Definitive Ranking of the States Part 1: 50-31

[@ShaqElliot]

A sigh of relief when you find out your state is not in the first video!

[@jcorkable]

That feeling when every state you’ve ever lived in or hoped to live in makes the bottom 20 😬

[@Polskamon18]

That feeling when your state is literally the last state mentioned....the suspense just to be let down at the last minute. Can't say I'm surprised as a Hoosier, though.

[@yaslerfuj]

Haven't watched the video yet, I'm betting my state is 49th lol

[@yaslerfuj]

48 baby, let's go 😂

[@devenestes3234]

I’m not so much wondering if my home state will be in this video but instead how quickly it will come up lol😂

[@DwightClough]

I spent some time in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. I was blown away by the people I met there. Many people had lost everything they had--no insurance coverage - but if they had two bottles of water, they offered me one. In my experience, beautiful people, beautiful culture. Sometimes numbers like poverty rates don't tell the whole story

[@tamedshrew235]

My mother would often quote her father, an Irish immigrant with an 8th grade education, having replied to a man of means inquiring of his status, "you may have more money than me but Im a wealthier man."

[@mournblade1066]

As a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, I DO have to say that our neighboring state of West Virginia is absolutely gorgeous. Such a beautiful state!

[@elizabethorsillo7187]

It sure is!

[@curtvona4891]

I live in PA also, and I agree with you.

[@blankface_]

Beautiful state, friendly people, definitely has been fucked over by politicians and corporations again and again

[@ErinS06]

I love going there from VA whenever I feel like going into the middle of nowhere. It's nice. It's also nice visiting if you want peak appalachian culture.

[@johnchedsey1306]

I've only driven through WV twice but both times were in the fall. Truly gorgeous.

[@maxpowr90]

As the saying goes: "thank God for Mississippi".

[@jeremiahallyn4603]

Lol, right? Also, same thing can be said about West Virginia.

[@kenbob1071]

Yes. Thank God I don't live there.

[@cheryllewis5195]

That was what they said when we lived in South Carolina 😂

[@MTBExtraordinaire]

I thought the saying was "at least we're not Mississippi" ....... and that saying is Alabama's motto !

[@abufarsakh9919]

What we say in louisiana

[@ejb7969]

"Oklahoma: Not quite as bad as the states behind it!" THERE'S an inspiring state motto.

[@whppnpost1]

This is great. When is all over you should create a map that shades the states 1-50 by color shade

[@SpencerTwiddy]

50 shades of gray?

[@cashjones6997]

I second this!!!

[@mattkalis1567]

Not to bring in geopolitics, but the shaded colors were red for the bottom states, there would be an awfully strong correlation to support of republican candidates.

[@michaelantone7465]

@@SpencerTwiddy We Southerners. Are definitely in the dark!!!!😂

[@jeremiahallyn4603]

I'm excited about this series. I've always been into US geography.

[@GoTechGeek]

I am impressed that a single person is able to do a much better job with rankings than national publications with multiple employees. This is great! I am exited to see your next two videos.

[@marsettenmohn]

Really? It looks like he copied from most the popular publications and came up with rudimentary methodologies to rank by categories.

[@MarquosXoloVanda]

​@@marsettenmohnI don't think it's difficult at all

[@failedclown36]

Yeah, he puts a lot of effort into finding the numbers and collating the data! My favorite youtube nerd!

[@kenbob1071]

Cheap housing is a nice way of saying nobody wants to live there.

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

Exactly,I always find it blzzare when someone says "California is a bad place to live because homes are expensive" IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. That would mean Mississippi is a great place to live because homes are so cheap

[@larsord9139]

it's not a "bad" place to live because of the price of homes and rents, for many folks it's an "impossible" place to live. @@vicepresidentmikepence889

[@mirzaahmed6589]

Very few people want to live in Connecticut, but housing is still expensive. I moved from there to Florida, where housing is also expensive, but at least I get warm winters and no state income tax.

[@treyshaffer]

lol people do want to live in CT because of its proximity to NYC

[@Sydeshow123]

This wasn't always the case but has become very true post covid

[@enigmawyoming5201]

This video, along with the supplement video defining the ranking criterion, makes this the best presentation I have seen on ranking US states. Good job!

[@mattc4266]

Next we need a ranking of states based on nature !

