The Most Independent Americans Live Here

Utah named most independent state, and Louisiana the least, by WalletHub
Posted Jun 24, 2025 11:37 AM CDT
The Most Independent Americans Live Here
Brandon Nez displays a flag near his jewelry stand in Monument Valley, Utah, on Oct. 25, 2018.   (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

It can be argued that a legacy of the American War of Independence is the desire for self-sufficiency. With plenty of Americans "struggling to maintain financial independence" this Independence Day, WalletHub opted to compare US states based on how dependent its residents are, whether that be on the federal government, job market, foreign imports, or alcohol and drugs. The results:

Most independent states:

  1. Utah
  2. Colorado
  3. Virginia
  4. Idaho
  5. Hawaii

Least independent states:

  1. Louisiana
  2. Kentucky
  3. Mississippi
  4. West Virginia
  5. Alaska
See the full list here, or see the top US cities Americans are moving to here. (More US states stories.)

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