New State-by-State Ranking Shows Where Americans Are Most Independent
WalletHub said Idaho led all 50 states on self-reliance, with the lowest poverty rate among the top five and strong retirement-plan participation.
- WalletHub released a 2026 analysis naming Idaho the most independent state in the nation, followed by Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, and South Dakota in the rankings.
- The financial analytics company evaluated all 50 states across five major categories of dependency, utilizing 39 key indicators to determine which states demonstrated the most self-sustaining qualities.
- Idaho recorded the nation's 11th-lowest poverty rate and boasts the second-highest percentage of residents with access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, driving its top position.
- "Idaho is the most independent in 2026," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said, noting residents avoid heavy reliance on exports and personal vices like smoking and drugs.
- As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day, persistent inflation has made financial independence more difficult for households, providing broader context to the study's findings.
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wibc.com
hot1009.comWallethub: Indiana is one of the Least Independent States in the U.S.
Source: Ondřej Pros / Getty STATEWIDE–A new study by the personal finance website Wallethub says Indiana is one of the least independent states in the U.S. Indiana was ranked 44th in the study out of 50 states. They ranked Idaho the most indepenedent state followed by Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, and South Dakota to round out the Top 5. “The study was based on 39 metrics across financial, social, economic, and federal independence,” said Wallethub An…
Mason City Globe Gazette
Most & Least Independent States (2026)
Americans place a high value on independence. The nation fought for it during the American Revolutionary War, and today people continue to celebrate not only freedom from British rule but also the ability to be self-reliant as individuals. However, with…
New Jersey ranks among 15 most independent states, WalletHub says - WRNJ Radio
NEW JERSEY — New Jersey ranks among the 15 most independent states in the country, according to a new WalletHub study released ahead of Independence Day. The personal finance company ranked New Jersey 13th overall in its 2026 report on the most independent states. The study evaluated all 50 states using 39 metrics measuring reliance on government and others for financial support, employment and personal habits. According to WalletHub, New Jersey…
Most & Least Independent States in 2026
Americans place a high value on independence. The nation fought for it during the American Revolutionary War, and today people continue to celebrate not only freedom from British rule but also the ability to be self-reliant as individuals. However, with significant inflation affecting people across the country, many Americans are finding it harder to remain financially independent. Some have become more reliant on federal government assistance, …
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