What is the most all-around depressing US state to live in?

Wendell Gee wrote:

Dial it up wrote:

Generally, yes that is correct. Obviously other than the wash u faculty part. However I would bet very few of them are from Missouri or exemplify the actual characteristics of Missouri in any way. Much in the same way as pistol waven new haven isn't the intellectual capital of the world just because Yale exists.

Nobody is saying Missouri lacks a single positive quality, but since we aren't going to list and analyze every single quality of every single state we are left with making generalizations based off of our experiences. My experience is that Missouri is one of the worst states in America.

I don't agree with Dial It Up on much, but MO would be in my bottom 10 for sure.

Nothing like a lack of appreciation for the (please dont)show me state to bring enemies together

mwr wrote:

Anti-American Dream wrote:

Sorry man, but for me personally, none of those things are inspiring. I suppose if I was born in, and had never left the state of Missouri I may be impressed by the Ozarks or St. Louis. I suppose you could certainly do worse than St. Louis, though.

Those aren't inspiring for YOU personally? I thought the title of this thread was "What is the most depressing state to live in?", not "Try to guess the most exciting and comfortable state for the O.P to live in while simultaneously trashing other states that he hasn't visited enough to actually know anything about but thinks that they are bad based on a complete generalization of an entire region through one small and insignificant observation".

Well what am I missing? I always welcome other viewpoints.

Well I really can't see how Missouri would be justified as being the most all around depressing state in the U.S. as it's not even close to being the one with the highest rate of depression. Additionally, in lumping all the Midwest states together as one big prairie with a bunch of hillbillies it shows that you don't know much about the Midwest at all. The majority of people in Missouri are well-educated and friendly, very high degree of high school and college graduation. Obviously, as with any state in the U.S., if you visit the rural areas there may be people with less education and a more "country" style of living, but that is in no way unique to Missouri and is not indicative of the state as a whole. As for natural features, the state is rich with a beautiful natural landscape. Rivers, lakes, extensive forests, mountains (yes small ones, but mountains nonetheless), and prairies. Great fishing and hiking opportunities. People travel from all around to fish the lakes and rivers, and many come to see the wonderful autumn foliage, which is some of the best in the country. Those praising Northern Arkansas for its beauty would do well to take a look at Southern Missouri. Finally, there's the cities. St. Louis and Kansas City have a lot to offer, including museums, great food (bbq), and good professional sports teams. Cardinals are always in it, the Blues are a perennial power, the Chiefs are looking strong, and the Royals won the World Series last year. Not too bad for a state that you would rank at the bottom of your list.

Fair enough. That's good feedback. So which state do you believe is the least desirable? Missouri has a few votes, but it seems like most people say Oklahoma. I think Oklahoma is my vote as well.

Has no one mentioned New Jersey?! Seriously, what a dump. Anyone saying any Midwestern state is worse than NJ is delusional.

gleeyack wrote:

Has no one mentioned New Jersey?! Seriously, what a dump. Anyone saying any Midwestern state is worse than NJ is delusional.

Nah I don't think anyone has said NJ yet. I don't know much about it, but I haven't heard the best things about it. The Jersey Shore tv show didn't exactly do it any favors either haha. However, it does have pretty convenient access to NYC, which is usually considered in the top 5 of most desirable cities in the world.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't NJ boast around the highest income in the country?

macdaddy wrote:

Lots of Illinois hate... I'd say the vast majority of people who live in Illinois enjoy it - especially those closer to Chicago.

Huh? Chicagoland has some of the most miserable people I have ever been around. The sad thing is we just keep coming back for more and take it as our fate.

a;lda wrote:

Results from a quick google

10. Utah

9. Idaho

8. Colorado

7. Oregon

6. New Hampshire

5. Minnesota

4. W. Virginia

3. Arkansas

2. Indiana

1. Rhode Island

http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/depression-nation-16-saddest-states/17/

The fact that North dakota and any of the other colder than alaska states aren't on that list makes it lose all credibility.

