19 All American Facts for the Concerned Citizen

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Aug 12, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

You know it is rather shocking how little we actually know about what is going on in our own country right now. Politicians seem to always be looking at the latest developments, the next big issue to tackle. But the truth is that there is a lot of things that are on going, or have simply been forgotten about between presidential terms. Things that have serious implications about our way of life, our quality of life and what policies actually matter in government.

So today we put together a little collection of statistical facts about the grand United States of America as it is today. The good things, the less good things, and the things that have not been given a second thought for decades, because what is democracy if not actually knowing what needs to be improved or changed? So Strap in a hold on to your preferred elected party as we dive in.

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  • 01
    WA 2.43 Here's where Americans visit libraries the most (and least) VT 3.06 MT 2.31 ND ME 3.06 2.05 OR MN NH 2.67 2.45 2.36 ID SD WI NY MA 3.16 3.06 3.24 3.06 2.55 WY 3.82 MI RI 2.58 2.09 IA PA CT 2.99 NE NV 1.66 3.14 1.72 OH NJ 2.51 2.84 IL UT IN 3.41 CA 3.07 2.48 2.89 DE 1.82 CO ww 1.51 3.19 KS 1.21 VA MD 2.06 MO KY 3.32 2.11 2.23 1.97 DC 3.78 NC 1.49 TN 1.40 AZ 1.68 OK NM 2.21 2.29 AR 2.11 SC 1.52 MS AL GA 1.30 1.92 1.30 TX 1.35 LA 2.08 AK 2.06 0 HI 0.60 0.6 3.82 FL 1.67 Public library visits
    via usafacts

  • Well, in a rather surprising turn of events, it seems that Wyoming is leading the way in old-timey ways to absorb information. With some of the more ‘progressive’ states lagging behind quite significantly. Now comes the question, is it a good thing or a bad thing? Does having a lot of libraries mean you are still living in the past? Or does it mean that homeless people have a place to hang out?

  • 02
    OR -12 AK -10 8th grade math scores have declined in all states but one since 2019 WA -12 MT VT-11 ME ND -9 -5 -6 MN NH-7 -9 SD WI NY MA-11 -6 -6 -9 WY MI RI-6 -8 -10 NE NV -9 -5 ES AT IA PA CT-9 -7 -9 OH NJ-10 53 UT IL IN -7 CO 87 -6 -8 DE-14 WV KS -8 S8 -11 VA MO MD-12 KY -12 -11 DC-7 NC TN -8 AZ NM -10 -13 HI-5 =སྐྱུ OK -12 AR -8 MS -5 TX -11 KE LA -5 -8 NT AL GA -7 -10 FL-12 -10 -8 -6 0 Change in eighth grade math proficiency scores by state, 2019-2024 Note: Gray indicates no statistically s
    via usafacts
  • 03
    Where do America's farmers work and live? WA 1.6% The upper Great Plains have the highest concentration of farmers VT 3.8% ME MT 8.4% ND 11.1% 2.0% OR 3.4% MN NH 1.0% 4.0% ID WI 4.8% SD 11.4% NY MA 0.4% 3.6% 0.6% WY 7.5% MI 1.8% RI 0.4% IA PA CT 0.5% NV 0.4% NE 8.0% 9.5% 1.5% OH NJ 0.4% UT IL 2.0% IN 2.5% 3.0% DE 0.8% 2.0% CO WV CA VA 2.3% 0.7% KS 7.1% 5.3% MD 0.8% MO 5.4% KY 6.2% 1.6% NC 1.5% TN 3.4% AZ 0.9% NM 4.2% OK 6.9% AR 5.2% SC 1.7% MS 4.4% AL GA 2.9% 1.3% TX 2.9% LA 2.2% AK 0.7% HI 1.9%
    via usafacts
  • 04
    How do homelessness rates vary across the US? Homeless population per 10,000 people, 2024 WA 39.6 MT 17.7 ND 10.9 OR MN 53.5 15.9 ID SD WI 13.7 14.5 8.5 WY MI 8.5 9.6 VT 53.3 ME 19.2 NH 15.9 NY MA 41.1 79.5 RI 22.0 IA PA CT 9.3 NE 10.8 8.1 NV 30.9 13.6 OH UT IL IN 9.9 20.3 9.1 NJ 13.4 DE 12.9 11.0 CA CO WV 47.4 31.4 KS 10.1 VA MO MD 9.7 KY 8.1 9.4 11.7 11.4 DC 80.0 NC 10.5 AZ 19.4 OK NM 13.3 21.7 9.0 TN 11.5 AR SC 9.0 8.4 MS AL GA 3.5 8.9 11.0 TX 8.9 LA 7.5 AK 36.3 HI 80.5 Highest Lowest FL 13.4
    via usafacts
  • 05
    What's the minimum wage in your state? CA WA 30 states and DC have minimum wages above the $7.25 federal rate VT ME MT ND MN OR WI ID SD MI WY NH MA NY RI CT NV UT CO KS MO IA PA NE OH IL IN NJ DE WV MD VA KY DC NC AK 2 TN AZ OK NM AR SC MS AL GA HI TX LA FL Higher than federal minimum wage Lower than federal minimum wage Same as federal minimum wage No state minimum wage law Minimum wage by state, 2025 Note: Minimum wages as of January 1, 2025. The Michigan minimum wage is scheduled to change o
    via usafacts

