Top Ten Underrated States In the U.S.

The Top Ten

Maine

Maine is in the New England region of the northeastern United States and is the easternmost state in the contiguous U.S. Its capital is Augusta, and its largest city is Portland. The state is known for its rugged coastline and maritime history, and it is famous for seafood cuisine, especially lobster... read more

Maine is not tropical or subtropical, in fact winters are bad here. But the summer is beautiful and actually quite warm! The northern Appalachians, The Acadia Coastline, deciduous forests, marshes, beaches, coastal cliffs, rivers, lakes and tide pools (especially in Acadia National Park), are all in Maine. Some of the last wild spots in the continental U.S where moose and bear plus marine mammals can thrive without too much human development.

I went there on a vacation once, thinking it was going to be boring. I was wrong! It was just really cool and it was like going to Cali, but there's not tons of people there(when I was there) The beaches were very clean and the weather is nice during the summer. The people were really nice and overall I had a great time.
Utah

Utah is a state in the western United States. It became the 45th state admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896. Utah is the 13th-largest, 31st-most populous, and 10th-least densely populated of the 50 states. It is known for its natural landscapes and significant Mormon population.

Utah is THE MOST underrated state. If you have ever been, you would know. Up north, there are mountains that tower the skies and have the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Plus, there is amazing skiing and snowboarding. When the Winter Olympics was held in Salt Lake in 2002, People called the snow "The Best Snow on Earth". Then if you go south, there is the most amazing red rock you'll ever see. There is nothing greater than the natural red rock formations in southern utah. It is stunning. No doubt one of the most underrated states in the U.S.

When you think of Utah you instantly think of one of two things; baron desert boring land, or skiing, however there is much more to the state itself. It has beautiful downtown urban areas, incredible suburban outskirts, and a lot of amazing geography to keep you occupied all day.
Minnesota

Minnesota is a state in the Midwestern United States. It was admitted as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858, created from the eastern portion of the Minnesota Territory.
The state is known for its lakes, natural beauty, and high standard of living. It has a cold climate, particularly in the winter... read more

Minnesota is the most underrated state in America. Minnesota is still the the only state to elect a professional wrestler as governor. They excel at relaxing: everyone has a cabin at the lake.. THey have the best, most plentiful cross-country ski trails of any urban area in the nation. It's not too expensive to live there, and with 20 Fortune 500 companies in the state, there are also plenty of jobs. When President Obama spoke recently in Cannon Falls, he started off his speech by commenting on the beautiful summer weather, inspiring some hearty Minnesotans to simply yell out, "Fishing! " Minnesota gave the world Prince and Bob Dylan. People come from around the world to be treated at the Mayo Clinic- The largest hospital in America. They have the Mall of America and laid down the first-ever indoor mall. Same-sex marriage is legal in Minnesota. Minnesota summers are packed with festivals. They host one of the best -- and most historic -- rock venues in the world, First Avenue.
With 11,000 lakes (we're too modest in our state slogan), Minnesota has more shoreline than California, Hawaii and Florida combined.. They survived snow storms that can destroy stadiums, and unlike New Yorkers, we actually go out and shovel our neighbors' walk instead of whining all day on Twitter about it.
Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Washington, on the south by California, on the east by Idaho, and on the southeast by Nevada.... read more

No foreign people ever even know this state but they really should. Oregon is full of all these beautiful signs made by Mother Nature herself, not by man. I mean, sure New York is cool with it's hundred story buildings and Los Angeles is close to a lot of attractions, but Oregon is a gem. There are thousands of hikes, lakes, forests and mountains to explore and plus, they aren't overrun by annoying tourists. Also, they named Oregon the beaver state and that makes us all sound like trappers with furs on our heads, but I haven't seen a real beaver in all the time I have lived here -my entire life-. Anyway, you should really just visit Oregon
Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
Its two largest cities are Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Philadelphia is known for being the home of the Liberty Bell and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches... read more

I have been to numerous cities across the USA. Detroit, Charlotte, Orlando, Chattanooga, San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Columbus, Cincy, Cleveland, and many more. I live in Pittsburgh, and it is honestly one of the most beautiful cities I've been to. Best city in PA, an PA is the best state out there.