[@caseyoutside]

yes

[@ThomasPoulin]

Nature plays apart in these rankings according to his methodology

[@mattc4266]

@@ThomasPoulin yes but I want one in which the sole criteria is based on nature . Beaches , flora and fauna, wildlife , mountains , lakes , desert , waterfalls , uniqueness etc .

[@chefnyc]

A website would be nice where you can give your own weight for each 26 categories. I would enable parks, nature, summer climate and winter climate and resort. What’s the point of nature if it’s too humid to walk outside 😏

[@ThomasPoulin]

@@chefnyc take a look at the list of states by humidity! You'd be surprised that most states have pretty high average humidity

[@Chafe3]

I really appreciate your channel, not just because of the work that goes into it, but a lot of the big geography KZbinrs are extremely classist and disrespectful to lower income areas and it’s a breath of fresh air to have someone with compassion for the topics at hand, and not just making fun of poor people in the “worst” states

[@nickbob2003]

As someone from Wisconsin I really enjoy the map of the United States you use because it includes the water territory. How the Great Lakes are split up was not something I ever really thought about but I enjoyed seeing it!

[@mockingjay10]

Oregon and Maine being ranked lower than the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska is a bit of an upset… I guess the higher crime and prices make a big difference

[@termitesc.aardwolf3644]

I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. It's actually really nice one you get past the winter weather.

[@mournblade1066]

Does. . . does Maine even HAVE crime???

[@nanoplastics]

I agree with Maine, but it does make sense after he explains his ranking process

[@peterkovach8655]

Lowest violent crime rate in the country aside from the awful mass shooting this year.@@mournblade1066

[@mrmetheperson]

@@mournblade1066look what happened in lewiston

[@Ryfael]

Thumbs up for this. Surprised Illinois wasn't in this list

[@ThatMediaGuy150]

I'm expecting it to be either 25 or 26. Illinois is pretty much exactly as average as they come, despite what us Illinoisans tend to believe.

[@ThomasPoulin]

Chicago carries

[@erykszymanski9167]

@@ThomasPoulin and weighs it down

[@YachtsOnTheReg7]

@@ThomasPoulin Chicago is a dump run by a reverse racist, anti law and order, pro crime Mayor who is even worse than Lightfoot which no one thought was possible.

[@Clementinee]

Illinois outside of Chicago sucks ass so bad. But Chi is one of the most liveable major cities in America

[@nisnber5760]

Both Oregon and Maine were surprises for me. The ranking Delaware and Rhode Island are a function of their small size, so not entirely fair.

[@cnking27]

not really...he used per capita rankings and rates for most of the things on here. size could hurt them on parks and scenery, but that is offset by not having as much space for natural disasters.

[@simonestreeter1518]

Two states that have been almost ruined by 'progressive' culture.

[@christopherfriend7402]

West Virginia doesn't often get a lot of respect but to me it's one of the most beautiful.

[@dock_yard1149]

Natural beauty doesn’t get kids properly educated or spur economic growth. And clinging to coal mining for too long keeps WV near the bottom. Too bad that poorly educated kids grow up and keep making dumb choices for themselves, but blame everyone else for the mess that never improves.

[@FaeDruid]

Boy, what an interesting list. As someone who is always thinking about relocating, this really makes you think that taxes aren’t everything.

[@judithwatts4176]

When you are looking from afar at a place it is hard to judge. But i love Oklahoma and have lived here since I got married. I was born in California. Now I would hold Oklahoma up against California's politics any day

[@FaeDruid]

@@judithwatts4176 I met no offense in my comment. I’m glad you love Oklahoma; I honestly think it’s great when people love where they live. I just think there’s a lot to consider. I’m concerned about politics too, but I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time, wanting to save money, i.e. taxes, and now I’m thinking I need to consider a lot of other factors.

[@treyshaffer]

yea, if you only factor in taxes you may be led astray. had a friend move from CA to TX for lower taxes, but ended up getting a 60% paycut which made him worse off (financially) overall.

[@johnchedsey1306]

I always thought Vancouver, WA, is a cheat code. You don't have to pay state income tax in Washington and you can do your shopping across the Columbia River to enjoy Oregon's lack of sales tax. And so long as you don't mind the dreary winter months, it is quite pretty in the region.

[@twalker2009]

@@johnchedsey1306 I moved there for that reason, but savings from moving from an income tax state went to all rent and still higher cost of living

[@AaronOnTheTrails]

One point I'll defend Indiana on. The southern third of the state is beautiful it just doesn't get noticed much since most of the population areas are in the central or northern parts of the state.

