What is America's favorite state?

Lifestyle

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10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 23

By Jamie Ballard for YouGov, Stacker

What is America's favorite state?

Hawaii is America’s favorite state in 2025, according to a new YouGov survey that asked 2,000+ Americans which states they view most and least favorably. Meanwhile, fewer Americans have a favorable view of Washington, D.C. than of any state.

Hawaii leads the 50 states both in the share of Americans who view it very or somewhat favorably (68%) and in the percentage who view it very favorably (36%).

Following Hawaii in the favorability rating are North Carolina (62%), Alaska (61%), Tennessee (60%), and Colorado (59%). Hawaii also leads every other state in net favorability — the share of Americans who view it favorably minus the share who view it unfavorably. Hawaii's +53 net favorability leads Alaska (+47), Montana (+45), and North Carolina (+45).

Only 37% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the District of Columbia, behind the least-popular states of Mississippi (38%) and Rhode Island (44%). 36% of Americans view Washington, D.C. unfavorably and the net favorability of the nation's capital (+1) also is lower than that of every state.

“While Washington, D.C. is a very popular tourist destination, many Americans view it through a political lens,” says Carl Bialik, VP of Data Science and U.S. Politics Editor at YouGov. “This likely contributed to the nation’s capital having a lower net favorability score than all 50 states.”

YouGov's list of America's top 20 favorite states.
YouGov


While 19% of Americans have very unfavorable views of Washington, D.C., more do for California (25%) and Alabama (20%). New York and Florida are viewed very unfavorably by 19% each.

Among people who live in cities, 38% have a very favorable view of Hawaii. 36% have a very favorable opinion of California, and 33% have a very favorable opinion of New York. Among people who live in suburbs, 43% have a very favorable opinion of Hawaii and 30% have a very favorable opinion of Florida. Slightly fewer have very favorable opinions of Alaska (25%) and California (25%). People who live in towns are most likely to have very favorable opinions of Texas (32%), Florida (30%), and Montana (28%). The states that are viewed very favorably by the greatest shares of Americans who live in rural areas are Florida (29%), Texas (27%), South Carolina (26%), and Tennessee (26%).

Data chart showing how people who live in cities are more likely than people who don't to have very favorable views of California and New York.
YouGov


The state that city dwellers are most likely to view very unfavorably is Alabama (27%). California is the state seen very unfavorably by the largest shares of people who live in suburbs (27%), towns (30%), and rural areas (28%).

Democrats and Republicans have different views of several states, aligned with the partisan lean of those states. Among the biggest differences for Republicans:

  • 52% of Republicans and 13% of Democrats have a very favorable view on Florida.
  • 45% of Republicans and 14% of Democrats have a very favorable view of Texas.
  • 34% of Republicans and 8% of Democrats have a very favorable view of Wyoming.

States that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to view very favorably are California (49% vs. 12%), Hawaii (52% vs. 27%), Massachusetts (34% vs. 11%) and New York (36% vs. 15%).

Data chart showing how Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to have very favorable views of Texas and Florida.
YouGov


Meanwhile, among the biggest differences in unfavorability:

  • 57% of Republicans and 1% of Democrats view California very unfavorably.
  • 34% of Republicans and 1% of Democrats view New York very unfavorably.
  • 31% of Republicans and 3% of Democrats view the District of Columbia very unfavorably.

States that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to view very unfavorably include Florida (36% vs. 1%), Alabama (35% vs. 6%), and Texas (32% vs. 1%).

While the sample size in the poll for individual states is small — even for the most-populous states — it's evident that people living in the biggest and oft-divisive states are more likely to view them favorably. Among people who live in California, 82% have a favorable view of the state, including 58% who have a very favorable view of it. Among people who live in Texas, 74% have a favorable view of it, including 49% who have a very favorable view of their state. Florida residents are more likely to have a favorable view than an unfavorable one (72% vs. 28%). New Yorkers are also more likely to have a favorable view of their state than an unfavorable one (79% vs. 20%).

Taylor Orth contributed to this article.

This story was produced by YouGov and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

 

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What is America's favorite state?

