ATLANTA – Georgia residents were found to be the least sociable according to a new study ranking sociable states in the US.
Release:
- A new study has named the most sociable states nationwide, based on 12 factors including time spent socializing, number of social venues and rates of volunteering.
- The study revealed that residents in Alaska are the most sociable, with an overall score of 63.7 out of 100.
- Alongside Alaska, Hawaii also ranked highly, placing fifth with a score of 58.8.
- On the opposite end of the study, Georgian residents were found to be the least sociable, with a score of just 31.9.
A new ranking has revealed the most and least sociable states in the country.
The study, conducted by QR Code Generator, examined 12 different metrics to create an index ranking of the most sociable states nationwide. Metrics included data on the number of bars and clubs per 100,000 people, self-reported data from the American Time User Survey on average minutes per day spent on social events, data on the number of civic organizations and volunteering population, and the number of sporting and music venues per capita. The metrics were each weighted and combined to give a total score and then ranked.
The index showed that Alaskan residents are the most sociable, receiving a score of 63.7 out of a possible 100. The population here has the second highest rate of volunteering in the US, with an average of 12% of people lending their time to groups, with only Michigan beating them at 13%.
The state has some of the lowest numbers of music venues, however this is made up for by the high numbers of average minutes spent per day on volunteer activities, just under 23, and the average minutes spent socializing and communicating (67). Additionally, there are over 14,500 civic organizations for people to take part in, and the average person donates 22 minutes to volunteering each day.
In second place is Maine, whose index score sits at 62.9. There are over 30,500 civic organizations in Maine, and the average resident spends 56.7 minutes socializing per day.
Residents here have access to over 30 sports venues, and over 25 bars and clubs (per 100,000 people) in the biggest cities in the region, which gives them plenty of opportunity for socializing. Furthermore, residents here have an above average (8%) rate of volunteering levels at 9% and have reported spending around 24 minutes each day on volunteer activities.
Ranking as third most sociable is Kansas with an index score of 62.2. The nearly 3 million residents in the state have access to over 140 bars and clubs and 80 sporting venues.
There are just over 54,300 civic organizations for residents to take part in and the average rate of volunteering in the state is approximately 11%. Kansas residents reported they spend an average of just under 16 minutes a day attending or hosting social events – 215% higher than the average (4.98).
Placing next with a score of 61.2 is Montana. According to the American Time Use Survey, Montana’s residents reported an average of 41 minutes per day spent socializing and a further 18 minutes on sporting recreation activities.
In the state currently, there are just over 23,800 civic organizations people can join, as well as around 114 bars, clubs, and sports venues, per 100,000 people, to spend their time in in the top cities and towns. Clearly, residents here are very happy spending time chatting with others as they have the highest time spent on telephones and emailing tasks at 32 minutes on average each day.
Hawaii ranks in fifth place, with a score of 58.8. The region has some of the highest reported times spent on calls and socializing at just over 67 minutes per day combined.
Despite ranking so highly, residents here reported a below-average amount of volunteering time at just 4.81 minutes on average per day – a 94% decrease from the average. However, the region has plenty of clubs and bars and can also boast of 21,700 civic organizations for residents.
Most sociable states, ranked
Rank State Score (out of 100) 1 Alaska 63.7 2 Maine 62.9 3 Kansas 62.2 4 Montana 61.2 5 Hawaii 58.8 6 Louisiana 57.4 7 Wyoming 57.3 8 Iowa 55.7 9 Oregon 55.4 10 Wisconsin 53.7
Next in line, Louisiana places sixth most sociable. Across the biggest cities in the state, there are over 300 bars and clubs per 100,000 people, alongside having approximately 58,600 civic organizations to join, earning the state a score of 57.4.
Following them is Wyoming in seventh place. The region saw a score of 57.3 out of 100 and sees around 42 minutes a day of socializing and communicating, according to the American Time Use survey.
Iowa places eighth on the list after gaining a score of 55.7. Here, there are over 58,000 civic organizations for residents, with an average of 41 minutes spent socializing in some form.
With a score of 55.4, Oregon ranks ninth. For its 4.2 million residents, Oregon has approximately 240 bars and clubs (per 100,000 people) to visit in its cities, with over 69,600 civic organizations for those not prone to evening partying.
Lastly, Wisconsin rounds out the top ten with an index score of 53.7. Residents here dedicate an average of 52 minutes each day to socializing, and the state has an above average volunteering rate of 9%.
On the opposite end of the study, Georgia was revealed to be the least sociable state, receiving a score of just 31.9. Here, only 5% of residents volunteer, and residents have the 19th lowest average time socializing per day at just 34 minutes.
Georgia is followed by Alabama as second least sociable with a score of 32.3 out of 100, and by Mississippi which had a score of 33.4 based on the 12 metrics assessed. Both have below average rates of just 4% of the population volunteering, and residents in both spend less than 2 minutes a day on hosting or attending social events.
They are followed by another Southern state, which had a score of 33.9. Kentucky takes fourth place, signaling a pattern for the South. For its 4.5 million residents, there are over 67,800 civic organizations, however the state reported an average of just 2 minutes per day spent on volunteering – a 78% decrease from the average.
Rounding out the bottom five is New Jersey, which received a score of just 34.1. The state is one of the more populated regions, with 9.2 million residents. Whilst the state gained a reputation for its party scene in the mid 2000s, people here reported an average of half a minute spent on average attending or hosting social events per day – an 89% decrease from the average.
Top ten least sociable states, ranked
Rank State Score (out of 100) 1 Georgia 31.9 2 Alabama 32.3 3 Mississippi 33.4 4 Kentucky 33.9 5 New Jersey 34.1 6 Virginia 37.6 7 South Carolina 37.7 8 Florida 38.0 8= Texas 38.0 9 Vermont 39.0 10 North Carolina 39.5
Commenting on the findings, Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator said: “While many would expect Southern states, known for their warm hospitality, to rank top of the list, it is interesting to see expectations flipped in the rankings.
“There can be different factors contributing to the social lives of citizens across states. The fact Alaska is so remote from the rest of the country could be a factor in its number one position, perhaps residents feel the need to build a better sense of community. As for states at the bottom end of the list, factors like funding to local venues can really have an impact and lower the number of opportunities people can have to meet.
“People need communities, and a good way to meet people and help your local area is through something like volunteering. There has been much recent talk of the importance of third places- ones where residents can hang out with one another, usually without spending any or much money- in the media recently, and it is important for local authorities to help citizens be social away from social media and technology.”