[@autonomouscollective2599]

Agree. I live in Cincinnati, and when I want to take a day hike, I usually go to Indiana.

[@jasonshaw2065]

Hoosier here and totally agree. Brown county and Madison are favorites. If you only count this first video, we are at the top of the list 😜

[@wayoutwest3009]

Sure but there are plenty of more beautiful states.

[@israelelderishizzy]

Thanks so much for doing all the work of putting all of this research together and sharing it with the world. Great job!

[@billcurnew6020]

Nice job! I have to say, no real surprises here. Subjectively, there are always little quibbles possible, but the overall presentation seems pretty accurate to me! Looking forward to the next batch!

[@jonathantitus2629]

Very interesting sir. I must say that my rather extensive travels lead me to include hospitality/nice people in any "ranking" I personally consider and perhaps not surprisingly many of these rank higher for me... Looking forward to watching next two in the series.

[@sketchypeoplepdx]

Gotta a new sub! Love state rankings and the way you share info. As an Oregonian, a little bummed to see us so low... but, facts is facts. Can't wait for more.

[@tahlulabang]

I appreciate the amount of work you put into this series and as someone from Minnesota it feels great to be no.1

[@daprovocateur]

I’m not sure that high tax rates are necessarily a bad thing, and vice versa. It comes down to how well a state uses the taxes it gets for the benefit of its residents.

[@TheSilentWhales]

Finally someone else sees it too!

[@brianweber4154]

People mostly think an income tax refund is a win. They either have no clue on this is what they overpayed or just are below on iq and arent expected to understand.​@TheSilentWhales

[@KreemieNewgatt]

“Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

[@dock_yard1149]

@@brianweber4154SPOT ON MY FRIEND ... most negative attitudes on state taxes are born and nurtured in low IQs and wrong info ... anyone seeing a tax refund as “lower taxes” is just a moron, but we both know there are far too many who believe such idiocy.

[@nickskuza6036]

That's where things like, crime, poverty, infrastructure, etc... come in. The problem with some states is they have the high taxes but don't give you any benefits. Take a look at the Dakotas vs Minnesota. Both will rank pretty high I think due to high quality of life, but Minnesota is a top 10 tax burden state and the Dakotas are both bottom 10 tax burden states. Some states just don't need to tax you as much but if they do, they sometimes generate really great benefits.

[@luiscruz7343]

Was first introduced to your channel with these kinds of ranking videos so i love them! Thankfully my state was not in this video. Sweet bad company record!

[@thepointsnorth]

Brave to make this and much appreciated! Having been to 47 of the lower 48 this checks out. Nice work Kyle

[@IloveRumania]

Which one did you not go to?

[@thepointsnorth]

@@IloveRumania Oklahoma!

[@IloveRumania]

@@thepointsnorth Oh, okay. Why that one?

[@thepointsnorth]

@@IloveRumania just never happened to pass through on several cross country trips and now not too likely given I’ve been everywhere else around it. And don’t feel the need to go back to those areas. Maybe will end up in Dallas and make it a day trip or something!

[@matthewcohen8605]

Kyle, when you said "Shreveport as a city" you hit the nail on the head and almost made me spit out my dinner. Hilarious. I grew up in New Orleans and had the unfortunate experience of living in Shreveport for almost 9 months for my freshman year of college. That place is terrible. I didn't know until then the difference between North and South Louisiana.

[@GeographyKing]

It's certainly not one of my favorite cities in that size range. Towns with a casino district tend to lack good development and interest in regular urban design and focus too much on getting people to the casinos.

[@LukeIcenhower]

@geographyking I agree I was born in Shreveport and still only about 30 mins west of there in east Texas and it’s a bad city with high crime and the population is declining just like the whole state

[@rabidgoon]

i realize west virginia has a lot of problems, but i contend it's one of the most underrated states. if i could afford not to work, or had a steady income from online endeavors, i very well might buy a nice piece of moun tain land in west virginia and be a hermit of sorts.

[@RemixedVoice]

I can see the appeal... But I also am concerned that it would be so lonely.

[@thesharinganknight]

This man is gonna clap deer cheeks for sport 😂

[@scottstewart5784]

I'm doing that now - on social security and some consulting via StarLink. Small log home in a hollow next to a stream on 30+ very private wooded acres in WV. Me and my dog. I recommend it.