Florida has no culture

o.O wrote:

a;lda wrote:

Results from a quick google

10. Utah

9. Idaho

8. Colorado

7. Oregon

6. New Hampshire

5. Minnesota

4. W. Virginia

3. Arkansas

2. Indiana

1. Rhode Island

http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/depression-nation-16-saddest-states/17/

The fact that North dakota and any of the other colder than alaska states aren't on that list makes it lose all credibility.

that list is horrible.

I've lived in Flemington, NJ and Medford, NJ is an excellent place to live. Get off the turnpike, so much to do. Christie has crushed the state, mass exodus, have lived in St. Louis too, incomparable to NJ, Midwest is depressing

I've lived in Flemington, NJ and Medford, NJ is an excellent place to live. Get off the turnpike, so much to do. Christie has crushed the state, mass exodus, have lived in St. Louis too, incomparable to NJ, Midwest is depressing

Alaska is awesome wrote:

Dude, if you get depressed in Montana, Wyoming, or Alaska, you're not doing it right. Get out and enjoy the greatness of the outdoors. Those are great states.

Louisiana and Mississippi are the most depressing, hands down. Poor economy. Outdoors is flat and not scenic. The weather is humid 9 months of the year. The water and beaches are awful. You're a loooooooooong drive to any place worth visiting.

Actually the topography north MS is quite beautiful. It's not flat like you say but mostly gently rolling hills. Stunningly green in the summer and just as colorful in the spring and fall as the states in the northeast.

BigToney wrote:

I've lived in Flemington, NJ and Medford, NJ is an excellent place to live. Get off the turnpike, so much to do. Christie has crushed the state, mass exodus, have lived in St. Louis too, incomparable to NJ, Midwest is depressing

The population of New Jersey grew over 2% from 2010-2015. Not huge, but certainly not a "mass exodus" by any definition.

The Financial crisis of 2008-2009 is what New Jersey is having issues recovering from. What else would you expect from an economy that is based heavily on the pharmaceutical and financial industries? You're in a perennial bubble, with outrageous housing prices, all while being taxed to the brim to pay for very high public employee salaries.

Sorry Missouri fans, here's yet another survey of the worst states to live in:

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/americas-10-worst-states-to-live-in-2016.html?slide=9

1) Arkansas

2) Missouri

3) Oklahoma

4) Louisiana

5) Tennessee

Former mass wrote:

I'm shocked no one says Massachusetts. I lived their 25 years ago. Provincial. Horrible Climate. NYC's little brother. The puritan ethic just pollutes the culture--Claiming to be progressive, but the home of some of the most virulent racists I've ever met-and I've also spent considerable time in Kentucky. The south Boston busing riots of the 1970s were as bad anything that went on in the south. At least in Mississippi, one expects it.

Oh, worst drivers and roads in north America. Traffic reports at 1:00 AM? An hour to get from Framingham to downtown--what is it--15 miles or so? And this was on a toll road.

Outside of the Boston area, Mass is kind of a dump. Although some people like the Cape and Berkshires. And very provincial. But Mass does have high standards of living with good schools, hospitals, night life, restaurants etc, at least within the Boston area.

BeantownBaby wrote:

The most depressing state is Massachusetts outside of the 128 belt.

No, you have to go outside 495

Actually, the best parts of Massachusetts are outside of Boston. There's not just Cape Cod but Cape Ann as well. And western Massachusetts, including places like Lee, Lenox, and Williamstown, is pretty much my favorite part of the country.

I've been to 45/50 states, and I'll say:

1) Oklahoma

2) Mississippi

stand apart from the crowd. Not much natural beauty in those places and the populus is below average in a lot of ways. Not much that's attractive about their cities, either.

Indiana and Illinois are right up there, sure, but each has some redeeming qualities that pull it well in front of OK and MS. You could say this about a lot of states: MO, AL, SC, DE, NM, NV, AR, WV, OH. I would put all these in the second tier, but they are well clear of OK and MS.

North Dakota has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, I think that in itself removes it from the discussion. Unemployment is one of the biggest causes of depression.

Florida- I can't even believe people are suggesting it. Sure, there are some depressing spots, but it has so much that's great: as others have said, sun, sports, strong economy, cities, women, beaches.