State rankings

Best States to Be Homeless

Connecticut has the highest Overall Homelessness Help Score (68.2), followed by Illinois (63.15) and North Dakota (61.51). Tennessee has the lowest (28.72).

CultureInfrastructure & Energy50 states · 4 metricsUpdated Mar 31, 2025Original page
2 sources
50 of 51 states
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Overall Homelessness Help Score

Green is better, red is worse (lower is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 50 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
48.24
Middle half 42.22 – 52.65
Average
47.08
50 states
Lowest (best)
28.72
Tennessee
Highest (worst)
68.2
Connecticut

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

50 states · # = rank by Overall Homelessness Help Score
#
1Tennessee28.72
2Georgia30.14
3South Carolina30.95
4Arizona32.87
5Alabama32.96
6North Carolina35.06
7Nevada36.89
8Florida37.58
9Idaho38.08
10Louisiana40.56
11Arkansas40.82
12South Dakota41.71
13New Hampshire42.06
14Wisconsin42.7
15Texas42.77
16Kansas43.98
17Alaska44.18
18Oklahoma44.23
18New Mexico44.23
20Iowa44.63
21Delaware44.74
22Maine47.42
23Vermont47.62
24Nebraska48.12
25Mississippi48.18
26Hawaii48.3
27Rhode Island48.49
28Washington49.14
29Michigan49.21
30California49.47
31New Jersey49.8
32West Virginia50.07
33Utah50.08
34Virginia50.11
35Colorado51.39
36Missouri51.83
37Oregon51.98
38Ohio52.87
39Kentucky53.31
40Pennsylvania53.82
41Montana54.31
42Wyoming54.46
43Minnesota54.53
44Massachusetts55.12
45Indiana55.64
46New York56.69
47Maryland59.29
48North Dakota61.51
49Illinois63.15
50Connecticut68.2

What correlates with Overall Homelessness Help Score?

Pearson r against 2,110 other state metrics sharing at least 30 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Overall Homelessness Help Score tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Indoor Allergy Pet Dander ScoreAllergy-Friendly States
    r = +0.63 · strong · n = 49
    Plot
  2. % of Public School Teachers in Union 2017-18States with Teacher Unions
    r = +0.61 · strong · n = 49
    Plot
  3. Best States for Living with a Disability - Total ScoreDisability Benefits by State
    r = +0.61 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. Electrician Median Yearly Wage 2023Electrician Salary by State
    r = +0.59 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Electrician Median Hourly Wage 2023Electrician Salary by State
    r = +0.59 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Electrician Mean Hourly Wage 2023Electrician Salary by State
    r = +0.56 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Overall Homelessness Help Score tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. CSR: Ages 4-5Child Care Ratios by State
    r = −0.60 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. AffordabilityWorst States to RetireA rank: rank 1 is the worst
    r = −0.59 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. Cooling Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)
    r = −0.56 · strong · n = 48
    Plot
  4. % of Homeless Who Are UnshelteredHomeless Population by State
    r = −0.55 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Mobile Homes per 100 Housing UnitsMost Redneck States in America
    r = −0.54 · strong · n = 49
    Plot
  6. Min. SEER2 Rating - Split System AC ≥ 45k btu/hSEER Requirements by State
    r = −0.53 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Overall Homelessness Help Score?
Connecticut has the highest Overall Homelessness Help Score, at 68.2, followed by Illinois (63.15) and North Dakota (61.51).
Which state has the lowest Overall Homelessness Help Score?
Tennessee has the lowest Overall Homelessness Help Score, at 28.72.
What is the median Overall Homelessness Help Score across US states?
The median is 48.24 across the 50 US states with data.
Where does this best states to be homeless data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: States That Help Homeless People the Most - SmileHub; Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress - US Dept of Housing and Urban Development.