  • So what you are saying is that it should not be all too surprising to see much of the populations of the deep south states running across borders to many of the states which beat the federal minimum wage. Guess it's time to open that Louisiana style smoke house chain on the West Coast…

  • 06
    WA 1889 When was your state founded? MT 1889 ND 1889 OR MN 1859 1858 ID 1890 WI SD 1889 1848 WY 1890 MI 1837 VT 1791 ME 1820 NH 1788 NY MA 1788 1788 RI 1790 IA PA CT 1788 CA NV 1864 NE 1867 1846 1787 OH NJ 1787 UT 1896 IL IN 1803 DE 1787 1818 1816 CO WV VA 1850 1876 KS 1861 1863 MD 1788 MO 1821 KY 1792 1788 NC 1789 TN 1796 AZ 1912 NM 1912 OK 1907 AR 1836 SC 1788 MS AL GA 1817 1819 1788 TX 1845 LA 1812 AK 1959 Source: Census Bureau 1787 HI 1959 1959 Statehood status by year, 1787-1959 Note: Years
    via usafacts
  • 07
    WA Which states have the longest — - and shortest – life expectancy? - OR ID AK NV MT ND MN WI SD WY IA NE MI UT CO KS MO OK AZ AR NM HI Longest 70.9 TX LA VT ME NH MA NY RI CT PA NJ OH IL IN DE WV VA MD KY DC NC TN SC MS AL GA Shortest 79.9 FL Life expectancy by state, 2021 Note: Life expectancy - also called life expectancy at birth - is a projection of what the average age of death will be for people born today. The estimate is based on age-specific death rates reported in the year of birth.
    via usafacts
  • 08
    Which state had the highest share of residents on SNAP? WA 11.2% Lowest VT 10.3% MT 7.2% ND 6.1% ME 12.3% OR MN NH 5.5% 17.7% 7.8% ID 6.5% SD 8.1% WI 11.8% NY MA 15.6% 14.7% RI 13.0% WY 4.9% MI 14.5% JA NV NE 7.7% 8.0% PA 15.3% CT 10.6% OH NJ 8.7% 15.5% IL IN 11.7% UT DE 11.2% 15.2% 8.8% 4.8% CA 13.6% CO 9.8% WV KS 6.3% 15.7% MO 10.5% KY 13.0% VA 9.4% MD 11.1% DC 19.6% TN 9.8% AZ 12.2% NM 21.2% OK 16.8% AR 7.8% NC 12.8% SC 10.6% MS AL 13.1% 14.6% GA 12.6% TX 10.2% LA Highest 18.4% AK 9.2% HI 11.
    via usafacts
  • 09
    Which counties have the most tornadoes? Washington County, CO 40 Cook County, IL 27 Mobile County, AL 24 <1 1-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 ≥ 20 Total tornadoes by county, 2020-2024 Source: NOAA Storm Events Database USA FACTS
    via usafacts
  • 10
    WA 13.1% Which states have the highest Asian American populations? VT 2.7% MT 1.9% ND ME 2.0% 2.4% OR 6.8% MN 6.4% NH 3.7% ID 2.8% SD WI 2.2% 3.8% NY 10.5% MA 8.6% WY 1.7% MI 4.3% RI 4.8% IA NE 3.4% 3.1% PA 4.7% CT 5.9% OH NJ 11.4% NV 12.2% IL IN UT 3.4% 4.0% 7.1% 3.3% DE 5.1% CA 18.4% CO 5.1% WV KS 3.9% ཋཱནྟྭཱ 1.1% MO 2.9% KY 2.1% VA 8.8% MD 8.2% DC 6.4% NC 4.3% TN 2.7% AZ 5.3% NM 2.8% OK 3.3% AR 2.2% SC 2.5% MS AL GA 1.6% 2.1% 5.5% TX 6.8% LA 2.5% AK 9.1% HI 57.0% Highest 5% 10% 25% 50% FL 4.1
