49.98

25 | California

pedestrians walking across the street on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California at duskShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.7

Average tip: 16.66 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.72

Stingy Index: 55.58

24 | Nevada

red rocks and a butte at Red Rock Canyon in Clark County, NevadaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.4

Average tip: 16.76 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.43

Stingy Index: 56.31

23 | Iowa

Des Moines River, Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Van Buren County, IowaClint Farlinger / Alamy

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.5

Average tip: 17.11 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.14

Stingy Index: 56.6

22 | Texas

city skyline on the Colorado River in Austin, Texas at duskShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.4

Average tip: 17.33 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.97

Stingy Index: 58.84

21 | Oregon

city skyline of and the Willamette River in Portland, OregonShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.7

Average tip: 15.63 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.19

Stingy Index: 59.65

20 | Kentucky

cityscape photo of Frankfort, Kentucky at duskShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4

Average tip: 16.95 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.39

Stingy Index: 60.42

19 | North Carolina

skyline of downtown charlotte north carolinaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 5.1

Average tip: 16.08 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.25

Stingy Index: 60.54

18 | Kansas

cityscape photo of Wichita, Kansas at duskShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.4

Average tip: 16.21 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.92

Stingy Index: 61.95

17 | Nebraska

aerial view of the lied lodge at arbor day farmArbor Day Farm

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.6

Average tip: 16.49 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.17

Stingy Index: 63.73

16 | Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA downtown cityscape on the White River at dusk.iStock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.5

Average tip: 17.5 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.17

Stingy Index: 65.03

15 | Ohio

autumn trees and the Roadway Bridge over the Little Miami River in OhioShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.7

Average tip: 17.38 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.08

Stingy Index: 66.02

And for more about states that aren't so nice, This Is the Unfriendliest State in the U.S.

14 | Hawaii

HawaiiShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.1

Average tip: 16.61 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.24

Stingy Index: 67.85

13 | Montana

landscape photo of Glacier National Park, Montana in the afternoonShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.5

Average tip: 15.53 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.59

Stingy Index: 69.49

12 | Pennsylvania

Autumn Morning View of the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge Spanning the Delaware River , New Hope, PennsylvaniaGeorge Oze / Alamy

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.2

Average tip: 16.8 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.97

Stingy Index: 70.04

11 | Wisconsin

WisconsinShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.5

Average tip: 16.18 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.16

Stingy Index: 70.22

10 | Washington

The Autumn Seattle Skyline Sunset.iStock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.9

Average tip: 16.23 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.78

Stingy Index: 72.93

9 | Oklahoma

tulsa oklahomaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.2

Average tip: 16.45 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.04

Stingy Index: 72.93

8 | Louisiana

skyline of shreveport louisianaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.7

Average tip: 16.61 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.18

Stingy Index: 73.73

7 | Tennessee

Nashville Tennessee SkylineShutterstock/f11photo

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.8

Average tip: 16.38 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.22

Stingy Index: 76.31

6 | South Dakota

rapid city south dakotaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.4

Average tip: 16.53 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.29

Stingy Index: 78.34

5 | New Mexico

cityscape photo of Santa Fe, New Mexico at duskShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 3.2

Average tip: 16.54 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.36

Stingy Index: 79.38

4 | Wyoming

Casper is a city in and the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States. Casper is the second largest city in the stateiStock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 4.4

Average tip: 16.91 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.97

Stingy Index: 80.59

3 | West Virginia

city skyline and river in downtown Charleston, West Virginia at duskShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 1.8

Average tip: 17.24 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.45

Stingy Index: 87.65

2 | North Dakota

North DakotaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 2.6

Average tip: 16.26 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.34

Stingy Index: 93.29

And if you want to discover some more state facts, sign up for ours newsletter.

1 | Alaska

purple flowers and mountain in Valdez, AlaskaShutterstock

Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 2.5

Average tip: 16.71 percent

Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 1.85

Stingy Index: 100

And for more on states that can be unpleasant, This Is the Rudest State in America.

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