What Every State is BEST At: Part 1

This article is from the Reader’s Digest. I’ve turned it into a four-part open listing what they consider what each state is best at, and worst at. 

Amanda Tarlton

Reader’s Digest

Updated: Jun. 07, 2022

Alabama

Best: College football — “Roll Tide!” That’s what you’ll hear all across the state as they cheer on the University of Alabama’s football team, which has won the most national football championships of any college team since 1936.

Alaska

Best: The great outdoors — Hiking, biking, canoeing… oh my! Between the breathtaking views of Denali National Park and the icy caps of Glacier Bay, Alaska is the state with the highest percentage of land set aside as national parks (it’s tied with Arizona).

Arizona

Best: Sunshine — Florida may be the official Sunshine State, but Arizona is the sunniest state. In fact, Yuma, located in the southwest corner of Arizona, is the sunniest place in the whole world, with a 90 percent chance of sun every day.

Arkansas

Best: Duck hunting — Arkansas is the real-life Duck Dynasty. Hunters come from all over the country to the state where the most ducks are harvested each season and where the World Championship Duck Calling Contest is held in Stuttgart.

California

Best: Diversity — Considered a “minority majority” state (meaning there is no single ethnic group or race that makes up the majority of the population), California has earned the title of the most diverse state in the United States.

Colorado

Best: Being active — Year after year, Colorado tops the list of the most physically active states with low obesity rates and some of the fittest residents.

Connecticut

Best: Making money — Hey, must be the money… that’s giving Connecticut such a good reputation. Because it’s not the roads, that’s for sure. Connecticut has the highest per-person average income of $50,392.

Delaware

Best: Small-town atmosphere — But what it lacks in trendy nightclubs, it makes up for in that “everybody knows everybody” vibe you can only get in the state with the least number of counties (only 3!) and no cities with more than 100,000 people.

Florida

Best: Vacationing — It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Sunshine State was voted the country’s top vacation destination. After all, it’s home to Disney World, beautiful beaches, the Everglades, and more.

Georgia

Best: Growing onions — Georgia may be nicknamed the Peach State, but its real claim to food fame is its Vidalia onions, which are some of the world’s sweetest onions—and they’re only grown in 20 counties in the Southern state.

Hawaii

Best: Beaches — Among the 33 miles of swimming beaches surrounding the islands of Hawaii, you’ll find Maui’s Kapalua Bay Beach, voted the best beach in America (with Hapuna Beach making it into the top ten, as well!).

Idaho

Best: Home ownership — Home is where the heart is. And your heart will definitely want to be in Idaho when you realize it was recently ranked the number one state for home ownership thanks to its affordability and low foreclosure rates.

Illinois

Best: Pumpkins — All those pumpkin-flavored treats you love in the fall wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for Illinois, where 95 percent of everyone favorite gourds in the United States are grown.

Indiana

Best: Renting — Why buy when you can rent? In Indianapolis, that question makes perfect sense. The city was deemed the best for renters last year, with high affordability and one of the lowest average monthly rents of just $806.

Iowa

Best: Buying a house —Home buyers may want to add Iowa to their list of possible locations—the state offers the most affordable housing in the country, with a median home price of $181,900.

Kansas

Best: Roads — Drivers, this state is for you. Kansas has the least amount of poor roadways in the nation. According to USA TODAY, less than 1 percent of roads in the Sunflower State are considered unserviceable.

Kentucky

Best: Fried chicken — It’s called Kentucky Fried Chicken for a reason. Ever since Colonel Sanders (yes, he was a real person) started selling his fried chicken at a roadside restaurant more than 75 years ago, Kentucky has been the go-to spot for crispy golden chicken.

Louisiana

Best: Dating — The people of Louisiana are (mostly) single and ready to mingle—the state has the highest number of unmarried adults.

Maine

Best: Owning dogs —Fido will feel right at home in Maine, whether he’s an energetic pit bull or a lovable golden retriever. That’s because Maine welcomes all dog breeds (there are no restrictions) and has 76 dog-friendly beaches, making it the best place for pups in the United States.

Maryland

Best: Making millionaires — Want to be a millionaire? Your best chance at making that happen might be in Maryland, the state with the highest rate of seven-figure salaries. One study found that as many as 1 in 12 households have $1 million.

Massachusetts

Best: Being healthy — For the first time in five years, Hawaii was not the country’s healthiest state—it was replaced by Massachusetts. The state not only has a low obesity rate but it also the most mental health providers per population, according to the United Health Foundation’s annual ranking.

Michigan

Best: Golfing — Head to Michigan to play a few rounds, where they have the most golf courses and country clubs per capita.

Minnesota

Best: Credit scores — In St. Paul, the average credit score is 709 out of 850, making Minnesota the state with the highest overall credit scores.

Mississippi

Best: Cheap living — Perhaps for all the wrong reasons (one of the worst school systems and a failing economy, to name a few), Mississippi is the cheapest state to live in. In fact, after taxes and living expenses, residents of the Magnolia State keep 49 percent of their income.

Missouri

Best: Giving to charity — When it comes to giving back, Missouri is topping the charts, with St. Louis consistently ranking among the most charitable cities in the United States.

Tomorrow, the rest of the list.