    via usafacts
  • 11
    Here's where high school teachers get paid the most (and least) Highest WA $92K Lowest MT $65K VT $66K ND $67K ME $64K OR $76K MN $65K NH $65K ID SD $67K $56K WI $66K NY MA $83K $91K WY $70K MI $68K RI $88K IA PA CT $75K NV $65K NE $68K $66K $80K OH NJ $74K IL CA UT $78K IN $84K $78K $66K DE $76K wv CO $88K KS $65K $63K VA MD $74K MO $55K KY $67K $63K DC $85K NC TN $65K $59K AZ $59K NM $74K OK $56K AR $66K SC $66K MS AL GA $57K $67K $76K TX $64K LA $67K AK $77K HI $57K FL $57K $55K $92K Median a
    via usafacts
  • 12
    Here's where middle school teachers get paid the most (and least) Highest WA $91K MT $68K VT $65K ND $66K ME $63K OR $75K MN $63K NH $62K ID SD WI $66K $56K $67K NY $77K MA $78K WY $69K MI RI $88K $66K IA PA CT $78K NV $66K NE $69K $65K $79K OH NJ $71K IL IN UT $74K $79K $66K $64K DE $64K CA WV CO $86K KS $65K $55K VA MD $74K MO KY $60K $66K $65K DC $70K NC AZ $58K NM OK $55K TN $63K $53K $81K AR $66K SC $64K MS $57K AL GA $67K $66K TX $64K Lowest LA $60K AK $75K HI $59K FL $50K $50K $91K Median
    via usafacts
  • 13
    WA 6,106 Where does national park visitor spending support the most jobs? MT 10,880 ND 711 OR MN VT 61 ME 6,819 I NH 23 1,199 915 ID 622 SD WI WY 14,522 8,327 929 NY 7,394 MI 3,730 MA 10,482 RI 32 JA NE 172 PA 6,157 CT 28 NV 2,487 330 OH NJ 2,488 UT 26,507 IL 170 IN 2,525 2,016 DE 118 CA CO 39,678 11,133 KS WV 1,599 MO 80 4,082 KY 1,690 VA 21,159 MD 2,669 DC 9,469 NC 38,828 AZ OK TN 20,021 17,319 NM 396 AR 1,855 4,015 SC 1,058 MS AL 8,245 1,338 GA 5,742 TX 4,464 LA 276 AK $ 21,274 HI 6,131 FL 12
    via usafacts
  • 14
    CA WA How does income tax vary by state? Progressive income tax rate Flat income tax rate No income tax VT ME MT ND MN OR ID SD WI MI WY IA PA NE NV OH IL IN UT CO KS MO NH MA NY RI CT NJ DE WV VA MD KY DC NC AK OK AZ AR NM HI TX LA TN SC MS AL GA FL State income tax structure, 2025 Note: Progressive tax rate means that people who earn more pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes. Flat tax rate means everyone pays the same percentage of their income in taxes no matter how much they earn
    via usafacts
  • 15
