This Is the Ugliest State in the U.S.
America may be beautiful, but one place stands out as an eyesore.
![downtown east greenwich rhode-island](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/east-greenwich-road-island.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&resize=640%2C360)
"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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/glacier-bay.jpg)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/kauapea-beach-kauai-hawaii.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/connecticut-lighthouse.jpg)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/california-state-.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/portland-maine.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/hah-rainforest-washington.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/yellowstone-national-park-wyoming.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/silver-glen-springs-florida.jpg)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/bryce-canyon-utah.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/badlands-national-park-south-dakota.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/montpelier-vermont-skyline-no-coronavirus-deaths.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/sunrise-on-autumn-river-northern-minnesota.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/az.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/berkshires-massachusetts.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/lake-ellen-wilson-montana.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/wi.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/international-rose-test-garden-portland-oregon.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/sleeping-bear-dunes-national-lakeshore-michigan.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/idaho.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/aspen-colorado.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/valley-of-fire-nevada.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/kancamagus-highway-new-hampshire.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/chimayo-new-mexico.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/06/sandhills-nebraska.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/gatlinburg-tennessee.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/univ_north_dakota.jpg)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/ha-ha-tonka-state-park-missouri.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/shutterstock_530804032.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/newark-new-jersey-skyline-travel-advisory-covid.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/Keosauqua-Iowa.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/06/new-rochelle-new-york.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/kansas-face-mask.jpg)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/little-rock-arkansas.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/shutterstock_1176466597.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Houston-Texas-skyline.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_180353402.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_555820978.jpg)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/wheeling-west-virginia.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/shutterstock_1139213159.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/alabama.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/va.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/lasalle-illinois.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/georgia.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/downtown-baton-rouge-louisiana-coronavirus-drop.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/06/gallipolis-ohio-1.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/09/Wilkes-Barre-Pennsylvania.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/08/transamerica-tower-baltimore-maryland.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/chesterton-indiana.jpg)
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](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/delaware-state.jpg)
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.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/view-of-downtown-providence-rhode-island-coroanvirus-travel-list.jpg)
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.