[@phronsiekeys]

I think most people who can afford not to work could find places in all 50 states that would be very nice places to live.

[@rabidgoon]

@@phronsiekeys certainly, but it’s easier to be someone who can afford not to work in West Virginia than it is in many other states.

[@IngeborgvonAgassiz]

Other categories I would add: 1. Liter along roadways 2. Aggressive drivers 3. Overall friendliness (how receptive are people to new residents) 4. Architecture 5. Culture

[@shannonbenjamin1155]

I see that Bad Co album...now you're my new favorite. 😊

[@TheJrpacman]

West Virginia has so much potential. Such a beautiful state.

[@adamjacquez9495]

I live in Edmond Oklahoma (the premier suburb of OKC). Getting a 2100 SQ ft home for $280k negates pretty much any negative metric for Oklahoma. Love this state, it’s a great place to live!

[@steveb7429]

Nice that you like it. Everyone has different opinions and tastes

[@wolliveryoutube]

I’m fine with Oklahoma keeping it’s negative reputation across the country. The fewer people moving here, the better.

[@Tc-rn8lh]

@@wolliveryoutubethat’s true:)

[@SviraSvi]

I just love this channel :) Thank you for doing all of this

[@sparrowbe4k802]

Really good channel this. Genuine first-hand content. A likable guy too (many yters aren't)

[@dogrsqr]

Bad Company -- nice album choice for a listing of the bottom 20 States! (I'm guessing that was purely intentional!)

[@spirit278]

Highway to Hell would be a good choice too.

[@mushroomsteve]

I was also a bit surprised by Oregon and Maine's relatively low rankings. You rated Oregon with the best summer climate, but the winter climate, at least in western Oregon, is also very desirable. And, I love the laid-back culture here.

[@a.m.v.6938]

I think Portland, Eugene and Salem make the rest of Oregon look bad.

[@cherylcampbell9369]

Same. I for sure am not moving from here.

[@Homer625]

Enjoying this so far. As a lifelong CT resident I'm shocked we're not last for the new England states!

[@ecurewitz]

I was expecting RI to be on the bottom of New England States, followed by Maine

[@Saltytacos]

I'm pretty sure CT is ranked very high in a lot of categories, why would you think it was low? haha

[@marsettenmohn]

CT and NJ should be at the bottom of the NE states for sure. CT is better than ME? Seriously?

[@the.abhiram.r]

@@marsettenmohnwe're not in new england hell nah

[@the.abhiram.r]

prolly cause y'all got rich people in the southern parts

[@capuchinmarmoset]

hello from louisiana! the culture's cool, but everything else here is worthy of being #49 lol. fun place to visit, not great to live in. i love your videos!

[@enigmawyoming5201]

Say what you want about Mississippi, but it’s an AMAZING place to visit! Vicksburg, so rich in Civil War history, Natchez with incredibly beautiful 200 year old mansions. FYI - I’ve never lived within 1000 miles from Mississippi, but I’ve been there at least 6 times.. just to be there. BUT… something you never hear about is the Natchez Trace Parkway!! A 444 mile parkway that is all a US National Park. Beautiful, broad 4 lane highway, 55 mph speed limit ,and NO COMMERCIAL TRUCK TRAFFIC ALLOWED that goes from Natchez, Ms. to Nashville, Tn. Tons of great historical sites along the way and just a wonderful way to spend driving for 2 days relaxing; very little traffic and enjoying amazing scenery, particularly in October when the leaves are turning. Mississippi is a wonderful place to visit. People are friendly (and are thankful you are there visiting, unlike states that rhyme with GoTheFuckBackHomeAfornia). One of my favorite states to visit.

[@andyjay729]

And of course it also has its musical heritage.

[@JVR2019]

I've been to Mississippi many times; racist and bigoted.

[@thatguy8678]

As somebody who grew up in the south, I know we rank at the bottom in a lot of areas, but I wouldn’t choose being from anywhere else

[@viperys1880]

A true patriot would see this and want to make it better 💪

[@docjanos]

Ranking small states like DE and RI on natural disasters doesn't mean much when there's just not much space to disrupt. Kind of the same for scenery. The biggest issue wiith scenery is that in many if not most states the scenic component is concentrated in limited areas. The mountains of Montana are spectacular but big chunks of the state are dull. Most of Indiana is dull but the Dunes are a real gem. As for winters, highly subjective. If you like to ski then Louisiana is not going to do you much good. Some categories are not anywhere near equally distributed within a state. Portland's crime rate is through the roof but in most other parts of Oregon you don't need to lock your doors. Also, regarding climate while you've thus far only covered OR, all three of the west coast states have entirely different climates on either side of the coastal mountains--mild all year on the west, high range to the east. Alaska is also like that with the swath from Anchorage to the Panhandle more temparate than the the Arctic. Averaging out things like climate and crime doesn't really reflect the local experience.

