The Most Stressed States in America in 2022

Stress levels have been high across the United States, but overall stress levels have not been uniform across the country, as certain states worry more than others about certain issues. How does your state measure up?

A recent survey compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across four key dimensions: work-related stress, money-related stress, family-related stress, and health- and safety-related stress. Researchers evaluated those dimensions using 41 relevant metrics, each of which were graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of stress.

Each state’s weighted average was determined across all metrics to calculate its overall score. The results in their entirety can be found here. Highlights from the survey’s metrics are below.  

The overall most stressed states were:

1. Louisiana
2. Nevada
3. New Mexico
4. West Virginia
5. Mississippi

Most average hours worked per week:

1. Alaska, North Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming (T-1)
2. Louisiana, Oklahoma, and South Dakota (T-5)

Fewest average hours of sleep per night:

1. Hawaii
2. West Virginia
3. Kentucky
4. Tennessee
5. Ohio

Highest percentage of adults in fair/poor health:

1. West Virginia
2. Kentucky
3. Arkansas
4. Louisiana
5. Alabama

Lowest job security:

1. Vermont
2. Maryland
3. Connecticut
4. Minnesota
5. Virginia

Lowest credit score:

1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. Alabama
4. Oklahoma
5. Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, and South Carolina (T-5)

Least affordable housing:

1. Hawaii
2. California
3. New York
4. Oregon
5. Massachusetts

Highest percentage of the population living in poverty:

1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. New Mexico
4. West Virginia
5. Kentucky

Highest divorce rate:

1. Nevada
2. New Mexico
3. Florida
4. Louisiana
5. Mississippi

Highest crime rate per capita:

1. Louisiana
2. New Mexico
3. Arkansas
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina