Most Hated States in the US 2025

Illinois
1
New Jersey
2
New York
3
West Virginia
4
California
5
Massachusetts
6
Michigan
7
Mississippi
8
Kentucky
9
Connecticut
9
Louisiana
11
Ohio
12
Alabama
13
Alaska
14
Maryland
15
Rhode Island
16
Hawaii
17
New Mexico
18
Kansas
18
Vermont
20
Oklahoma
20
Virginia
22
Missouri
23
Pennsylvania
24
Nebraska
24
South Dakota
26
South Carolina
27
Florida
27
Arkansas
29
Iowa
30
Wisconsin
31
Indiana
31
Tennessee
33
North Dakota
34
North Carolina
35
Nevada
36
Texas
37
Oregon
38
Delaware
39
Georgia
40
Wyoming
41
Arizona
41
Washington
43
New Hampshire
44
Maine
44
Minnesota
46
Idaho
47
Montana
48
Utah
49
Colorado
50
State
Most Hated Rank
Additional Hated States Details
Illinois Flag
Illinois1Illinois is one of the fastest shrinking states in the US in terms of population, and has experienced a 0.54% (more than half a percent) decrease in population in recent years. Although only one other state hates Illinois the most, 25% of Illinoisans say their state is the worst in the nation. This negativity could be partially attributed to animosity between politically liberal Chicago and the heavily conservative rural portions that make up the rest of the state.
New Jersey Flag
New Jersey2Five other states report hating New Jersey the most. 10% of its residents call it the worst state, and its population recently experienced a 0.3% decline.
New York Flag
New York312% of New Yorkers say it’s the worst state to live, and 0.45% have moved out of state in recent years. Massachusetts hates New York more than any other state.
West Virginia Flag
West Virginia4West Virginia has lost 0.76% of its residents in recent years, with many moving to Ohio or Virginia. 6% of its remaining residents say it is the worst state.
California Flag
California5Nine other states hate California, and 6% of Californians feel they live in the worst state. California has experienced population decline of 0.11% in recent years.
Massachusetts Flag
Massachusetts66% of residents of Massachusetts, which recently experienced 0.14% population decline and is hated by 4 other states, believe it is the worst state.
Michigan Flag
Michigan79% of Michiganders say it is the worst state in which to live. Michigan is hated by one other state and has experienced population decline of 0.09% in recent years.
Mississippi Flag
Mississippi8
Connecticut Flag
Connecticut9No states hate Connecticut the most, but 17% of the state's own residents consider it the worst state in which to live. The state's population has declined by 0.21% in recent years.
Kentucky Flag
Kentucky96% of people in Kentucky, which is hated by Tennessee and Indiana, feel it is the worst state.
Louisiana Flag
Louisiana11
Ohio Flag
Ohio12
Alabama Flag
Alabama13
Alaska Flag
Alaska14
Maryland Flag
Maryland15
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode Island16
Hawaii Flag
Hawaii17
Kansas Flag
Kansas18
New Mexico Flag
New Mexico18
Oklahoma Flag
Oklahoma20
Vermont Flag
Vermont20
Virginia Flag
Virginia22
Missouri Flag
Missouri23
Nebraska Flag
Nebraska24
Pennsylvania Flag
Pennsylvania24
South Dakota Flag
South Dakota26
Florida Flag
Florida27
South Carolina Flag
South Carolina27
Arkansas Flag
Arkansas29
Iowa Flag
Iowa30
Indiana Flag
Indiana31
Wisconsin Flag
Wisconsin31
Tennessee Flag
Tennessee33
North Dakota Flag
North Dakota34
North Carolina Flag
North Carolina35
Nevada Flag
Nevada36
Texas Flag
Texas37
Oregon Flag
Oregon38
Delaware Flag
Delaware39
Georgia Flag
Georgia40
Arizona Flag
Arizona41
Wyoming Flag
Wyoming41
Washington Flag
Washington43
Maine Flag
Maine44
New Hampshire Flag
New Hampshire44
Minnesota Flag
Minnesota46
Idaho Flag
Idaho47
Montana Flag
Montana48
Utah Flag
Utah49
Colorado Flag
Colorado50Colorado was not hated by any other state.
  • “Most Hated” rankings were determined in 2022 by compiling three indicators:
      1. The percentage of each state’s own residents who believe their state is the worst.
      1. The number of other states that hate each state the most.
      1. Each state’s population decline, the logic being that population decline reflects the flow of residents moving to another state.
  • Population decline for each state was calculated by comparing the two most recent years for which population data was available.
  • Connecticut and Kentucky tied for 9th-most-hated. To accommodate the tie, no state was awarded 10th place.