Which US States Have The Friendliest (and Rudest) People
"Wyoming, because there are no people there."
"No one is answering Alaska because fewer than a million people live here. It's a very friendly place, and as long as you do not stand in the middle of the road to take a picture, we love tourists."
"I have lived in Illinois, Colorado, and now New Mexico. Whenever family comes to visit us in New Mexico, they talk about how absolutely nice and welcoming everyone is here and how you do not see that back home (in Illinois, for example). So, I will say New Mexico."
"New York. I was shocked. All my life, I heard about how mean and aggressive people in New York City and the state were. When I went, all I saw was kindness and compassion. Their language is curt and aggressive, but their actions are totally different. I saw a homeless guy accidentally tip over his shopping cart into the street. People rushed to help him, and though they were verbally irritated, they all helped him pick up his belongings and get back on the sidewalk."
"Vermont. Nice old grandpas."
"I have lived all over, and I have to say, despite their reputation, people who live in New York might be the most solid. The South has more 'neighborly' people, but they can be overly nice (or nosy) at times. I currently live in Los Angeles, and it's probably the worst, though."
"I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly people are in North Carolina."
"I have lived all over the US. I'm going to say Nebraska. Genuinely nice."
"Hawaii — my wife and I were born there, and the people are amazingly friendly! Also quite friendly here in Oregon!"
"I don't know, but it sure as hell isn't fucking Florida."
"I lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and now Florida, and visited most states in the Eastern half of the US, and some in the Western half. I would say Tennessee has the friendliest people. The worst are in Florida."
"Michigan."
"Minnesota."
"Southern Californians are definitely the most chill. You can walk into any bar, club, or restaurant and meet someone cool. I think the nicest, in terms of cookie-baking-grandma kind of niceness, is probably Maine."
"I have traveled to nearly all states multiple times for work. I would have to say Iowa. I've also done their bike ride across the state. They truly set the standard for nice."
"I have lived in numerous places. Hawaii is the nicest place — assuming you adapt to it. I'm semi-serious when I say Hawaii is not part of the US. It has its own art, music, and outlook on life. You treat the locals with respect, and they're kind in return."
"Wisconsin."
"Hawaii. I have lived in five or six different states and am notoriously antisocial, and Hawaii was the only place I've lived where I had legitimate friends — and not because of anything I had done. They are very community-oriented. Everyone is family."
"Definitely not Connecticut."
"In Connecticut, I had an issue with my car, so I pulled into a gas station. Every single person who pulled in after me offered to help in some way. One guy was a carpenter and had a van full of tools that he offered me to use. One guy worked at the landscaping company next to the gas station and said he would help me push my car over to their parking lot so I could use their tools. I knew the issue was that the metal clamp keeping the hose on the transmission broke off, so I was leaking transmission fluid. I just zip-tied it on to drive up the hill to a mechanic to get a new one. When I was going to leave, this older lady chillin' in her car said she would follow me up the hill to make sure I got there safe. When I pulled into the mechanic's parking lot, she beeped and waved with a big smile. People in Connecticut and New England in general get a bad reputation, but there is so much kindness everywhere here."
"I'm from New Jersey, so I'm used to some abrasive but friendly strangers, if that makes sense. Like, I will hold the door for you, but call you a shmuck while I do it. I travel to North Carolina often (I know we need to get out of your state, but I have family there), and the people there are generally nice for no reason. There's lots of baby-name calling — 'honey,' 'sweetheart' — even if they do not know you. Also, courtesy is kind of just a given there. Part of me is creeped out by the overt kindness because I'm used to most people just minding their business and not being too much."
"Utah, for a creepy, fake friendliness."
"Everyone shits on Ohio, but those people do not care who you are — you're always invited."
"Just stand on a Midtown sidewalk in New York City looking at your phone, baffled, and a couple of folks will ask if you need help. I have now lived in the Twin Cities in Minnesota for 15 years, and still think they are the unfriendliest people on Earth."
"Louisiana, I have found, is the friendliest state I have been to."
"Colorado has pretty friendly people."
