"America the Beautiful” is a nickname that has stuck around for a reason. The United States has an array of stunning landscapes, from the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains to the windswept coasts. However, not every place can be postcard-perfect. Unfortunately, some states didn’t get as lucky in the looks department and lack the natural beauty that others were blessed with. That’s why we’ve crunched the numbers to find out which state is officially the ugliest.
We first gauged how gorgeous the 50 states are based on how much land in each state is dedicated to national and state parks. While some states had hundreds of pristine parks, others had very few. The park acreage was compared to the total acreage of the state to come up with our first ugliness indicator: The lower the percentage of parkland, the worse the state was ranked in terms of looks. Then, we used Wallethub’s greenest states ranking to factor in the air and water quality as well as how eco-friendly the average household is in each state. To balance those picturesque traits out, we pulled data from the Environmental Protection Agency's Landfill Methane Outreach Program to see how much space in each state contains landfills and how many tons of trash is produced per capita in every state.
After compiling the metrics into a custom algorithm, we created a final score to set the record straight on which states embody those "purple mountain majesties" and which states are just plain ugly. And we're sorry to say, some Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic states didn't fare so well.
The state that was deemed the ugliest, however, might not seem like the first place that would come to mind when you think “ugly." Though it does have a solid score on its air and water quality, it's covered with landfills, has a relatively high production of trash, and low coverage of national and state parks, making it the not-so-fairest of them all. To see where your home state stacks up in our ranking from the prettiest to the most hideous states, read on, and for more places people dislike, check out The Most Hated State in America.
50 | Alaska
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 9.1 percent
WalletHub green score: 49.41
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 30.1 tons
Ugly Score: 0.13
And for more areas that aren't pretty or clean, This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S.
49 | Hawaii
iStock/jimkrugerPercentage of the state that is parkland: 9.41 percent
WalletHub green score: 62.4
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.006 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 28.6 tons
Ugly Score: 0.77
48 | Connecticut
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 7.41 percent
WalletHub green score: 73.89
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0111 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 8.7 tons
Ugly Score: 0.81
And for more places you may want to avoid for the moment, This Is the Worst State to Live in Right Now.
47 | California
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 7.49 percent
WalletHub green score: 69.4
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0153 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 47.8 tons
Ugly Score: 2.50
46 | Maine
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 3.59 percent
WalletHub green score: 66.73
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0013 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 21.9 tons
Ugly Score: 4.98
45 | Washington
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 3.93 percent
WalletHub green score: 65.77
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0038 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 28.3 tons
Ugly Score: 5.42
44 | Wyoming
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 4.09 percent
WalletHub green score: 36.91
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0004 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 16.6 tons
Ugly Score: 8.76
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43 | Florida
Allison Michael / ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 6.63 percent
WalletHub green score: 50.15
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0166 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 25.1 tons
Ugly Score: 11.43
42 | Utah
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.8 percent
WalletHub green score: 53.27
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0019 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 27.8 tons
Ugly Score: 16.75
41 | South Dakota
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.77 percent
WalletHub green score: 68.45
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0007 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 21.4 tons
Ugly Score: 17.67
40 | Vermont
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.84 percent
WalletHub green score: 76.35
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0026 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 21.8 tons
Ugly Score: 17.70
39 | Minnesota
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.89 percent
WalletHub green score: 73.13
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0028 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 16.7 tons
Ugly Score: 17.98
38 | Arizona
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 2.16 percent
WalletHub green score: 54.33
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0038 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 33.9 tons
Ugly Score: 18.41
37 | Massachusetts
DenisTangneyJr / iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 4.23 percent
WalletHub green score: 72.53
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0205 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 16.2 tons
Ugly Score: 21.55
36 | Montana
Shutterstock/Danita DelmontPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.2 percent
WalletHub green score: 52.44
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0004 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 26 tons
Ugly Score: 21.71
35 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.95 percent
WalletHub green score: 67.79
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0058 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 47 tons
Ugly Score: 23.97
34 | Oregon
Nagel Photography / ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.46 percent
WalletHub green score: 75.24
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0019 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 37 tons
Ugly Score: 27.51
33 | Michigan
pawel.gaul / iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 2.23 percent
WalletHub green score: 63.65
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0079 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 62.4 tons
Ugly Score: 34.20
32 | Idaho
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.16 percent
WalletHub green score: 58.48
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0008 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 19.7 tons
Ugly Score: 34.25
31 | Colorado
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.02 percent
WalletHub green score: 59.57
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0039 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 44.6 tons
Ugly Score: 37.82
30 | Nevada
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.3 percent
