Stress can follow people everywhere, but a new WalletHub study shows that some states experience more stress than others. So how did New York do?
According to the American Psychological Association, the biggest stressors for Americans in 2025 included the future of the nation, the economy and work. Loneliness and emotional disconnect were also found to be points of stress, with around 70% of adults reporting that they need more emotional support.
Does stress depend on location? To determine which states offer the most, and least, stressful lives, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 40 indicators of stress, ranging from average hours worked per week to the personal bankruptcy rate to the share of adults getting adequate sleep.
“There are plenty of small ways for people to manage stress, from staying active and participating in hobbies to taking vacations from work and getting help from a mental health professional,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. “What many people don’t realize, though, is that changing location can also be a big stress reducer.”
Here’s what to know about New York’s rank.
How stressed is New York?
New York ranked among the 20 most stressed states, at No. 18 out of 50, with an overall score of 46.51.
The Empire State ranked fifth for work-related stress and third for family-related stress, indicating higher stress levels, but ranked No. 32 for money-related stress and No. 45 for health and safety-related stress.
New York was also ranked among the states with the fewest average hours worked per week, and is the state with the second most psychologists per capita, falling behind Massachusetts. Though these two ranks could indicate less stressful environments, New York did rank among the states with the least affordable housing.
WalletHub’s 10 most stressed states
WalletHub’s 10 least stressed states
How WalletHub assessed stress among states
To determine the most and least stressed states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across four dimensions: work-related stress, money-related stress, family-related stress and health and safety-related stress.
The work-related stress category analyzed these factors:
The money-related stress category analyzed these factors:
The family-related stress category analyzed these factors:
The health and safety-related stress category analyzed these factors:
Data used to create the ranking was collected as of Feb. 23, 2026, and the information was sourced from multiple entities, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Child Care Aware of America, the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Empire State of mind? Where NY ranks among most stressed states
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