This is underrated on the list of underrated states if you ask me. I'm from the county that inhabits that nub in the northeast, Erie County. Pretty good here. And philly and pitts, obviously. We have Gettysburg and the capitol, Harrisburg. Tscha! These list people are picky, picky, picky!
Idaho

Idaho is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. Idaho is the 14th largest, the 38th most populous, and the 7th least densely populated of the 50 United States. It is known for its mountainous terrain, agricultural output, and outdoor recreational activities.

Bro, Idaho is not just a bunch if potatoes, and we hate when people only ask about potatoes when they visit. Why not ask about how we legalized BASE jumping, or that we are one of the last frontiers of America, or that we are very nice, and funny people. Others think we are just a desert, but we have so many wonders that it's unimaginable. Also, why is Niagara Falls more popular than Shoshone falls when Shoshone falls is taller by more than 100 ft? Go to Idaho, and I know you'll love it.

I live here. And idaho is full of great people. Our cities are growing ( the Treasure Valley is one of the most heavy construction zones right now In the USA). And our colleges are getting quite a bit of fame and great economy. And yes it may be conservative but that's what keeps Idaho so great and polite.
North Carolina

North Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west, Virginia to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It is known for its diverse geography, from the Appalachian Mountains to the coastal... read more

I've have lived in North Carolina for all my life. I live in western Forsyth County, where the rolling foothills, and the YAdkin River start to meet the mountains. I have been everywhere in NC. I love living here. Massachusetts takes all of our revolution history, and Virginia takes away our colonial history. Ohio takes our history of being the first state of flight. when you take all those years of the Lost Colony, the revolution, the hornet's nest, and flight, there's not much left. We also have beautiful scenery everywhere in the state (Well, except for Rocky Mount). It's defidently underrated.

Durham-Chapel Hill is the 4th most educated city in the nation, based on combined measures of overall educational attaintainment, quality of education attained, and equity of educational attaintment by its citizens. It has a good school system and much lower cost of living than similar locations like San Franscisco and San Jose and is a great place for young professionals to move to start out.
Indiana

Indiana is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana is known for its manufacturing industry, particularly in automobiles and steel, and for hosting the Indianapolis 500 auto race.

Yes one of the most underrated states. The south edge has a bit warmer of weather and the north has a lot colder of weather. There is the sand dunes and lake Michigan to in the north by Hammond, and there is plenty of cities like Indianapolis, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Evansville, etc. There is also plenty of areas where it is mostly beautiful nature for people who's more into that like Brown County. Then there is farm lands in places like Tipton and Carrol counties for people who like that. Chicago metro leaks into Indiana with about 3-4 or so counties plus Cincinnati, Toledo, Detroit, Columbus, Dayton, and Louisville all being close to the border as well.
Something for everyone!
Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States, in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. It is known for its dairy production, especially cheese, and its progressive political history. Major cities include Milwaukee and Madison, the state capital.

Wisconsin is so underrated, even though it is one of the best states. States like California and New York are fun, but overrated. You run out of things to do once you've visited it like 4 times. Come to Wisconsin where we have the Wisconsin Dells, Lake Michigan, Madison, Bay Beach in Green Bay (also next to the Packer Stadium), Milwaukee Museum, Harley Davidson Museum, Madison (our capital), Devils Lake, Pioneer Village (its actually a lot of fun! ), House on a Rock, Cave of the Mounds, Apostle Island, and a LOT more! Yeah, we may be more fun than other states that are ALWAYS on top.

