We recently compiled a list of the 20 Most Boring States in the US and in this article, we will talk about the Most Boring State in the US.

Impact of Boredom on Wellness

One of the most significant impacts of COVID-19 was its effect on mobility. The disease compelled students, office workers, and even businesses to switch to remote setups in the space of weeks. Even after restrictions were lifted all over the world, people continued to embrace their mundane and monotonous routines. Although there are many who have welcomed this change, cherishing the ability to spend increased time with their families, it has also resulted in making a vast number of people shrink further and further into the confines of their homes. According to a survey by Groupon, Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN), 9 out of 10 people felt bored in quarantine.

While boredom might seem nothing more than an inconvenience, the truth is that it can have significant repercussions on human wellness. French philosopher Sartre termed boredom as the leprosy of the soul due to the lack of meaning it instills in one’s life. In recent years, studies by sources such as Columbia University have shown that chronic boredom is associated with impulsivity and risky behavior. Moreover, people who are bored easily are susceptible to depression, anxiety, anger, academic failure, poor work performance, loneliness, and isolation. Thus, being deprived of an activity even as trivial as going out for groceries or meeting up with a friend can result in stress. Consequently, during the pandemic, a study by Groupon, Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) showed that 74% of people said they would never take ordinary experiences for granted ever again. According to Groupon, Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN), these included things such as eating at a restaurant, getting a haircut outside of their garage, going to the movies, or taking a group fitness class.

Recently, Pixar, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) released its latest animated blockbuster Inside Out 2. Building on the same theme as the original installment, Inside Out 2 personifies the core emotions of 11-year-old Riley, and their influence on her actions. In the movie, Pixar has introduced several new emotions, including Ennui, which portrays Riley’s lack of excitement towards events in the movie. The movie mostly portrays Ennui in a secondary role in comparison to other emotions such as Anxiety. Although it highlights some positive impacts of Ennui, it also provides a glimpse of how indecisive and despondent one can become if one lets boredom influence one’s decisions.

Boredom Across the US

Our article on the Most Boring Cities in the US shows how the US is renowned for its festivals, celebrations, and sporting events. In fact, the country currently accounted for 10.5% of the global sports tourism market in 2023. However, not all US citizens have access to the same level of sporting entertainment. Some states offer little to no sporting entertainment, making them some of the most boring states for sports enthusiasts. The quality of sporting events varies greatly from state to state. In fact, a quick look at the Big Four Leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) shows that while California alone has 15 major sports teams, 23 out of the 50 states do not have a single team among these leagues. Similarly, while 6 out of the 12 theme parks and resorts owned by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) are in the US, they are all in Florida or California. While there are some worthy alternatives to Disneyland Parks, citizens from some of America’s most boring states still have to cross state borders to get a high-quality theme park experience.

The global amusement and theme parks industry accumulated a turnover of $ 79.68 billion in 2023, as per a recently published report by Research and Markets. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is currently the market leader in the theme parks industry and generated a revenue of $32.6 billion from its parks and experiences segment (which also includes cruise ship revenues) in 2023. Moreover, the company is making investments of $60 billion in its parks and experiences division over the next 10 years.

Recently, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) was featured in our article on Jim Cramer’s Latest Portfolio: Top 10 Stocks in July. In the last quarter, the company was the subject of a fierce activist campaign spearheaded by Nelson Peltz of Trian Partners. Expressing their disapproval of CEO Bob Iger, Trian Partners demanded three seats on the company’s board. However, the campaign failed to gain shareholder support and Peltz failed to secure a seat on the board. Following the proxy battle, the company has managed to achieve profitability in its streaming business, mitigating the risks of further campaigns. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) stock currently trades at approximately $97 and was part of 96 hedge funds on Insider Monkey’s database as of Q1 2024.

While we acknowledge the potential of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Like theme parks and sporting events, other forms of entertainment and fun also vary in frequency and quality depending from state to state. Whilst arenas such as the AT&T Stadium or the Hard Rock Stadium are frequently toured by world-renowned musical artists, the same cannot be said for major stadiums in a number of states in the US. In addition, even states with notable festivals and sporting events each year are often disappointing as they fail to cater to their substantial populations. Thus, the least boring states in the US are the ones that offer a higher entertainment value per resident. If you’re interested in knowing what the most boring states in the US are statistically, join us and find out which states are missing out on all the fun.

Methodology

To develop our list of the most boring states in the US, we used several different metrics. Firstly, we used the percentage of the population under 18 years of age and over 65 years of age, wherein a higher proportion of individuals in each category would make a state more boring. Our third metric was the estimated population density, where a lower proportion made a state more boring. Data for all these metrics was obtained from recent estimates by Census.gov. In addition, we obtained data on the estimated number of restaurants and the number of museums, galleries, & zoos in the state. Using these, we calculated the number of individuals in the state per restaurant or museum. A higher number of individuals per restaurant or museum made the state more boring. Lastly, we used the number of major sports teams across the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL as our final metric. States with fewer or no major sports teams were considered as more boring states in the US. We sorted our data in descending order. The top 20 states were chosen as the most boring states in the US.

We want to emphasize that the intent of this analysis is not to offend or undermine any age group, including seniors and individuals under 18. Our goal is to evaluate various factors that might contribute to a state’s overall vibrancy and activity level. The metrics used, including the proportions of people under 18 and over 65 years old, were selected to understand demographic trends that might influence the availability of certain types of activities and services. A higher proportion in these age groups can often correlate with a more stable and less rapidly changing environment, which is why these factors were considered in our analysis. It is important to note that these metrics are not indicative of the value or quality of life for any age group but rather serve as one part of a broader evaluation of a state’s overall dynamism. We recognize and respect the diverse contributions and experiences of all individuals, regardless of age.

Our methodology revealed that Utah is the most boring state in the US.

1. Utah

Insider Monkey Score: 24.51

Population Density: 41 individuals per sq mile

Percentage of Residents Under 18 Years: 27.3%

Percentage of Residents 65 Years or Over: 12.2%

Number of Residents Per Restaurant: 953

Number of Major Sports Teams: 1

Despite being home to the Utah Jazz, the Beehive State is the most boring state in the US. Over 27% of its population is under the age of 18. Utah has the lowest number of restaurants or museums per resident out of all the states on our list. Despite being home to several national parks and featuring incredible natural beauty, its lack of modern attractions also makes it the most boring state in the US. Nevertheless, residents of the state describe the environment in Utah to be “quieter” and “more relaxed” as opposed to “boring”.

Check out all 20 Most Boring States in the US.

At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from the most boring states in the US to the best MBA programs; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.