# Travel >> Destinations >> United States

Is New Jersey the Angriest State? No—West Virginia, Kentucky Rank Higher

New Jersey is not consistently ranked as America's angriest state. Multiple metrics point elsewhere.

Key Studies

Study/Metric	Angriest State(s)	NJ Rank
WalletHub (2023, 28 metrics)	West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma	~22nd
Gallup Well-Being (2019)	WV, KY, OK (lowest emotional health)	3rd best emotional health
Road Rage (NHTSA fatal crashes)	New Mexico, South Carolina, Wyoming	Not top 10
Mental Health (NSDUH depression)	WV, KY, LA, MS, OK	Mid-range

Why Perceptions Differ

High density → more observable friction (traffic, queues)
Media stereotypes (Jersey Shore, Sopranos)
Actual stress: high COL, taxes, commute—but also high income, services

Anger Is Complex

No single metric captures "angriest." West Virginia appears consistently due to economic distress, health crises, opioid epidemic. NJ's stressors are real but differ in nature.

The 10 States of the Great Plains

Who Governs Massachusetts? Understanding the State's Government Structure

United States