[@rickrose5377]

Kyle is a KZbin treasure.

[@johnbryant2354]

I'm so flippin' exited for this series man 🥳🥳🥳

[@markroth9827]

Great series. Thank you.

[@bennettwettengel6754]

Greatest series oat already

[@derbagger22]

I still prefer overnight

[@zhengyangliu7155]

Thank you ❤❤❤ appreciate your editing and creating

[@andrewedson7010]

This is heavyweight content King

[@TheCoasterCraze]

Great video! Wish food and cultural contributions (music, art etc) were categories though - would help out those rough southern states haha

[@GeographyKing]

I did a more fun version of something like this a few years ago that included food, music artists from the state, and the flag, but I wanted to focus on the more "important" stuff for this

[@TheCoasterCraze]

@@GeographyKingoh right, it’s been awhile I’ll have to revisit that video. Thanks!

[@enderboy1824]

WOOOO WE DIDNT MAKE THE VIDEO!!! Let’s gooooo!!!

[@judithwatts4176]

I live in Oklahoma and I love it. The winters are moderate cold and the summers and hot The sky is beautiful and sometimes dangerous. The people are friendly friendly, generous and wonderful.

[@dan9222scandiguy]

Winter climate shouldn't be a category. Here in MN we are prepared for all kinds of weather with thousands of plows, skyways & tunnels, indoor malls & lots of Winter activities. Right now we are about to host a world cup cross country ski race. We also host the US Pond hockey championship every year. We embrace the Winter weather & we are prepared.

[@marklittle8805]

Many Americans fight winter. Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin embrace the seasons and winter in particular. As a Canadian, I feel at home in your state

[@chillmemes5865]

And as someone from the South, we do NOT embrace the summers 😂

[@LordBrozart]

You’ve found great photos for all these states! Made me interested in a lot of cities. That Arkansas one is weird!

[@storey13]

Not a lot of surprises on this list except for Oregon. That was a surprise to me at least.

[@bugchallin]

“Beautiful, but expensive and high crime” is a great way to describe Oregon

[@mattm7798]

I know Portland has gotten really bad(good job dem mayors), but are the other big cities bad on crime too? I was considering moving to Eugene but it is pretty expensive.

[@bugchallin]

@@mattm7798 I live in Portland. It's definitely bad but at least rents are gooinng down because portland has such a bad reputation hahaha. Anyhow I have only visited Eugene on a weekend trip. It looked nice but it was definitely a college town--an expensive one at that. If that's something you're OK with then that's cool. For what it is worth I think Salem is underrated. Outside of the government stuff, it's a very charming working-class town and lots of surprising diversity. Salem also has a very strong Hispanic presence so that makes me happy b/c im mexican and good food is everywhere. Thanks for reading my diatribe hopefully it is a little helpful

[@simonestreeter1518]

@@mattm7798 Eugene is pretty bad for crime. And homeless people on drugs everywhere that you can't get rid of. It is a major drug hub for the west coast dealers.

[@cur244]

It's like Tennessee one city blows the high crime up. Statistically per capita Oregon isn't near the top either.

[@simonestreeter1518]

@@cur244 I don't know about the statistics you refer to, but Eugene, Salem, and Medford have high crime rates. We are on the I-5 corridor between Mexico and Canada, which is a funnel for drugs.

[@bgabriel28]

I can’t help but notice a pattern here- that almost all of the very lowest-ranked states are concentrated in a certain part of the country.

[@bluerfoot]

If they ranked kindness and lack of snobbishness the rankings might get reversed.

[@bgabriel28]

@@bluerfoot those states aren’t exactly known for their kindness, either.

[@kevinbaughman5042]

As a Midwesterner, I can confirm that Indiana is the worst Midwest state.

[@mcray0309]

Whats the best? Im thinking about moving out there in the future and i want some opinions.

