This Is the Stingiest State in America
While many places are generous, one state is a serious penny-pincher.
![piggy bank](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/piggy-bank.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&resize=640%2C360)
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, Utah](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/alta-utah.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 morning](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/shelton-connecticut.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 Jersey](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Newark-New-Jersey.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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
![Georgia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/georgia.jpg)
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 afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Annapolis-Maryland.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/charleston-west-virginia.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Delaware](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/wilmington-delaware.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 evening](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Portland-Maine.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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-island](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/east-greenwich-road-island.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/boston-massachusetts.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, florida](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/stuart-florida-beach.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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
![Minnesota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/minne.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 cityscape](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/hunstville-alabama.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/jackson-mississippi.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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
![Arizona](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/az.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Michigan](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/marquette-michigan.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Colorado](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/colorado-springs-colorado.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 sunset](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/new-york-new-york.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/burlington-vermont-church-street-coronavirus-success.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 sunset](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Portsmouth-New-Hampshire.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/charleston-south-carolina.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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
![Illinois](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/illinois.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Arkansas](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/arkansas-garland-county.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 idaho](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_1207965919.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Missouri](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/st.louis-missouri.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/los-angeles-california.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Nevada](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/clark-county-nevada.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Iowa](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/Keosauqua-Iowa.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/austin-texas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Oregon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/portland-oregon.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Frankfort-Kentucky.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 carolina](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/shutterstock_1158438217.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/wichita-kansas.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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
![Arbor Day Farm](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/lied-lodge-arbor-day-farm-nebraska.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/indiana-state.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 Ohio](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/little-miami-river-ohio.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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
![Hawaii](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/hi.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 afternoon](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/glacier-national-park-montana.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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, Pennsylvania](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/new-hope-pennsylvania.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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
![Wisconsin](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/wisconsin.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/seattle-in-autumn-.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 oklahoma](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/shutterstock_1176466597.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 louisiana](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/shutterstock_1103704448.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 Skyline](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Nashville-Tennessee-skyline.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dakota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/shutterstock_216768802.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/Santa-Fe-New-Mexico.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 state](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/wyoming-state-rural.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 dusk](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/charleston-west-virginia.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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 Dakota](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/dakota.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Fraser Institute Generosity Index: 2.6
Average tip: 16.26 percent
Holiday spending as percentage of disposable income: 2.34
Stingy Index: 93.29
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1
Alaska
![purple flowers and mountain in Valdez, Alaska](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/valdez-alaska.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
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.