People think its all dairy farms that make cheese but that is mainly only the southern portion of the state. But the central and northern part of the state consist of beautiful cranberry marshes and thick tamarack swamps. It also contains exciting animals. In northernmost Wisconsin they have Lynx and even elk. In almost all parts of the state you can see Black Bear, wolf and even the occasional Cougar.
New Mexico

New Mexico is a state in the southwestern region of the United States. It shares borders with Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Known for its desert landscapes, Native American heritage, and Spanish colonial influence, New Mexico has a distinctive multicultural... read more

New Mexico is beautiful. Recently went on a New Mexico road trip (I am from California) and couldn't believe how much there was to see. Amazing National Parks/Monuments-- Bandelier, El Malpais and El Morro, White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns! Beautiful mountain camping areas near Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. The burning of Zozobra for Santa Fe Fiesta and the Albuquerque hot air balloon festival are two awesome events that are unique to New Mexico. Plus, probably the best thing about New Mexico, the food! You can get red and green New Mexican Hatch chilis on anything and everything. And sopapillas with honey! So delicious.

Easily the most unique and cultural state in the US. Has its own cuisine, architecture, music, and fusion of native and Latino cultures with modern technology. It's very historic! Diverse landscapes from the high desert to the snowy Rocky Mountains in the north. Ancient ruins, big caves, supervolcanoes, hot air balloons, skiing, tent rocks (only place in the world besides Cappadoccia). So much to see and not crowded!

The Newcomers

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Hawaii

Hawaii is the 50th and most recent state of the United States of America, receiving statehood on August 21, 1959. It is an archipelago located in the central Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is known for its unique culture, volcanic landscapes, and thriving tourism industry.
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Colorado

Colorado is a state in the United States that encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains. It is known for its scenic landscapes, outdoor recreational opportunities, and cities such as Denver and... read more

So much variety of activities available in this state it's incredible

The Contenders

Illinois

Illinois is a state in the midwestern region of the United States. It is the 6th most populous state and the 25th largest in terms of land area. Illinois is home to Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States.

I've lived in Illinois. Illinois in my opinion is such a beautiful state! We have prairies and beautiful trees and nature. I loved.play outside in my yard. We also have Chicago which honestly is a nice city. There is history about illinios.

No won says their favorite city in Chicago it's always New York or LA
Iowa

Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. The state has historically played a key role in U.S. presidential elections because its caucuses traditionally opened the primary season, although... read more

It's sad how easily bored and whiny city boys go around, and call the midwest, and mostly Iowa, a boring place with nothing to do and that only has racist hicks and farmland.
It's obvious these people never even went to Iowa, or just drove through it, because that automatically means Iowa is boring just because you were too lazy to explore it. Iowa is not all farmland. While farms make up a lot of it, other parts of it are hilly forest, lakes, towns and cities, etc.
Iowa has one of the best cities in America: Des Moines. We also have the best state capitol building.
It's sad that whiny people like to dismiss Iowa as a boring state with nothing to do. Iowa is exactly like every other state. You're just too lazy to look for something exciting.
California

California is a state in the Southwestern United States. With 39.6 million residents across a total area of about 163,696 square miles (423,970 square kilometers), California is the most populous U.S. state and the third largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento, and the largest city is Los Angeles.... read more

Ok, so HOW is this even on here. California is literally what everybody outside of the U.S. thinks of when they think of America. It's all stereotypes, too.

Not underrated. Too many immigrants that are illegal, and are ignorant. And fat and ugly.

Extremely overrated state. It should be the very last on this list.
Alabama

Alabama is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. The state played a central role in the American civil rights movement during the 20th century.

The people here are very friendly. I'm from here and I know that everyone stereotypes us. Firstly, we do not always say "y'all" at the end of every sentence. I actually refrain from using that terrible contraction and say "you guys" instead. And we do not all have farms and tractors. There are more tractors in the north than here in all honesty. And no, we do not kiss our sisters or do any of that incest crap. We are just like northerners but we have accents and hotter weather. We also drink sweet tea though I prefer warm tea.

