To figure out which locale is the least welcoming, we analyzed a range of data, including the U.S. Census Bureau’s reported population change in each state over the past decade (reflecting how appealing locals seem to find it) as well as the Friendly Ranking according to Big 7 Travel, which drew on survey results from their 2.5 million social media followers. We also looked at the number of volunteer opportunities per 100,000 people, according to VolunteerMatch—reflecting the “community spirit” of the state—and what seemed to be the opposite of “community spirit,” the state’s violent crime rate, per the latest FBI data. When put through our algorithm, these data points provided us with an Unfriendly Index score for each state. The higher the index, the less friendly you can expect that state to be. It turns out, the least friendly state of them all might surprise you. Its population grew a middling 1.80 percent over the past 10 years, indicating that people aren’t exactly flocking there, and it has a relatively low 9.87 volunteer opportunities per 100,000 residents. But what really hurt this state’s reputation is its sky-high violent crime rate. And while the unfriendliest state in the U.S. is in the Southwest, the 20 least friendly states nationwide run the gamut, from the West Coast to New England, and the Midwest to the Tri-State. Read on to find out the unfriendliest state of them all, and for more state facts, check out The Biggest Star Who’s From Your State. Population Change in the Past Decade: +2.10 precent Friendly Ranking: 8 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 439 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 15.31 Unfriendly Index: 61.09 Population Change in the Past Decade: +3.30 precent Friendly Ranking: 44 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 173.2 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 15.37 Unfriendly Index: 64.45 And if you’re willing to put up with some attitude, then head to New Hampshire, which is among The States Where You Can Make the Most Money Population Change in the Past Decade: +0.80 precent Friendly Ranking: 18 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 306 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 14.92 Unfriendly Index: 64.68 Population Change in the Past Decade: –1.2 precent Friendly Ranking: 14 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 404.1 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 11.78 Unfriendly Index: 71.63 And to make sure you’re not making enemies in Illinois, learn how to say the state’s name correctly among The Most Mispronounced States in the U.S. Population Change in the Past Decade: +4.70 precent Friendly Ranking: 27 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 468.7 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 13.17 Unfriendly Index: 72.20 Population Change in the Past Decade: +0.30 precent Friendly Ranking: 23 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 234.4 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 5.85 Unfriendly Index: 74.09 And to see another issue Mississippi has, find it among The Most Obese States in the Country. Population Change in the Past Decade: +6.10 precent Friendly Ranking: 40 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 447.4 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 14.60 Unfriendly Index: 74.64 Population Change in the Past Decade: +5.30 precent Friendly Ranking: 47 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 338.1 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 12.16 Unfriendly Index: 77.15 And to make sure you don’t turn off the locals, get familiar with some Massachusetts hamlets here: The Most Mispronounced Towns in the U.S. Population Change in the Past Decade: +2.50 precent Friendly Ranking: 22 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 502.1 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 14.84 Unfriendly Index: 79.87 Population Change in the Past Decade: +2.50 precent Friendly Ranking: 12 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 537.5 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 6.95 Unfriendly Index: 81.30 And if you want more state guides to read, sign up for our daily newsletter. Population Change in the Past Decade: +0.60 precentae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Friendly Ranking: 41 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 219.1 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 11.52 Unfriendly Index: 83.39 Population Change in the Past Decade: +2.60 precent Friendly Ranking: 21 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 519.6 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 7.67 Unfriendly Index: 87.29 Population Change in the Past Decade: +1.00 precent Friendly Ranking: 46 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 208.1 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 8.93 Unfriendly Index: 87.88 Population Change in the Past Decade: –0.20 precent Friendly Ranking: 38 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 207.4 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 5.82 Unfriendly Index: 88.92 Population Change in the Past Decade: +3.00 precent Friendly Ranking: 37 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 885 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 49.35 Unfriendly Index: 96.15 Population Change in the Past Decade: –3.30 precent Friendly Ranking: 30 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 289.9 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 12.83 Unfriendly Index: 97.66 Population Change in the Past Decade: +1.00 precent Friendly Ranking: 28 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 449.4 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 1.30 Unfriendly Index: 101.64 Population Change in the Past Decade: +0.40 precent Friendly Ranking: 50 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 350.5 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 4.08 Unfriendly Index: 113.97 Population Change in the Past Decade: +3.50 precent Friendly Ranking: 49 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 543.6 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 6.40 Unfriendly Index: 114.46 Population Change in the Past Decade: +1.80 precent Friendly Ranking: 17 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 people): 856.6 Volunteer Opportunities (per 100,000 people): 9.87 Unfriendly Index: 118.79