[@kevinbaughman5042]

@@mcray0309 right now is probably Michigan, and I say that as an Ohioan.

[@williampeterson9377]

I would like to see all the states in each of your segments be highlighted on the USA map at the end of each episode. It was interesting to note that the first eight states (50-43) all bordered each other as a block (with the exception of west Virginia).

[@bertcertain6982]

He's absolutely right about Montana. It's terrible. Don't move here.

[@FireboltPrime]

Texan here, my sympathies to all the neighbors and West Virginia

[@rebeccawinter472]

Always a great watch. Thanks Kyle. Now, I do enjoy hearing your summation of the results, and the photos chosen are gorgeous & representative of what you’re speaking to - but I wish there was a way to display some of the numbers as well. I’m picturing something like a little baseball card for each state: Top Category: Categories in Top 10: Worst Category: Categories in Bottom 10: Mean (weighted?) Ranking: The mean ranking would just be the average of the ranking across all the categories; it’s presumably what you’re using to decide the order. I’ll watch the methodology video now! 😂 Curious if / how you weighted different categories. I can’t imagine summer climate and per capita GDP having same weight, but maybe they do?

[@CaeserOct]

Great video, Kyle! Do you think the significant presence of high sales tax states in the bottom is a coincidence? I can see it contributing to low quality of life measures given the regressive consequence of high sales tax.

[@GeographyKing]

There's certainly a correlation with high sales taxes and high poverty. It places the highest tax burden on the poorest people, usually referred to as "regressive taxation".

[@CaeserOct]

@@GeographyKing - yep, exactly!

[@feeberizer]

I recognized the Organ Mountains in the thumbnail, so I expected the worst for NM. I'm shocked that we came in at #39. We're usually #49 above Mississippi at #50 in so many other rankings. I love living in Las Cruces, but our increasing crime rate is a real problem.

[@GeographyKing]

Me ranking the cities in NM high gave it a little bump, but the poverty and crime numbers are rough.

[@indigowendigo8464]

The land of enchantment doesn't need outsiders paying it any attention. I'm happier the lower its ranked

[@HAIckes]

Thanks again, Kyle - I'd like to know more about the data involved and the methodology for calculating the relative positions. For example - are some of the values weighted based on the relative states' areas, populations, &c.? Do you have that info posted somewhere?

[@pimacanyon6208]

cool. great video, looking forward to the next two.

[@beachboysandrew]

As someone who has visited all 50 states, my rankings differ considerably, but mainly because I care much more about natural beauty / history / things to do! Great video overall, excited for the next two parts

[@metaller_alex]

Thanks for this video. It would be nice be able to search across states (or even counties) on specific criterias.

[@pokemontas8025]

I'm happy to live with low crime, low population and snowy winters ❄

[@ghost21501]

You absolutely need to create a chart for these rankings. I want to analytically pick my perfect state. Also, seeing my state at 43 stung a little. I'm curious to why it was so low. I always thought of it being a middle of the road state, not bottom 10.

[@frankynodots]

Happy New Jersey isn't bottom tier! I was fully expecting that!

[@thatmichiganguy]

WV is better than I expected It looks like they're gonna rank better in the near future

[@jeanmeyer1903]

Very well done video.

[@Nate_Higgins]

NW Arkansas must be one of the regions in a state is most unlike the rest of the state that it's in. That would be a good video idea.

[@adventuretarian8191]

Your videos are incredible!

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you!

[@dxmyr]

Excited for this!

[@dlongmore1]

Are you going to make all this data available?

[@GeographyKing]

I'm going to go over it in a summary at the end of the third video.

[@dlongmore1]

@@GeographyKing I would love it to be downloadable. Maybe you could charge to download.

[@aeugenegray]

Education is very important in Maine. I left after graduation, but whenever I communicate with friends, the conversations are fairly intellectual.

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

I don't consider intellectualism to be an inherently positive trait. I consider things like kindness, humour and empathy and sense of fun to be far more important.

[@simonestreeter1518]

@@EndOfSmallSanctuary97 They're not mutually exclusive.

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

@@simonestreeter1518 I never said they were. But intellectualism in and of itself doesn't make someone nice or friendly.

[@habbadabbado5765]

You’re being very kind in your comments about the states

[@FireboltPrime]

No point in being hateful, we're all Americans at the end of the day

[@spudwish]

For some reason a lot of these states have the best college football teams 🥳

[@jricoc3475]

This is what those states are like with over $450M of annual ticket revenue alone, from just seven programs ...

