It's human nature to desire recognition. Children want to show off their talent to their parents. Employees want to stand out at work. And even citizens of cities or entire countries derive a patriotic thrill from being known as the best or largest place in the world. Unfortunately, being outstanding isn't always a good thing, especially when you're better than everyone else at something unenviable or questionable.
10. Lake Michigan is undoubtedly 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 where you should be wary of entering the water, none is 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 this to other lakes known for high fatality rates, such as 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 fatalities are the norm year after year, and understandably so, as 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 caused by alcohol consumption while boating. But even the current annual statistics are far lower than those of Lake Michigan.
9. Every county in Mississippi has a teen pregnancy rate above the national average.
In 2012, Mississippi struggled with the fact that virtually every county in the state had a teen pregnancy rate higher than the national average. This was partly blamed on the state's historical failure to teach sex education in schools, instead relying solely on abstinence-only instruction. Clearly, this wasn't very effective. So they planned to transition to a new educational program to address the numbers.
Fast forward to 2020, and Mississippi's overall teen pregnancy rate has indeed declined. However, like every other state, Mississippi still has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the country. In fact, by global standards, things are still pretty bad.
In 2012, the teen pregnancy rate in Mississippi reached 111 per 1,000. In some counties, this rate dropped to 71.9. However, 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. This still places Mississippi first in the United States, but is approaching 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 you, but the media certainly made something of the revelation that millennials in New Jersey are choosing 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 percentage of adult children aged 18 to 34 living with their parents. In 2015, 46.91 of them were still living at home. That's 101 more than a decade earlier. The national average was 34.11, while North Dakota was at the other end of the scale, with only 14.11.
The cost of living in New Jersey appears to be the key factor why most millennials choose to stay with their parents. Independence 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, approximately 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 American states, Wyoming has the most severe suicide problem.
Wyoming's suicide rate was 30.5 per 100,000 people. This is more than twice the national average (14). It is also the highest per capita rate. In 2023, although it appears to have dropped slightly to 29.3, it is 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 this problem, though the underlying causes 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're expected to "man up" rather than tackle 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 per 100,000 Americans, and approximately 2 million people are diagnosed with it annually.
A state like New Mexico ranks at the very bottom of the scale with 361.1 cases per 100,000 people, making it one of the lowest rates in the entire country and well below the national average. But unfortunately, Kentucky is at the opposite end of the spectrum. 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 mortality 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 environmental pollution can influence the rates.
5. The murder rate in St. Louis is much higher than the national average.
In 2020, the homicide rate in the United States was 6.52 murders per 100,000 people. This was historically higher than the rate since 2001. While larger cities are often labeled as unsafe, and New York and Chicago stand out for their violence, none of them come close to being among the deadliest cities in the country, an honor taken by St. Louis.
In 2019, there were 194 murders 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 murder rate of 69.4. Compared to the national average of 6.52, this is a staggering increase.
Baltimore is the second-deadliest city, with a significantly lower rate of 51.1. Chicago, often mentioned in the media for gun violence, ranks 10th with 24 homicides. In 2017, New York City's homicide rate was only 3.7, not even ranking 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 considered a tropical vacation spot. Nearly a million people visit Hawaii every month, so it's safe to say people enjoy it. 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 $97.61T above the national average. It's also more than $20.1T higher than the average wage. This is largely due to the island nation's remoteness. All supplies are flown in or shipped by boat, making everything more expensive. Grocery shopping in Honolulu is $60.1T 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 291,000 residents can afford their own home. The average two-bedroom apartment costs $1,651 statewide, while 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, perhaps the statistics in Billings, Montana, would be different. Billings has the highest depression rate in the country.
Approximately 7.1% of the US population has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Keep in mind that these are just people diagnosed, so the actual number is likely much higher; many people simply don't seek help.
At the city level, Billings, Montana, has a rate of 311,000 residents diagnosed with depression. This is more than four times the national average. Only two other cities scored higher than 301,000 residents: Knoxville and Kingsport-Bristol.
Why has Billings become such a depression hub? A number of potential causes 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.
For decades, the media has devoted no shortage of coverage to the average American's diet and weight, and America is often, albeit incorrectly, considered the "fattest" country in the world. This doesn't change the fact that many Americans lead unhealthy lifestyles, and approximately 30.7% of them are overweight.
Among all states, West Virginia stands out for its prevalence of excess weight. Only West Virginia and Kentucky have self-reported obesity rates above 40.1%, and while Kentucky's rate is 40.3%, West Virginia's is 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 alarming distinction: it is the most polluted state in the country.
The state is laden with industrial plants that produce large quantities of toxins that have been polluting air quality and waterways for years. In 2022, studies linked the astonishingly high cancer rates in Louisiana to extreme air pollution. It's so bad that the stretch between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is literally known as Cancer Alley.