Alabama gets a bad reputation for old stereotypes that have never died but anyone who has visited Alabama in the past 5 years knows it for it's wonderfully kind people, gorgeous scenery, fun cities and tons of things to do and see. Alabama is on the up and up as it continues to lower the unemployment rate, improve infrastructure and this year we moved from number 50 to number 2 in pre-school and pre-k education!
Nebraska

Nebraska is a state that lies in both the Great Plains and the Midwestern United States. Its state capital is Lincoln. The state's economy is largely based on agriculture, especially corn and cattle, and it is also known for its role in U.S. westward expansion.

Well, we are certainly more underrated then Pennslyvania, Michigan, Alabama, or Wisconsin. They each have known major landmarks or cities that almost any American can name. Can any one tell me a town in Nebraska? Or that can point it out on a map? I didn't think so.

I was born in Nebraska, and I know by fact that, as a child, there were many things to do there. The zoo, the old market, and so on. Therefore, Nebraska is very underrated.

I was born in Nebraska! Go Huskers!
Kansas

Kansas is a state in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansa Native American people, who inhabited the area. Kansas is known for its agricultural output, especially wheat production, and for its historical significance in the pre-Civil War conflict known as Bleeding Kansas.

Most of the big cities in Kansas are suburbs of a city in Missouri, but Kansas is a beautiful state (In the Flint Hills and the Southeast) and the weather is great! Our Summers are nice and warm, and January is the only month where the average temperature is below freezing. We also have great BBQ!

I live in Kansas and people who have never been here are like I'm guessing that there is only windmills there?

It's not a boring pancake. Rolling flint hills have a very simple beauty.
New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered to the north and east by New York, to the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by Pennsylvania, and to the southwest by Delaware. It has one of the highest population densities in... read more

As a New Jerseyan myself, I truly see that people not just underrate New Jersey, but overlook it entirely. It's earned itself the nickname of the "Armpit State" and apparently the only thing interesting about it to outsiders is the beaches and that Thomas Edison was born there. I personally have never been to a beach (I know, sad) but I'm perfectly content with the beautiful forests, great places to hike and the most bipolar weather ever. The people are so friendly, and you can pick up a conversation with just about anyone. The town I live in is Edison and is ranked one of the safest towns in the country, with nationally-acclaimed public schools and beautiful parks. How the heck is New Jersey so overlooked?
Michigan

Michigan is a state in the Great Lakes and Midwestern regions of the United States. It is the only state composed of two peninsulas and is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes. Michigan is a major center of the U.S. automotive industry, with Detroit historically known as the Motor City.

I don't understand how so many people forget about the Mackinac Bridge, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks, and all the AWESOMS coastline around the entire state! And the Michigan coast has nice, sandy beaches, too, so during the summer months it's exactly like an ocean, except no gross salt or sharks. When people think Michigan, they think "Detroit...ewww! " but it's so awesome when you get out of the cities! Explore the Great Lakes, for cryin' our loud!

One cannot forget all the water! While many states are suffering from water shortages, there is no shortage here. The Great Lakes hold one forth of the worlds fresh water. That is not counting the lakes within the state. No matter where you stand you are never more than 6 miles from fresh water.
Connecticut

Connecticut is the southernmost state in the New England region of the United States. It is known for its rich colonial history, affluent suburbs, and prestigious universities, including Yale University.
Connecticut also has a diverse economy rooted in finance, insurance, and manufacturing. The... read more

Connecticut has a beautiful places to visit, such like hiking and museums and etc. Just stay away from cities like Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, then you'll be fine. If you wanna move here for a career job then good luck because that's where Connecticut lacks. Plus the high taxes!

Connecticut is among the best states. Why? It has Yale University, Mohegan Sun Casino, and so forth.

It should have been in number 2, Middletown is one of the most nicest small town.
Louisiana

Louisiana is a state in the southern region of the United States. It is bordered by Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, Mississippi to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Louisiana is known for its distinctive Creole and Cajun cultures, as well as the vibrant city of New Orleans.

