This State Has the Worst Hygiene in America, According to Data

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, hygiene has been discussed and dissected like never before. Hand sanitizer, face masks, and disinfecting your cell phone all became part of our everyday routines. But hygiene is so much more than just singing "happy birthday" twice while scrubbing your hands. Since the topic matters more than ever these days, we crunched the numbers to find out which state has the worst hygiene in America, from their hands to their teeth.

To reach a conclusion, we first looked at the number of people wearing a mask in every state according to COVIDcast (data as of Feb. 14, 2021). This provides a sense of how many people are following what's become a fairly basic hygiene measure. Then, we examined the most recent data on the percentage of hospitals in each state that met all of The Leapfrog Group's hand-hygiene protocols*. Finally, we factored in WalletHub's dental health index. The outlet used a number of data points—like the percentage of adolescents and adults who visited the dentist in the last year—to score states based on how well residents take care of their teeth, a key hygienic marker. WalletHub gave each state a score on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the best dental health and 0 indicating the worst.

Metrics on the number of showers taken per day per state or the number of cleaning products bought per state were unavailable, meaning our figures relied more on public health data. It's worth noting that this could mean that less wealthy states, or those with worse-funded public healthcare, rank as "less hygienic."

Based on the data available, we gave each metric a weighted value before running them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our 100-point scale Unhygienic Index. Overall, our results show that states in the Northeast are generally more hygienic, while states in the South and West seemed t0 struggle more when hygiene. Read on to discover the state with the worst hygiene in America, and to find out where yours falls on the list. And to learn more about the most unsafe places in the country, check out This Is the Most Dangerous City in America.

Editor's note: For some states, hand-hygiene hospital data was not available. In those cases, you'll see an "N/A." We adjusted the algorithm to ensure that each state was scored fairly and accurately.

People wearing masks in public: 98.14 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 72.38

Unhygienic Index Score: 0.00

People wearing masks in public: 96.4 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 94 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 65.47

Unhygienic Index Score: 13.40

People wearing masks in public: 97.69 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 81 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 68.02

Unhygienic Index Score: 17.21

People wearing masks in public: 95.34 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 100 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 59.44

Unhygienic Index Score: 17.44

People wearing masks in public: 98.33 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 58.53

Unhygienic Index Score: 19.00

People wearing masks in public: 94.61 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 78 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 74.93

Unhygienic Index Score: 20.08

People wearing masks in public: 96.41 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 83 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 61.51

Unhygienic Index Score: 24.99

People wearing masks in public: 97.23 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 56.68

Unhygienic Index Score: 25.53

People wearing masks in public: 94.34 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 70 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 74.12

Unhygienic Index Score: 27.15

People wearing masks in public: 93.07 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 76 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 70.35

Unhygienic Index Score: 29.48

People wearing masks in public: 95.41 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 83 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 57.69

Unhygienic Index Score: 30.97

People wearing masks in public: 97.12 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 71 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 62.38

Unhygienic Index Score: 30.98

People wearing masks in public: 94.31 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 57.66

Unhygienic Index Score: 34.51

People wearing masks in public: 93.50 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 93 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 50.04

Unhygienic Index Score: 35.66

People wearing masks in public: 90.06 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 88 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 60.44

Unhygienic Index Score: 37.49

People wearing masks in public: 93.20 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 71 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 64.20

Unhygienic Index Score: 38.53

People wearing masks in public: 94.85 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 67 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 62.05

Unhygienic Index Score: 39.50

People wearing masks in public: 90.60 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 63.04

Unhygienic Index Score: 40.04

People wearing masks in public: 96.07 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 77 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 50.51

Unhygienic Index Score: 40.46

People wearing masks in public: 92.48 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 56.92

Unhygienic Index Score: 42.06

People wearing masks in public: 89.38 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 87 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 58.01

Unhygienic Index Score: 42.11

People wearing masks in public: 97.20 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 67 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 53.25

Unhygienic Index Score: 42.27

And for the place where you won't find too many friendly faces, This Is the Most Hateful State in America.

People wearing masks in public: 92.77 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 78 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 54.32

Unhygienic Index Score: 43.95

People wearing masks in public: 95.86 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 77 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 45.26

Unhygienic Index Score: 45.89

And for the state that's the dirtiest in a very different way, This Is the Most Corrupt State in America.

People wearing masks in public: 90.16 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 93 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 45.26

Unhygienic Index Score: 48.08

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People wearing masks in public: 93.99 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 70 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 52.80

Unhygienic Index Score: 48.17

People wearing masks in public: 83.38 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 83 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 68.41

Unhygienic Index Score: 49.30

People wearing masks in public: 87.80 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 79 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 59.75

Unhygienic Index Score: 49.87

People wearing masks in public: 91.54 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 45 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 74.95

Unhygienic Index Score: 50.69

People wearing masks in public: 93.93 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 67 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 51.60

Unhygienic Index Score: 51.57

People wearing masks in public: 88.78 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 86 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 49.98

Unhygienic Index Score: 51.84

People wearing masks in public: 93.65 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 81 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 41.11

Unhygienic Index Score: 52.25

And for the place where you should always be aware of your surroundings, This Is the Most Dangerous State in America.

People wearing masks in public: 88.89 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 90 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 45.90

Unhygienic Index Score: 52.61

People wearing masks in public: 92.77 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 68 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 51.82

Unhygienic Index Score: 53.40

People wearing masks in public: 87.79 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 60.05

Unhygienic Index Score: 54.27

People wearing masks in public: 93.03 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 72 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 46.78

Unhygienic Index Score: 54.73

People wearing masks in public: 94.27 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 50 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 59.38

Unhygienic Index Score: 55.43

People wearing masks in public: 93.30 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 71 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 45.39

Unhygienic Index Score: 56.11

People wearing masks in public: 82.84 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 70.65

Unhygienic Index Score: 56.79

People wearing masks in public: 89.06 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 81 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 40.63

Unhygienic Index Score: 63.57

People wearing masks in public: 89.62 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 59 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 54.14

Unhygienic Index Score: 65.03

People wearing masks in public: 93.50 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 50 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 49.89

Unhygienic Index Score: 66.24

People wearing masks in public: 94.13 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 34.89

Unhygienic Index Score: 67.50

People wearing masks in public: 81.58 percentae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 61.52

Unhygienic Index Score: 74.23

People wearing masks in public: 81.58 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 34.89

Unhygienic Index Score: 67.50

People wearing masks in public: 89.20 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 75 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 33.08

Unhygienic Index Score: 74.64

People wearing masks in public: 88.85 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 60 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 40.88

Unhygienic Index Score: 78.70

People wearing masks in public: 88.25 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 41.19

Unhygienic Index Score: 79.43

People wearing masks in public: 83.09 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: 44 percent

Dental health rating (out of 100): 47.25

Unhygienic Index Score: 97.64

People wearing masks in public: 83.38 percent

Hospitals meeting hand-hygiene guidelines: N/A

Dental health rating (out of 100): 38.88

Unhygienic Index Score: 100.00

And for the place that's a little wild behind the wheel, This State Has the Worst Drivers in America.