WalletHub green score: 65.63
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0016 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 45.7 tons
Ugly Score: 38.48
29 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.35 percent
WalletHub green score: 67.79
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0079 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 40.9 tons
Ugly Score: 38.94
28 | New Mexico
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.18 percent
WalletHub green score: 51.18
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0013 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 33.3 tons
Ugly Score: 44.98
27 | Nebraska
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.31 percent
WalletHub green score: 50.53
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0016 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 37.6 tons
Ugly Score: 45.68
26 | Tennessee
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.68 percent
WalletHub green score: 54.71
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0095 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 36.8 tons
Ugly Score: 46.13
25 | North Dakota
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.21 percent
WalletHub green score: 37.9
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0007 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 20.3 tons
Ugly Score: 47.00
24 | Missouri
iStock/Eifel KreutzPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.34 percent
WalletHub green score: 57.94
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0046 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 30.1 tons
Ugly Score: 47.74
23 | North Carolina
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.45 percent
WalletHub green score: 60.32
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0119 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 27.5 tons
Ugly Score: 51.12
22 | New Jersey
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 7.28 percent
WalletHub green score: 65.25
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0421 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 29 tons
Ugly Score: 51.83
21 | Iowa
Clint Farlinger / AlamyPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.21 percent
WalletHub green score: 52.88
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0045 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 27.4 tons
Ugly Score: 52.05
20 | New York
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.09 percent
WalletHub green score: 75.49
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0146 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 24.5 tons
Ugly Score: 55.01
19 | Kansas
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.06 percent
WalletHub green score: 50.36
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0032 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 40.6 tons
Ugly Score: 56.29
18 | Arkansas
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.18 percent
WalletHub green score: 40.09
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0035 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 26 tons
Ugly Score: 57.27
17 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.13 percent
WalletHub green score: 42.8
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0034 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 34.4 tons
Ugly Score: 58.77
16 | Texas
Shutterstock/IktotchiPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.95 percent
WalletHub green score: 46.67
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0083 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 36.7 tons
Ugly Score: 59.62
15 | Kentucky
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.72 percent
WalletHub green score: 32.23
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0086 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 43.9 tons
Ugly Score: 59.81
14 | Mississippi
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.07 percent
WalletHub green score: 42.69
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0035 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 35.3 tons
Ugly Score: 60.47
13 | West Virginia
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.95 percent
WalletHub green score: 28.77
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0067 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 29.9 tons
Ugly Score: 63.95
12 | South Carolina
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.53 percent
WalletHub green score: 57.39
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0105 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 32.6 tons
Ugly Score: 65.44
11 | Alabama
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.14 percent
WalletHub green score: 39.99
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0058 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 37.7 tons
Ugly Score: 69.57
10 | Virginia
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.98 percent
WalletHub green score: 55.22
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0136 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 40.3 tons
Ugly Score: 72.29
9 | Illinois
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.39 percent
WalletHub green score: 59.51
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.016 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 52.4 tons
Ugly Score: 74.63
8 | Georgia
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.23 percent
WalletHub green score: 53.89
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0122 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 33.7 tons
Ugly Score: 78.81
7 | Louisiana
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.1 percent
WalletHub green score: 23.96
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0072 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 38.7 tons
Ugly Score: 85.93
6 | Ohio
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.77 percent
WalletHub green score: 50.87
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0165 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 48.8 tons
Ugly Score: 91.19
5 | Pennsylvania
Mira / AlamyPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.02 percent
WalletHub green score: 58.08
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0191 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 52.3 tons
Ugly Score: 92.05
4 | Maryland
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.28 percent
WalletHub green score: 66.6
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0263 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 20.9 tons
Ugly Score: 95.57
3 | Indiana
ShutterstockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.81 percent
WalletHub green score: 49.18
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0174 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 56.1 tons
Ugly Score: 97.08
2 | Delaware
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 1.69 percent
WalletHub green score: 63.19
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0399 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 33.7 tons
Ugly Score: 98.61
1 | Rhode Island
iStockPercentage of the state that is parkland: 0.84 percent
WalletHub green score: 69
Percentage of the state that is a landfill: 0.0375 percent
Amount of trash per capita: 37.2 tons
Ugly Score: 99.07
And for the states that are ugly on the inside, find out which is The Unfriendliest State in the U.S.
