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These Are the Most and Least Stressed States in America—Which May Explain a Lot About How You’re Feeling Right Now!

We all have things we stress about. Some people are stressed about job security, while others worry more about health issues, their kids’ happiness or the new car they need but can’t quite afford. Some people worry about everything, and if you’ve ever been stressed, you know stress can be a slippery slope.

Americans currently rank their stress level at a 5 out of 10—which is similar to previous years—but according to the American Psychological Association’s 2024 Stress in America poll, 77% of adults reported stress about the future of our nation. Americans also cited U.S. politics (62%), health care (55%) and violence and crime (54%) as significant sources of stress.

The TL;DR is that if you’re not stressed about something in 2025, you’re in the minority and should consider yourself fortunate. Now, let’s take a look at the most and least stressed states in the country.

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How did the study determine each state’s stress level?

To determine each state’s stress level, WalletHub identified 40 metrics among four key dimensions: work-related stress, money-related stress, family-related stress and health- and safety-related stress. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the highest stress level. Because things like cost of living and housing affordability vary by state, adjustments were made to these and other categories, and WalletHub determined each state’s weighted score to rank each state.

Data is accurate as of Jan. 27, 2025, and came from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Council for Community and Economic Research, TransUnion, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Child Care Aware of America.

What is the most stressed U.S. state?

New Mexico boasts a stunning landscape, but despite that beauty, many of the state’s residents are struggling, and WalletHub ranked the Land of Enchantment as the most stressed state in the country. Read on to find out why.

Highest divorce and separation rate

New Mexico has the highest separation and divorce rate in the country and ranks third highest for households with a single parent. Caroline Fleck, PhD, a licensed psychologist, corporate consultant and adjunct professor at Stanford University, points out that single parents often feel isolated and are more likely to live in a constant state of fight or flight, which is when everyday stress tips into hanging-on-by-a-thread stress.

In addition, divorce often contributes to financial struggles, and New Mexico has the highest poverty rate in the country. Food insecurity in New Mexico is also higher than the national average. In some counties, more than 30% of children experience hunger on a regular basis.

Lowest credit scores

With all this poverty, it comes as no surprise that New Mexicans have some of the lowest median credit scores in the country, making it a challenge to secure reliable housing and transportation, which would stress anyone out.

“People can feel like they’re stuck in their situation,” Fleck says. “Based on our evolutionary design, we’ll experience this type of situation as profoundly stressful, especially since we’re sandwiched into the reality that we can’t protect against it, but we’re also stuck with it.”

High crime rate

With so much resource insecurity, it’s not shocking that New Mexico has some of the highest crime rates in the country. New Mexico has 749 violent crimes per 100,000 people and 2,887 property crimes per 100,000 people, putting it in the top spot per capita for both categories.

“After our physiological needs, the second level is safety,” Fleck explains. “As soon as crime prevails, you’re pretty much unable to prioritize anything other than trying to stay safe; it just takes precedence over everything else.”

What is the least stressed U.S. state?

There may be only one state physically separating New Mexico and Nebraska, but they’re worlds apart in many ways. WalletHub determined that Nebraska is the least-stressed state in the country. So what does life look like when your needs are met?

Strong work-life balance

Nebraska ranked lowest for work stress, which helped it nab the top spot for lowest stress overall. The state’s unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is low compared with the national average of 4.2%. Overall, the job market is considered robust. Nebraska does have a significant number of job openings due to the state’s labor shortage, which has been the case for nearly a decade.

Nebraskans report a healthy life-work balance. When you only have to work one job that pays well, you’re more likely to be able to prioritize taking care of yourself. “If you’re not trying to just muscle through life, you can spend time deepening relationships and building community,” Fleck says. Friendships are critical to beating loneliness, but we need time to make and sustain them.

Affordable housing

The heartland has affordable housing, and Nebraska is no exception, ranking 47th for affordable housing. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development reports that Nebraska’s cost of living is below the national average, not only for housing but also for utilities, which helps relieve some of that squeeze on the bank account.

Housing and utility costs in Nebraska are about 21% and 14% lower, respectively, than the U.S. average, and the Cornhusker State has been named the best state for the middle class and one of the most affordable states in which to raise a family.

Not having to stress about where you and your family will live—and if you can afford it—opens up opportunities to pursue hobbies, which are critical for overall well-being and more than just a way to pass the time.

Low health stress

Nebraska ranked high for most hours of sleep per night (47th), family-related stress (45th) and health and safety-related stress (48th). Overall, health stress is low in Nebraska, and this shows how, if stress is low in one area, it helps reduce stress throughout your life.

After all, you can’t get good sleep if you’re worried about work and housing, but because Nebraska ranks high in these areas, residents are sleeping tight and staying healthy.

“Sleep should not be considered a luxury,” Fleck says. “It is a basic need, and in the absence of it, people don’t do well in their day-to-day and don’t survive as long.”

How do the other states compare?

Here’s the entire list, from most stressed to least stressed.

  1. New Mexico
  2. Nevada
  3. Louisiana
  4. West Virginia
  5. Mississippi
  6. Tennessee
  7. Arkansas
  8. Alabama
  9. Florida
  10. Oregon
  11. Alaska
  12. Arizona
  13. Georgia
  14. Texas
  15. Oklahoma
  16. Washington
  17. California
  18. Kentucky
  19. North Carolina
  20. Colorado
  21. Montana
  22. Maine
  23. New York
  24. Michigan
  25. Indiana
  26. Delaware
  27. South Carolina
  28. Ohio
  29. Rhode Island
  30. Vermont
  31. Illinois
  32. Virginia
  33. Pennsylvania
  34. Kansas
  35. Idaho
  36. Maryland
  37. Wyoming
  38. Missouri
  39. New Jersey
  40. Utah
  41. Hawaii
  42. Connecticut
  43. North Dakota
  44. Wisconsin
  45. Massachusetts
  46. Iowa
  47. South Dakota
  48. New Hampshire
  49. Minnesota
  50. Nebraska

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About the expert

  • Caroline Fleck, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, corporate consultant and adjunct professor at Stanford University. She is also the author of Validation, where she explores validation’s unique ability to demonstrate acceptance while fostering change.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

Where You'll Get More Bang for Your Buck

The Most Livable Cities for Seniors

The Happiest Cities in America

The post These Are the Most and Least Stressed States in America—Which May Explain a Lot About How You’re Feeling Right Now! appeared first on Reader's Digest.



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