Every state has virtues and vices, and vices are especially hard to conquer during the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. Harmful behavior on the individual level can result in staggering economic costs, considering that gambling addiction costs the U.S. $5 billion per year and smoking costs dwarf that with over $300 billion per year.
In light of these statistics, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Most Sinful States, as well as accompanying videos and expert commentary. To determine where the U.S. has the most moral growing to do, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on seven sinful behaviors: anger and hatred, jealousy, excesses and vices, greed, lust, vanity and laziness.
Here are some highlights from the report:
MOST SINFUL STATES:
Nevada
California
Texas
Florida
Louisiana
Tennessee
Pennsylvania
Georgia
South Carolina
Illinois
LEAST SINFUL STATES:
Nebraska
Utah
North Dakota
Minnesota
New Hampshire
Iowa
South Dakota
Vermont
Wyoming
Idaho.
Key Stats
- Maine has the lowest violent crime rate, 1.09, which is 7.7 times lower than in Alaska, the state with the highest at 8.38.
- Massachusetts has the fewest thefts (per 1,000 residents), 10.97, which is 2.7 times fewer than in Louisiana, the state with the most at 29.65.
- Colorado and Massachusetts have the lowest share of obese adults, 24.00 percent, which is 1.7 times lower than in Mississippi, the state with the highest at 39.70 percent.
- Utah has the lowest share of adult smokers, 8.20 percent, which is 2.9 times lower than in West Virginia, the state with the highest at 23.60 percent.
- Alaska has the fewest beauty salons (per square root of population), 0.151422, which is 10.6 times fewer than in New York, the state with the most at 1.606668.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/most-sinful-states/46852