[@sexygeek8996]

That's because rabid football fans have little or no education.

[@diodelvino3048]

nobody should be surprised at the first state

[@ratracerugged7413]

I just did a road trip from Florida to Dallas last week and drove through Louisiana and Mississippi. I absolutely agree with Louisiana, but I was surprised at how nice Mississippi was. I had to get off of I 10 and drive up US 49 to I 20 so I actually got an off interstate view of the state. I think the people there enjoy the bad reputation. It keeps people away!

[@mandingocalderwood900]

I agree. I love Mississippi. Enjoy Biloxi and the surrounding cities. Once away from the casino employee's, everyone is very pleasant. And yes, I know The rest of the state does not recognize anything below I-10 as being real Mississippi. LOL

[@omarrolle3842]

Oxford and Tupelo are nice tbh

[@dock_yard1149]

Let’s just say, your skin color has much to do with your “enjoyment” (or lack thereof) of many regions of the south land.

[@YachtsOnTheReg7]

You obviously didn't visit the poor black areas of which there are many.

[@bikeyclown4669]

I like this ranking system. It's thorough. Despite their faults many of these states have nice places to live within them. Geography King himself lives in one and talks fondly about living in another (South Carolina). Having said that, I am glad the state I live in (NC) and the state I'm from (CO) are not low on this list.

[@pawpawthebeagle9442]

The problem with any ranking system, no matter how many categories are used, is that it ultimately is subjective. For example, in terms of the absolute “worst” states, yes, according to irrefutable data used to analyze them like crime, manufacturing, high school graduation rates, etc., those are undeniable metrics. However, in terms of the quality and character of the people, that is an intangible that is not quantifiable with statistical data or bias. Those worst states are filled with some of the nicest, friendliest, religious, and philanthropic salt-of-the-earth people. People that live in “clan” families that stick together generation after generation. Communities that espouse those kinds of clan ideals of helping one another. That versus what is the vast majority of the nation which lives in modern “nuclear” family settings. People who are generally “cold” until one or the other person chips away at the other’s mask. Introverted, selfish, self-righteous, important, reliant. Liberal, secular, and social conformists. So, I think depending on who you ask in the long run of this series, if presented with my argument, you would find that in many ways people would find this, and other lists like it, obsolete. The eventual forced abandonment away from the clan family (which is still predominant in virtually all of Africa, throughout many Eastern Asian, Southern Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American regions, and most all Indigenous Communities) that began in the late 19th century to early 20th century, to me is why we have such a cultural divide in this country. Change is inevitable, and one must adapt to it to survive, but the nuclear family dynamic does not lend to cohesion, nor does it enrich the soul(s) of a person, family, or community like a clan family/community does. Anyway, if you could figure out a way to do a video about “clan” vs “nuclear” family/communities, that would be something truly interesting to me in particular, and definitely one-of-a-kind.

[@bluerfoot]

When you say you have to chip away at the mask to know them, I'm not sure if you meant it literally or not :). The more cold northern Democrat, the more chance they have a mask and would put one on your face at government gunpoint if given the chance.

[@pawpawthebeagle9442]

@@bluerfoot figuratively. I get any mix up (but I think you were being facetious lol) and was going to say veneer initially. Then I thought, well, some folks might think I was talking about wood 😜🤣 Yeah, screw those types you talk of. Is that counter to what I’m speaking of in terms of cohesion? Do I have a problem with com munist, social ist driven lemmings? YES! They can all move to Chernobyl.

[@melodyanderson7914]

I’m in Indiana. The drive from here to Colorado might be most boring drive in the country. I now just fly into Denver. This same list based on just outdoor recreation would look very different. Indiana is bottom 10, easy.

[@OlafurRagnar69]

Can you really fault or bump a state for winter climate? Do people living in Alaska really think they're going sunning on the beach year round? Like the ski bunnies in New Mexico?

[@GeographyKing]

I will absolutely fault a state for climate! But that's why I wanted to separate winter and summers.

[@andyjay729]

There are actually some lake beaches in Alaska, and the interior can actually get fairly warm in the summer. One factoid that gets trotted out a lot in "did you know" lists is that Alaska's record high temperature was actually hotter than Hawaii's, due in part to Hawaii obviously having a more moderate climate.

[@thembones1895]

Absolutely. A lot of people won't relocate to a place based on climate.

