It is human nature to want to be recognized. Children want to show off their art to their parents. Employees want to stand out at work. And even citizens of cities or entire countries get some kind of patriotic thrill from the fact that their place of residence is known as the best or largest in the world. Unfortunately, being outstanding is not always a good thing, especially when you are better than everyone else at something unenviable and questionable.
10. Lake Michigan is by far the deadliest lake in America.
Any body of water is potentially dangerous. Accidents happen on the water all the time, and about 4,000 Americans drown each year. But of all the places in America to be wary of getting into the water, there's none worse than Lake Michigan.
In 2022, 43 people drowned in Lake Michigan. Its rip currents are notorious and have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. In 2021, 48 people died, 56 in 2020, and 48 in 2019. Compare that to other lakes known for high fatality rates, like Lake Champlain in Vermont, where a dozen people drown each year.
Lake Lanier has claimed 700 lives since 1956 and is sometimes considered the most dangerous lake in America, on average. Accidents, injuries, and deaths are the norm year after year, and understandably so, since the lake is visited by up to 10 million people in any given year. Statistics show that many accidents on the man-made lake are the result of alcohol consumption while boating. But even the current annual statistics are far lower than Lake Michigan.
9. Every county in Mississippi has a teen pregnancy rate above the national average.
In 2012, Mississippi was struggling with the fact that virtually every county in the state had a higher teen pregnancy rate than the national average. Part of the blame was placed on the fact that the state had historically not taught sex education in schools, and instead tried to rely on abstinence-only education. Clearly, that wasn’t very effective. So they planned to switch to a new curriculum to correct the numbers.
Fast forward to 2020, and Mississippi actually saw its overall teen pregnancy rate drop. However, like every other state, Mississippi still had the highest teen pregnancy rate in the country. In fact, on the world stage, things are still pretty bad.
In 2012, the teen pregnancy rate in Mississippi was as high as 111 per 1,000 in some counties. In some counties, the rate dropped to 71.9. But the global teen pregnancy rate was actually only 42.5 in 2021.
Statewide, rates have now dropped to an average of 27.9 per thousand. That still puts Mississippi first in the United States, but close to some others.
8. More millennials in New Jersey live with their parents than in any other state.
Whether that qualifies as a dubious honor is up to your own opinion, but the media certainly made something of the revelation that millennials in New Jersey choose to live with their parents in far greater numbers than in other states.
According to U.S. Census data, New Jersey ranks first in the number of adult children ages 18 to 34 who remain at home with mom and dad. In 2015, 46.9% of them were still at home. That's 10% more than 10 years ago. The national average was 34.1%, while North Dakota was at the other end of the scale with just 14.1% left.
The cost of living in New Jersey appears to be a key factor in why most millennials choose to stay with their parents. Being independent is too expensive, and finding work elsewhere seems to be a challenge, although the specific reason why this affects New Jerseyans more than elsewhere is unclear.
7. Wyoming's suicide rate is much higher than the national average.
In 2020, about 1.2 million Americans attempted suicide. Nearly 46,000 succeeded. Suicide is a leading cause of death and occurs across all demographic groups. But of all the states in America, Wyoming has the worst problem with it.
Wyoming's suicide rate was 30.5 per 100,000 people. That's more than twice the national average (14). It's also the highest per capita. In 2023, while it appears to have dropped slightly to 29.3, it's still higher than all other states. The sheriff of Casper, the state's largest city, said they respond to suicide calls twice as often as shoplifting calls.
The state is trying to address the issue, though the reasons behind it remain complex and mysterious. Some point out that Wyoming has long been the heart of “cowboy country,” a place where men are stereotypically expected to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves, where you have to “man up” rather than deal with serious issues.
6. Kentucky has the highest cancer rate in the country.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States after cardiovascular disease. On average, there are 438 cases of cancer for every 100,000 Americans, and about 2 million people are diagnosed with it each year.
