This Is the Ugliest State in the U.S.

America may be beautiful, but one place stands out as an eyesore.

"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

Photo of scenic and wildlife viewing tour in Glacier Bay, Alaska.
iStock

Percentage 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

Secret beach also known as Kauapea beach is a stunning trail only accessible beach on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
iStock/jimkruger

Percentage 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

lighthouse with a sailboat behind it
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Drone shot of a woman walking down a street toward Downtown Los Angeles.
iStock

Percentage 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

beautiful lighthouse during sunset in portland Maine
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

hah rainforest inside the olympic national park
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

madison river viewpoint yellowstone national park
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

crystal clear water of silver glen springs in florida
Allison Michael / Shutterstock

Percentage 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

The sun rising above Thor's Hammer at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.
iStock

Percentage 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

overview of the badlands national park
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

The skyline of Montpelier, Vermont in autumn with brick buildings and a church steeple
iStock

Percentage 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

river in minnesota
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Arizona
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Autumn fog in the village of Tyringham in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts
DenisTangneyJr / iStock

Percentage 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

lake ellen wilson in montana
Shutterstock/Danita Delmont

Percentage 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

Wisconsin
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

red, pink, orange, and yellow roses with a forest in the background
Nagel Photography / Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
pawel.gaul / iStock

Percentage 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

Idaho
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Aspen snowy mountain range overview
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

famous firewave valley of fire
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

sunset over the peaks of a mountain in autumn
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

pilgrimage site in chimayo new mexico
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

sandhills nebraska
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

aerial view of gatlinburg tennessee
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

university of north dakota
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Aerial photo of Ha Ha Tonka State Park at the Lake of the Ozarks, MO.
iStock/Eifel Kreutz

Percentage 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

greensboro north carolina skyline
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

The skyline of Newark, New Jersey as shot from the Passaic River with a rail bridge on the left of the frame
iStock

Percentage 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

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

Percentage 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

new rochelle new york
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

springtime view in downtown Topeka, Kansas, USA
iStock

Percentage 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

Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas.
iStock

Percentage 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

tulsa oklahoma
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Houston Texas skyline
Shutterstock/Iktotchi

Percentage 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

lexington kentucky
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

downtown jackson mississippi
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Housing Congestion. Wheeling, West Virginia. Compressed houses in the foreground.
iStock

Percentage 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

downtown columbia south carolina
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

bridge in glensdale alabama
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Virginia
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Open country road in rural Illinois as the sun sets
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Georgia
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

An aerial photo of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana with the Mississippi River in view
iStock

Percentage 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

gallipolis aerial view
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Mira / Alamy

Percentage 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

transamerica tower baltimore maryland
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

The amphitheatre and Phlips Pond at Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve in Chesterton Indiana
Shutterstock

Percentage 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

Saturated early morning light hits the buildings and architecture of downtown Wilmington Delaware
iStock

Percentage 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

A view of downtown Providence, Rhode Island on a sunny day.
iStock

Percentage 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.

Alex Daniel
A journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. Read more
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