Lifestyle

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 23

By Jamie Ballard for YouGov, Stacker

What is America's favorite state?

Hawaii is America’s favorite state in 2025, according to a new YouGov survey that asked 2,000+ Americans which states they view most and least favorably. Meanwhile, fewer Americans have a favorable view of Washington, D.C. than of any state.

Hawaii leads the 50 states both in the share of Americans who view it very or somewhat favorably (68%) and in the percentage who view it very favorably (36%).

Following Hawaii in the favorability rating are North Carolina (62%), Alaska (61%), Tennessee (60%), and Colorado (59%). Hawaii also leads every other state in net favorability — the share of Americans who view it favorably minus the share who view it unfavorably. Hawaii's +53 net favorability leads Alaska (+47), Montana (+45), and North Carolina (+45).

Only 37% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the District of Columbia, behind the least-popular states of Mississippi (38%) and Rhode Island (44%). 36% of Americans view Washington, D.C. unfavorably and the net favorability of the nation's capital (+1) also is lower than that of every state.

“While Washington, D.C. is a very popular tourist destination, many Americans view it through a political lens,” says Carl Bialik, VP of Data Science and U.S. Politics Editor at YouGov. “This likely contributed to the nation’s capital having a lower net favorability score than all 50 states.”

YouGov's list of America's top 20 favorite states.
YouGov


While 19% of Americans have very unfavorable views of Washington, D.C., more do for California (25%) and Alabama (20%). New York and Florida are viewed very unfavorably by 19% each.

Among people who live in cities, 38% have a very favorable view of Hawaii. 36% have a very favorable opinion of California, and 33% have a very favorable opinion of New York. Among people who live in suburbs, 43% have a very favorable opinion of Hawaii and 30% have a very favorable opinion of Florida. Slightly fewer have very favorable opinions of Alaska (25%) and California (25%). People who live in towns are most likely to have very favorable opinions of Texas (32%), Florida (30%), and Montana (28%). The states that are viewed very favorably by the greatest shares of Americans who live in rural areas are Florida (29%), Texas (27%), South Carolina (26%), and Tennessee (26%).

Data chart showing how people who live in cities are more likely than people who don't to have very favorable views of California and New York.
YouGov


The state that city dwellers are most likely to view very unfavorably is Alabama (27%). California is the state seen very unfavorably by the largest shares of people who live in suburbs (27%), towns (30%), and rural areas (28%).

Democrats and Republicans have different views of several states, aligned with the partisan lean of those states. Among the biggest differences for Republicans:

  • 52% of Republicans and 13% of Democrats have a very favorable view on Florida.
  • 45% of Republicans and 14% of Democrats have a very favorable view of Texas.
  • 34% of Republicans and 8% of Democrats have a very favorable view of Wyoming.

States that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to view very favorably are California (49% vs. 12%), Hawaii (52% vs. 27%), Massachusetts (34% vs. 11%) and New York (36% vs. 15%).

Data chart showing how Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to have very favorable views of Texas and Florida.
YouGov


Meanwhile, among the biggest differences in unfavorability:

  • 57% of Republicans and 1% of Democrats view California very unfavorably.
  • 34% of Republicans and 1% of Democrats view New York very unfavorably.
  • 31% of Republicans and 3% of Democrats view the District of Columbia very unfavorably.

States that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to view very unfavorably include Florida (36% vs. 1%), Alabama (35% vs. 6%), and Texas (32% vs. 1%).

While the sample size in the poll for individual states is small — even for the most-populous states — it's evident that people living in the biggest and oft-divisive states are more likely to view them favorably. Among people who live in California, 82% have a favorable view of the state, including 58% who have a very favorable view of it. Among people who live in Texas, 74% have a favorable view of it, including 49% who have a very favorable view of their state. Florida residents are more likely to have a favorable view than an unfavorable one (72% vs. 28%). New Yorkers are also more likely to have a favorable view of their state than an unfavorable one (79% vs. 20%).

Taylor Orth contributed to this article.

This story was produced by YouGov and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

 

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