Residents in the American Southwest are experiencing heightened stress levels, putting them at risk for a range of chronic health issues.

In a comprehensive study, WalletHub evaluated all 50 states, assessing residents based on four primary stress factors: employment, finances, family dynamics, and health and safety concerns. Higher scores signified increased stress levels.

The study delved deeper into these categories, examining metrics like weekly working hours, unemployment rates, median income, poverty levels, physical activity, mental health status, and healthcare accessibility.

The findings revealed New Mexico as the state with the highest stress score, achieving 60.5 out of a possible 100 points.

Researchers attributed this to the state’s elevated crime rate, which is double the national average for violent crimes, often linked to illegal drug and weapon trafficking across borders.

Not far behind, Nevada emerged as the second-most stressed state, registering a score of 60.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state has the second-highest unemployment rate, only beating out California, which can lead to long-term financial stress.

High and chronic stress levels have consistently been linked to chronic conditions such as cancer, dementia, obesity, heart disease and cardiac arrest due to the damaging effects of elevated stress hormones. 

Rounding out the top three most stressed states was Louisiana with a score of 56.2. This was due to its low rate of job security, the lowest in the nation, and high rates of poverty and crime. 

Residents in the Bayou state also had the second-lowest credit scores at 690 compared to a national average of 715, indicating financial stress.  

Meanwhile, Nebraska was the least stressed state in the country, scoring just 38.8 out of 100. It’s unclear exactly why the state’s residents are more relaxed than other Americans, though the WalletHub team suggested a high proportion of affordable housing and getting more sleep at night could contribute to a decreased level of stress.

While stress is a natural part of life, persistent stress has long been associated with chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, dementia and even some forms of cancer. 

Stress induces a ‘fight-or-flight’ response, triggering the release of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones cause heart rate and blood pressure to rise and breathing to quicken, all of which ready the body in case of a threat.

But for sustained or frequent periods of time, elevated heart rate and blood pressure force the heart to work harder, leaving it prone to damage and cardiac arrest. 

Stress also weakens the immune system, as cortisol suppresses immune cells and promotes harmful inflammation. Inflammation provides a prime environment for cells to mutate uncontrollably and become cancerous. 

Elevated cortisol also attacks the brain’s memory center, the hippocampus, impairing memory and eventually leading to dementia.

As the most stressed state, New Mexico also has higher rates of dementia and heart disease than the national average. 

Researchers behind the new study used data from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CDC, US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others. 

The team noted New Mexico’s high placement on the list is largely due to high crime rates.  

In 2024, there were 717 violent crimes and 2,751 property crimes for every 100,000 residents. This is nearly twice the national violent crime rate and 56 percent higher than the rate of property crimes nationwide, according to the FBI. 

Chronic stress has long been linked to chronic health problems such as dementia, cancer and heart disease (stock image) 

New Mexico’s proximity to the southern border makes it a prime hotspot for illegal drugs and firearms, which contribute to the high crime rate. 

The team also noted New Mexico had the country’s highest divorce rate and the third-highest share of households with a single parent. Having only one income and paying for costs associated with divorce may raise financial stress levels. 

Dawn Hunter, a public health expert from New Mexico and founder and CEO of The Dawn Lab, told the Daily Mail: ‘In public health, we look at economic stability, and it’s true that New Mexico has a low median household income and a higher percentage of people living in poverty, including children. 

‘But economic stability is holistic, and includes factors like employment status, food security, and housing stability as well. New Mexico is a largely rural state with a strong military presence and lower average educational level.

‘These are all things that can contribute to higher stress levels by shaping a person’s experience of health care, access to jobs, and family-related stress.’

Nevada, which was the second-most stressed state, reports the country’s second-highest unemployment rate and high levels of bankruptcy, meaning an individual or business cannot pay their debts and need a fresh start to tackle them. 

About 5.3 percent of Nevada residents are unemployed, the latest federal data shows compared to the 4.4 percent national average. 

As the third-most stressed state, Louisiana earned its place due to having the second-highest poverty rate in the US. About 19 percent of residents live in poverty compared to 11 percent nationwide, leaving this group unable to afford necessities or regular doctor visits in many cases. 

Roughly one in eight Louisiana residents had not seen a doctor in the past year due to costs, and it ranked in the top 10 worst states for the share of adults with depression or poor mental health. 

New Mexico was deemed the most stressed state in WalletHub’s analysis. The above stock image shows a view of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Nebraska, meanwhile, was America’s least stressed state, which could be due to the amount of sleep its residents are getting and their ability to afford housing.

Nebraska residents were the fourth best-ranked state in terms of average hours of sleep per night. The CDC recommends adults get an average of seven to nine hours of sleep each night, which lowers cortisol and relieves tension. 

It’s unclear exactly why the state’s residents slept more than most of the US, but it could be because 28 percent of the state is made up of rural areas, compared to 20 percent of the US as a whole. 

Rural areas have less light and noise pollution than larger cities and suburbs, reducing potential nighttime disruptions. 

Additionally, homes in Nebraska cost about $270,000 on average, whereas the national average ranges from $400,000 to $500,000. This increases the chance of housing stability and financial security. 

Minnesota and New Hampshire rounded out the three least-stressed states with scores of 32.3 and 32.5, respectively.