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

Skynyrd would be outraged at Alabama's ranking. Love it here in Northern Nevada, 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Nevada usually ranks 1 or 2 in value of mining production.

[@mosddoomsday1]

i will say kansas is now getting rid of grocery tax which should help a ton

[@elaineolson550]

Ahhhh…my two states (New Mexico and Alaska) are in the bottom video. Sigh….well, some of these reasons keep people away and that’s not a bad thing! 😅

[@Preygrantess]

The one thing that saves Oregon on taxes is the kicker, cut 45% off of our state income tax this year.

[@michaelantone7465]

I agree with your rankings! Yep, me, Elvis, Oprah and BB King, all born in…wait for it….Mississippi! And we all moved to Tennessee, Elvis (at 13), me (at two years!), and BB King (as a young man) all ended up in Memphis, Oprah going to Nashville at 14. Ouch, they all made more money than me!!! 😂 I still have cousins in Clarksdale MS. The crime in Memphis has gotten terrible! I look forward to the next chapters of your rankings!!😃👩‍🌾

[@beachboysandrew]

I second the calls for a follow-up series that ranks states based solely on natural categories! (Beaches, mountains, national parks, wildlife, any other categories you can think of)

[@fresholiveoil6490]

Proud to be in Greenville, making South Carolina better.

[@lacyLor]

I’ve been to a lot of places and I think Kansas is beautiful.

[@deirdre108]

Have you ever heard of the book "PrairyErth"? The author writes around 600 pages about his in-depth journey around the Flint Hills area of Kansas. It's quite a good read.

[@lacyLor]

@@deirdre108 I haven’t. I’ll have to check that out. Thanks! I’ve hiked the flint hills several times, such a peaceful place. It feels so vast like being out on the ocean but with rolling, waving tall grass, and occasional buffalo instead of water 😁

[@dee-1official342]

Someone once told me, a Montana winter will make or break a man

[@Lululila67]

nice jacket! another great video! Yeay Nevada. My current home state:)

[@warderjack]

Native Oregonian here. Hurts to see my home state ranked so low, but I can understand it. When I moved back in 2010, Portland was the darling of national media, and it was the hip place to move to for young people. Now the city and state government has allowed homelessness and crime to get out of control, and due to our restrictive land use laws it’s more time consuming and costly to build here relative to other states. At least there is some acknowledgment of the problems in the past few years, though it’s not clear that the solutions will be sought. We recently went to a comedy show in Portland and in the walk from our parking garage saw multiple instances of brazen fentanyl use - something that would have been hard to imagine pre-COVID

[@GeographyKing]

Still shocked the state legalized most drugs. It's a decision proving to be the wrong one I fear.

[@richardtaylor6341]

So, explain this to me, as.ive never quite understood it....for my whole life people have been leaving these high ranked states to settle in the low ranked states. Why? If they are worse, why go there? Maybe the things measured dont equate to actual quality of life? Anyone with amy answers? Bc id love to know why people from Connecticut are driving up property prices in South Carolina if CT is so much better than SC....

[@johnchedsey1306]

I really hope NM can improve over time. It's my neighboring state and there's so many interesting places to visit that many might overlook. Plus green chilis all over the place. Places like Farmington are smack dab in the middle of some of the best scenery in the southwest. Definitely curious to see where AZ falls in the list. We have great winter weather (at least in the desert valleys) but hoo boy the summers are something else.

[@YachtsOnTheReg7]

As a resident of NM I can assure it you won't improve much. The education systems here are horrible and the people who work in service businesses, like healthcare, seem incapable of even handling even basic requests. The healthcare system, compared to TX where I used to live, is absolutely a joke. Yes, the state has many beautiful areas but there's a reason NM has been ranked near the bottom of state rankings for decades. The crime and homelessness problem in Albuquerque is completely out of control. Just watching the local news there are shootings and violent crimes constantly.

[@PressingMyLuckTruck]

Louisiana thanks you, Mississippi!

[@mandingocalderwood900]

😆

[@chipcook5346]

The single biggest change over the last 150 years is the decline of citizen allegiance to their states above the Union. That makes it easier to go where better opportunities are. Plus, since there are no state barriers to changing, people have no problem moving from rural anywhere to NYC, LA, Chicago, Dallas.... I am from Kansas, and that is exactly what has been happening there since the early 1900s. Missouri, too.