A state like New Mexico is at the very end of the scale with 361.1 cases per 100,000 people, making them one of the lowest rates in the entire country and well below the national average. But unfortunately, Kentucky is at the opposite end of things. Kentucky has 510.2 cases per 100,000 people, giving it the highest cancer incidence rate in the country. It also has the highest cancer death rate.
Breast cancer and lung cancer were the two most common types in the state. The exact causes cannot be clearly identified, but everything from diet and weight to physical activity and pollution can influence the rates.
5. The murder rate in St. Louis is much higher than the national average.
In 2020, the U.S. murder rate was 6.52 murders per 100,000 people. Historically, that's been higher than it's been since 2001. While larger cities are often labeled as unsafe, with New York and Chicago standing out for their violence, none come close to being the deadliest cities in the country, an honor taken by St. Louis.
In 2019, there were 194 homicides in St. Louis. That number rose to 263 in 2020, 200 in 2021, and 200 again in 2022. Per 100,000 residents, that’s a homicide rate of 69.4. Compared to the national average of 6.52, that’s a staggering increase.
Baltimore is the second deadliest city, and that rate drops significantly to 51.1. Chicago, often mentioned in the media for gun violence, is in 10th place with 24 homicides. In 2017, New York City's murder rate was just 3.7, not even in the top 50.
4. The cost of living in Hawaii is much higher than the rest of the country.
Hawaii is the only state in America that is considered a tropical vacation spot. Almost a million people visit Hawaii every month, so it is safe to say that people enjoy being there. However, living there can be a different matter entirely, as the cost of living in Hawaii is significantly higher than anywhere else in America.
After Manhattan, Honolulu is the most expensive city in America to live in, with the cost of living running 97.6% above the national average. It also works out to be more than 20% higher than the average wage. This is mainly due to the remoteness of the island nation. All supplies are flown in or shipped in by boat, making everything more expensive. Groceries in Honolulu are 60% more expensive than the national average, and eggs are, on average, three times more expensive than in any other city.
The average home in Hawaii costs over $730,000, and only 29% residents can afford to own their own home. The average two-bedroom apartment costs $1,651 statewide, and in Honolulu, a two-bedroom apartment will set you back $3,500.
3. Billings, Montana, has the highest depression rate in America.
We've already seen that Wyoming has the highest suicide rate in America, but that may be partly because people aren't as open to seeking help for things like depression. If they were, maybe the statistics in Billings, Montana, would be different. Billings has the highest depression rate in the country.
About 7.1%of the entire U.S. population is diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Keep in mind that these are just people diagnosed, so the real number is likely much higher, and many people simply haven't sought help.
At the city level, Billings, Montana, had 31% residents diagnosed with depression. That's more than four times the national average. Only two other cities scored more than 30%, and those were Knoxville and Kingsport-Bristol.
Why has Billings become such a center for depression? There are actually a number of potential reasons that have been studied, ranging from vitamin D deficiency to high altitude and a high prevalence of populations most susceptible to depression and mental illness.
2. West Virginia is the most overweight state in America
There has been no shortage of media coverage of the average American's diet and weight for decades, and America is often, albeit incorrectly, considered the "fattest" country in the world. This doesn't change the fact that many Americans live unhealthy lifestyles, and about 30.7% of them are overweight.
Among all the states, West Virginia stands out for its obesity. Only West Virginia and Kentucky have a self-reported obesity prevalence greater than 40%, and while Kentucky has a self-reported obesity prevalence of 40.3%, West Virginia has a self-reported obesity prevalence of 40.6%.
1. Louisiana is considered the most polluted state in America.
Louisiana is known for many things, including Cajun cuisine and Mardi Gras, but it also has a more disturbing distinction: it is the most polluted state in the country.
The state is loaded with industries that produce large amounts of toxins that have been polluting air quality and waterways for years. In 2022, studies linked Louisiana's astonishingly high cancer rates to extreme air pollution. It's so bad that the stretch between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is literally known as Cancer Alley.
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