    CA How many states use for-profit prisons? 28 states used privately run prisons WA MT ND MN OR WI ID SD MI WY VT ME NH MA NY RI CT NV UT CO KS MO IA PA NE OH IL IN NJ DE WV VA MD KY DC NC TN AK OK AZ AR NM HI TX LA SC MS AL GA Did not use private prisons Used private prisons Privately-run facility usage by state Note: Data unavailable for Washington, DC. Does not include immigrant detention facilities. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics USA FACTS
    via usafacts
  • 16
    CA WA Which states have the most inmates in for-profit prisons? Montana had the highest share of prisoners in private prisons at 49.4% VT 8.1% MT 49.4% ND 16.1% ME NH OR MN ID MA 9.5% SD 1.3% WI NY RI WY 13.5% MI ΙΑ PA 1.2% CT 4.3% NE OH NJ 6.6% NV IL IN 14.4% DE UT 1.1% 15.4% CO WV 15.6% KS MO KY 4.1% VA 4.7% NC 0.1% MD TN 28.8% AZ 28.8% OK NM 30.6% 18.7% AR SC 0.5% MS AL GA 15.0% 11.4% 1.0% AK 6.3% HI 23.3% TX 7.9% LA FL 13.9% 0.1% 49.4% Percent of prisoner population in private prisons, 2022
    via usafacts
  • 17
    Which counties are the most racially diverse? Counties near the oceans and southern border tend to be more diverse Most diverse: Hawaii County, Hawaii 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% County diversity by Diversity Index, 2023 Note: The Diversity Index ranges from 0% to 100%. A 0% means complete racial and ethnic uniformity, while a value near 100% indicates nearly total diversity. Source: US Census Bureau USA FACTS
    via usafacts
  • 18
    20 states have passed laws to observe daylight saving time permanently Permanent daylight saving time legislation enacted or resolution passed Permanent standard time CA WA OR ID AK NV VT ME MT ND MN WI SD MI WY NH MA NY RI CT UT CO KS MO IA PA NE OH IL IN NJ DE WV VA MD KY DC NC TN OK AZ AR NM HI TX LA SC MS AL GA Despite these measures, states can't adopt permanent DST without a change to federal laws Permanent daylight saving time legislation/resolutions or opt-outs, 2025 Source: Individual s
    via usafacts
  • 19
    Pennsylvania is the top state for chocolate exports WA $23.7M MT ND $3.0K $0 OR $2.2M MN ME VT $44.0M $11.0K NH $19.5M $2.4M ID WI SD $3.4M $46.1M $0 WY $100.0K MI $13.9M NY $26.1M MA $3.8M RI $52.0K NE IA $6.6M PA $454.7M CT $365.0K OH NJ $76.5M NV $7.6M $250.0K UT $13.0M IL $193.0M $23.1M IN $7.9M CA $145.1M CO $6.0M ww KS $8.5M $0 VA MO $8.6M KY $2.5M $9.4M DE $5.8M MD $424.0K DC $0 TN $22.0M AZ $2.7M NM $2.1M OK $63.0K AR $236.0K NC $25.1M SC $626.0K MS AL GA $0 $1.2M $30.8M TX $62.9M LA $2.
    via usafacts

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