If you like swamps don't go to Florida, Louisiana is the true swamp state. Gators, bears, turtles, snakes, lizards, manatees, raccoons, otters, craw dads, bull frogs, toads and salamanders are just a few swamp creatures living in Cajun country. Did I mention Cajun food is amazing!
Vermont

Vermont is a state in the New England part of the northeastern region of the United States. It is the second least populous state in the country, after Wyoming, and is known for its forested natural beauty and progressive politics.... read more

As a whole, Vt. is quite underrated. Besides being obviously beautiful; a
Highly educated pop. ; Great school systems; *Very green friendly; Act 250;
Outstanding food; Outstanding brand; History; Small business friendly... And
Did I mention how beautiful Vt. is?
Signed, New Jersey

Everything is so rural, the states biggest city (burlington) only has 42,000 people! The mountains are gorgeous and driving through the state is beautiful.

Vermont is probably one of the most underrated states. It's beautiful, has great weather and is full of outdoor activities!
Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state in the South Central region of the United States. It shares borders with Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Colorado. The state has a strong Native American presence and is known for its oil and gas industry and severe weather, particularly tornadoes.

From natural attractions such as Black Mesa, the Ozarks,the Wichita Mountains wildlife preserve, the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the Turner Falls, and also places such as Downtown OKC. Oklahoma is widely overlooked as just another state with farms, plains, and tornadoes, but there is so much more. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are fast growing cities with lots of job opportunities. There are multiple museums in the OKC and Tulsa metro areas, which add to the experiences. (also Oklahoma has surpassed California as the most seismically active state, not exactly an accomplishment to be proud of, but anything to give us some credit.)
Massachusetts

Massachusetts, officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous state in New England, a region in the northeastern United States. It is known for its significant colonial history, prestigious universities, and major technology, finance, and healthcare industries. The capital, Boston... read more

I have lived here my whole life and I love it! Boston is an awesome city! The Harbor always has a feel to it, the north end is very historic and amazing, the duck boats are a lot of fun, the aquarium is always a lot of fun, the schools and hospitals are some of the best in the world (people from all over the world come to Harvard University), and plus our sports teams have been doing great over the past few years. It's a very cool city and shame it doesn't get a lot of attention compared to cities like New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, or San Fransisco (As much as I love those cities, I do feel they get a lot of attention compared to Boston, Philadelphia, or even Chicago). As for the rest of Massachusetts also has a lot of really cool historic sites, really awesome beaches (they aren't that cold to be honest and Cape Call of Duty is beautiful and loads of fun), the berkshires are really scenic and beautiful (plus they have band orchestras there too). Gosh there's so much to do, it's just a really amazing state, and deserves a lot more attention than it currently has, same goes to the other New England states
Arkansas

Arkansas is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. Its name is of Siouan derivation, denoting the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas features diverse geography, including mountains, forests, and the Mississippi River.

I live here and I have to say, while it has some issues, it's still a very beautiful state. The nature here is amazing, and if you live in the right place, you're life will be great here in Hog Country. Very underrated.

I've lived in a few different states. Arkansas is so beautiful. There is so much nature and wildlife, it's easy to get away if you need to.

53,179 sq miles of unnoticed beauty. Even though I'm from Virginia and never went to Arkansas, but whatever.
Alaska

Alaska is a U.S. state situated at the northwestern extremity of North America. The Canadian province of British Columbia and territory of Yukon border the state to the east, and it has a maritime border with Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. Alaska is the largest U.S. state by area and is... read more

Absolutely beautiful atmosphere with snow-topped mountains everywhere you look! Alaska is known for being the least populated per acre, as a great deal of Alaska is uninhabited. If you're an outdoorsy person, Alaska is a dream!

I lived in Alaska for like 3 years and everyone's always like "Oh you must have been miserable, it's so cold up there..." when in reality the summers are SO nice. down here in Texas the summers are like 90 degrees, but our springs are like Alaska's summers.

You did give us Sarah Palin. God tells me I must forgive, but it may take awhile...