Most Americans consider a point of pride to be a patriot, but who can say they are the most patriotic? Well, WalletHub did a study of all 50 states to see who would win the red, white and blue race to be the most patriotic. Here are some of the things they considered and who won the title:
The Average Number of Military Enlistees
First let’s go through some stats!
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Alaska and Texas have the highest average number of military enlistees.
Whereas Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island, North Dakota, and Vermont, have the lowest number.
Number of Veterans Per Capita
Coming in with the most veterans per capita are Virginia, Hawaii, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska.
The states with the fewest veterans per capita are New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, and Utah.
Number of Peace Corps Volunteers Per Capita
The states with the most Peace Corps volunteers per capita are Oregon, Maryland, Virginia, Montana, and Vermont.
The states with the fewest are Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Percentage of Voters Who Participated in the 2020 Presidential Election
The states with the highest percentage of voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election are New Hampshire, Maryland, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon and New Jersey.
The states with the lowest turnout are West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Alabama.
Volunteer Rate
The states with the highest volunteer rates are Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Utah.
Whereas Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Florida and Kentucky have the lowest.
Blue States Vs. Red States
According to the WalletHub study, the winners of the more patriotic award go to Blue States, with an average ranking of 24.92, compared with Red states who have an average ranking of 26.08.
States were classified as “red” or “blue” based on how they voted in the 2020 presidential election.
20. New Mexico
Starting us off is New Mexico ranked at 20.
New Mexico ranks 10th for military engagement but 26th for civic engagement.
19. Idaho
Idaho comes in at 19 in the ranking for the most patriotic state.
It is 18 for both civic engagement and military.
18. Wyoming
Wyoming takes the 18th spot on the list overall…
…and 7th for military engagement.
17. North Carolina
North Carolina makes the list at 17th most patriotic state.
It ranks higher for military engagement at No. 6 and slides down the list for civic engagement at No. 32.
16. Utah
Although Utah ranks pretty low on the list at No. 46 for veterans per capita…
Utah secured a spot in the top 20 at No. 16 overall.
15. Maine
Maine is the 15th-most patriotic state and…
Maine also comes in at 8th for civic engagement.
14. Delaware
Delaware comes in at No. 14 overall for most patriotic.
And it shines bright in the civic engagement ranking at No. 11.
13. Colorado
Colorado is not only lucky number 13 in the ranking for most patriotic state…
But it also ranks No. 15 for civic engagement and No. 12 for military engagement. Colorado also hits a high ranking for volunteer rate coming in at No. 4.
12. South Dakota
South Dakota hits the list at No. 12 for patriotism and No. 10 for civic engagement.
Although it ranked No. 48 for having the least Peace Corp Volunteers, it does have the second highest volunteer rate. It also sadly had the lowest percentage of voting adults in the 2020 presidential election. Come on guys, you can do better!
11. Washington
Washington ranks at the 11th-most patriotic state in the good old USofA.
It also ranks No. 14 in military engagement and civic engagement.
10. Iowa
Iowa hits the list at number 10.
Even though it ranked 41st in military engagement it balances it out with ranking No.4 for civic engagement moving it up the list overall.
9. New Hampshire
New Hampshire is the 9th most patriotic state in America.
It comes in even higher for the percentage of adults who voted in the 2020 presidential election at No. 4 and No. 6 for civic engagement.
8. Vermont
Despite Vermont coming in at No. 49 for the average number of military enlistees…
It tops the chart at No. 1 for Peace Corps volunteers per capita. It also comes in at No. 2 for civic engagement.
7. Hawaii
Lucky number 7! Hawaii ranks as 7th-most patriotic state in the U.S.
Hawaii has the 5th most veterans per capita and ranks No. 2 in military engagement.
6. Maryland
Maryland is way up in the ranking at the 6th-most patriotic state in America.
It has the 5th highest percentage of voters who participated in the 2020 presidential election.
It also ranks 3rd for most Peace Corps volunteers per capita.
5. Oregon
Oregon ranks 5th for Patriotism.
Oregon also comes in at No. 5 for Peace Corps volunteers per capita, No. 3 for highest percentage of participating voters in the 2020 election and No. 3 for civic engagement.
4. North Dakota
Even though North Dakota ranks pretty low on the list for average numbers of Peace Corps volunteers as well as average numbers of military enlistees…
it still managed to come in 4th on the overall list. It also ranks pretty high up there coming in at No. 5 for civic engagement.
3. Virginia
Virginia ranks No. 3 on the list for most patriotic state.
For military engagement, Virginia comes in at the No. 3. It has the 2nd most veterans per capita and it ranks 4th for Peace Corps volunteers per capita.
2. Montana
Here comes Montana, holding the official runner up position at 2nd-most patriotic state in the U.S.
Additionally they rank No. 2 for the most Peace Corps volunteers per capita, No. 1 for civic engagement and No. 4 for Veterans per capita.
1. Alaska
And the winner is… Alaska comes in at No. 1 on the list for most patriotic states in America.
It also ranks No. 1 for the most veterans per capita, and No. 2 for the average number of military enlistees.
