What is the Most Screwed Up Thing About Your State? Check This Chart
For all the U-S-A, U-S-A rah rah that goes around, the United States can be a shameful place.
The below map lays out some of the statistically worst things about each state. It covers everything from health to crime to travel to drug use. Some states don't have it so bad (Ohio, the "nerdiest") but others really kind of suck (Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity at 35.3% of total population ... and ranks poorly in the most number of categories. These include highest rate of child poverty at 31.9%, highest rate of infant mortality at 10.3% lowest median household income at $35,078, highest teen birth rate at 71.9 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 and highest overall rate of STDs. Phew.)
It's not 100% science proof ... some of the metrics are taken from purely qualitative rankings (i.e. North Dakota).
It's supposed to be a bit tongue-in-cheek, but some of the stats will really shock you.
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Rationale and statistics:
Most stats taken from America's Health Rankings and the U.S. Census unless otherwise noted. (Note - data varries and is not based on 2013 numbers)
1. Alabama: highest rate of stroke (3.8%) (tied with Oklahoma)
2. Alaska: highest suicide rate (23.6 suicides per 100,000 people in 2004)
3. Arizona: highest rate of alcoholism
4. Arkansas: worst average credit score (636) Source.
5. California: most air pollution (15.2 micrograms per cubic meter)
6. Colorado: highest rate of cocaine use per capita (3.9% total population)
7. Connecticut: highest rate of breast cancer Source.
8. Delaware: highest abortion rate (27 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44)
9. Florida: highest rate of identity theft (122.3 reports per 100,000 people)
10. Georgia: sickly based on highest rate of influenza
11. Hawaii