"Oregon. The only people who aren't accepted are those who are prejudiced against minority communities. Otherwise, people go out of their way to be nice. Southern states can be very nice too, but unfortunately, a lot of their communities are not very tolerant of other cultures, religions, sexualities, and ethnic backgrounds. What's great about Oregon is that, even in the less populated areas, people are more or less accepting of all walks of life. Everybody is laidback and friendly. Violent crime is nearly nonexistent compared to other populated states."
"I'm going to give it to Kansas. I grew up there in the 1990s and 2000s, born to immigrants from Southeast Asia. Everyone was welcoming, and I never felt like an outsider. Hell, the people who sponsored my dad and uncle were Americans born and raised in Kansas, and I will lovingly call them my grandparents (rest in peace to both of them). Zero issues with racism there."
"I have lived in quite a few states. I found western New York to be the friendliest. Boston, while a beautiful city, was tougher to meet people in. Bostonians told me that Maine was even harder on any 'outsiders,' but I have no regrets about living there. I did eventually make some great friends. I also like New Jersey people — they call it like they see it."
"I have been in Texas my entire life. It used to be very friendly. It's not that way anymore. Texas has become a terrible place to live, mired in poverty, wage stagnation, and blind devotion to all things Red Hat. Major cities still have a lot of diversity, but everyone pretty much just sticks to their own these days."
"West Virginia. I haven't been there many times, but have only had positive experiences."
"I can safely assure you it is not Pennsylvania."
"I moved to Austin, Texas, from Northern California. Within the first couple of weeks of living here, multiple times, while just walking down the street past a person, they've been like, 'Hello' or 'Hey, how are you doing?' I did not understand. My first thought was, 'What do you want from me?' I was not used to people saying hello just to say hello. I know Texas has a reputation on the political spectrum, but people are very friendly here. Generally."
"I have lived in 11 states and been to a lot more — Iowa, definitely Iowa."
"As someone who has traveled over 75 percent of the country, Maryland. Maine is a close second. I cannot begin to tell you how often I've been invited to someone's home after a regular conversation. They will not let you merge in traffic, but you can come try their bean dip on a Thursday."
"Alabama, specifically the Birmingham area. I got to interact with people from all walks of life, and all went above and beyond to be generous and kind."
"I nominate Delaware, because they use turn signals when driving."
"Georgia is nice. Also, I live in Idaho. Anyone who says Idaho is their answer is either a liar or has only been here a few times. People here can be quite the assholes to outsiders."
"Indiana."
"Kentucky by far! I worked there in 2023 and was absolutely blown away by how nice people were. It was like they knew me personally."
"I have been to every state. It's between Alaska and Minnesota. I grew up in Chicago and currently live in California. Of all 50 states, the only state I have ever been threatened in is Mississippi. As for why: In Alaska, people shared time and food with me and a buddy on a motorcycle trip. It happened in many small towns — people were great. In Minnesota, I had the pleasure of going to two major sporting events, and the people were so kind. It was another motorcycle trip, and we even bar-hopped with some kind Minnesotans. The issues in Mississippi were racially motivated. I do not hold it against the state, but it happened three times in one eight-hour leg of a trip."
"I have lived in 12 states, and the friendliest people in the US live in Louisiana. I have met people in line at the grocery store who invited me to their crawfish boil — and meant it. The least friendly is South Carolina. They want to know where your grandmama went to high school and turn away if the answer isn't right. We lived there for three years and made two friends."
"South Dakota. I have been to 30-plus states for work. Hands down: South Dakota. Most hospitable, friendliest people I have ever met."
"I used to think Washington state, but I was there recently, and their dislike for outsiders is palpable. I drove down to Oregon, and the difference was like night and day. They were the most welcoming, friendliest people everywhere I went."
And lastly: "There's no single answer; it's usually dependent on your ethnicity and the state you're from. Try driving a car with California plates through Texas, Idaho, or parts of the South, and see how 'friendly' folks are."
So, what do you think of these takes? Do you agree or disagree? Let us know which state you believe has the friendliest (or unfriendliest) people in your experience by dropping your stories in the comments below!
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