These Are the 10 Most Stressed Out States in America

Zippia

This story originally appeared on Stacker and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

These Are the 10 Most Stressed Out States in America

Stress affects our minds, behavior, and bodies. While sporadic moments of stress can serve as great motivators, enduring stressors can lead to depression and anxiety, as well as cause physical symptoms including chaotic sleep patterns, headaches, and high blood pressure. Our work lives, financial situations, relationships, and health can all serve as points of stress—as can where we choose to live.

To determine the most stressed states in the U.S., Zippia analyzed data from the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey for 2018 and chose a set of six criteria that reflect how anxious people are. These factors include long commute times, unemployment, hours worked, population density, home price-to-income ratios, and the percentage of the population that is uninsured. The higher any of these metrics, the more stressed residents are. Each state was ranked from one to 50 (with one being the most stressed out and 50 being the least) in the six individual criteria. Ranks were then averaged into one stressed-out score. The lower the score, the more stressed residents there are. Averages in data points on each slide represent numbers prior to COVID-19, which has affected virtually everyone's stress levels while also sending unemployment rates soaring and shrinking commuting times more Americans worked from home.

The top-10 most stressed states are below—keep reading to see if your home state made the list.

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#1. Florida

- Average commute (minutes): 27.4
- Unemployment rate: 3%
- Hours worked (weekly): 38.9

Florida, the place full of sunshine and oranges? You got it! The state that is known for attracting retired families? Definitely. A place to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ocean waves for hours every day? Maybe not. While many seniors in Florida are on Medicare, many others are struggling without health insurance. Florida is ranked the fourth least-uninsured state in America.

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#2. New Jersey

- Average commute (minutes): 31.7
- Unemployment rate: 3.2%
- Hours worked (weekly): 38.7

People in New Jersey work long hours, have long commutes times, and have a high home price to income ratio. If that wasn’t enough, New Jersey is also the most densely populated state—making it tough to get away from the crowds and unwind.

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#3. Texas

- Average commute (minutes): 26.4
- Unemployment rate: 3.1%
- Hours worked (weekly): 40

Texans work more hours than almost any other state. The state is also the least-insured in the country—a full 20.47% of adults in Texas are uninsured.

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#4. California

- Average commute (minutes): 29.3
- Unemployment rate: 3.5%
- Hours worked (weekly): 38.3

California ranks second in home price-to-income-ratio in the U.S. But it's more than the price of homes that has Californians stressed—it's the everyday costs, too. The 2020 Cost of Living Index found that an average city in the state has a 38% higher cost of living than other cities throughout the country.

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#5. Maryland

- Average commute (minutes): 32.9
- Unemployment rate: 3.3%
- Hours worked (weekly): 38.9

Many people who work in Washington D.C. commute from Maryland and Virginia, making average commute times significantly higher than elsewhere in the country. Maryland also has long workdays, high housing costs, and high population density around the D.C. metro area.

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#6. Georgia

- Average commute (minutes): 28.4
- Unemployment rate: 3%
- Hours worked (weekly): 39.4

Despite bustling urban centers, lush natural settings, and stunning coastlines, Georgians face a high uninsured rate, long commute, and low rates of higher education. Georgians also report higher rates of family and work-related stress.

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#7. Delaware

- Average commute (minutes): 25.8
- Unemployment rate: 3.5%
- Hours worked (weekly): 38.8

For a tiny state, Delawareans are big-time stressed. High population density (there are 494 Delawareans per square mile) is one indicator, as is a long work week. To its benefit, Delaware has among the lowest taxes anywhere in the U.S.—although that seems to have done little to reduce stress levels.

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#8. Virginia

- Average commute (minutes): 28.4
- Unemployment rate: 2.7%
- Hours worked (weekly): 39.2

Work-related stress is a big factor for a lot of professionals in Virginia. Like Maryland, many Virginians work over state lines in Washington D.C., leading to longer-than-average commute times and workweeks—not to mention a large number of high-stress jobs, particularly in the public sector.

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#9. Illinois

- Average commute (minutes): 29
- Unemployment rate: 3.6%
- Hours worked (weekly): 38.6

Chicagoans are generally more stressed than residents elsewhere in the state—understandable, considering a higher cost of living, faster pace, and higher population density. Throughout the state, people experience longer workweeks and some of the longest commute times in the country.

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#10. Mississippi

- Average commute (minutes): 24.6
- Unemployment rate: 4%
- Hours worked (weekly): 39.4

In addition to high rates of unemployment, Mississippi adds to its residents' stress levels by offering the lowest unemployment compensation: just $235 a week. The state also ranked high for its uninsured rate and hours worked each week.