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The Best States for Environment (2026)
Environmental quality affects health, recreation, and long-term sustainability. Our environment score combines median air quality index from EPA AirData (40%, inverted — lower AQI is better), renewable energy percentage from EIA State Electricity Profiles (30%), and natural disaster risk from FEMA's National Risk Index (30%, inverted — lower risk is better). Environment carries a 4% weight in the composite. States with clean air, high renewable energy adoption, and low disaster risk score highest. Western states with strong renewable energy programs and rural states with low pollution tend to lead.
Environment Score by State
Key Takeaways
- 1Maine leads the nation in environment with a score of 77.1, 0.8 points ahead of #2 Vermont. The top 3 is rounded out by Washington at 73.1.
- 2The Northeast dominates: 5 of the top 10 states are in the Northeast. Maine, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island lead the way for the region.
- 3The 61.1-point gap between #1 Maine and #50 Louisiana is one of the widest spreads across all categories. The median state scores 40.6, meaning half of all states fall below this threshold.
- 4The bottom 5 — Missouri, California, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana — are concentrated in the South, with 3 of 5 from that region. Louisiana ranks last with a score of 16.0, signaling persistent challenges in environment.
- 5Maine's #1 environment ranking aligns with its strong overall position at #5 in our composite rankings. High environment performance often correlates with strength in other categories, reinforcing Maine's position as a top-tier state.
The best state for the environment in 2026 is Maine with an environment score of 77.1/100, followed by Vermont (76.3) and Washington (73.1). See the full rankings below.
| Rank | State | Grade | Environment Score | Overall Score | Key Metrics | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | A+ | 77.1 | 77.3 | AQI 34 · 78% renewable · 12.7 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 2 | Vermont | A+ | 76.3 | 79.6 | AQI 34 · 99% renewable · 16.4 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 3 | Washington | A+ | 73.1 | 61.4 | AQI 28 · 74% renewable · 41.5 disaster risk | West |
| 4 | Idaho | A+ | 70.0 | 70.7 | AQI 34 · 70% renewable · 21.7 disaster risk | West |
| 5 | Oregon | A+ | 64.2 | 58.1 | AQI 32 · 67% renewable · 40.4 disaster risk | West |
| 6 | Montana | A | 62.9 | 71.1 | AQI 27 · 53% renewable · 49.8 disaster risk | West |
| 7 | New York | A | 58.4 | 58.4 | AQI 36 · 30% renewable · 3.8 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 8 | Hawaii | A | 56.9 | 63.2 | AQI 24 · 30% renewable · 54 disaster risk | West |
| 9 | Massachusetts | A | 54.4 | 72.8 | AQI 37 · 24% renewable · 3.6 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 10 | Rhode Island | A | 53.4 | 69.8 | AQI 35 · 12% renewable · 2.4 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 11 | South Dakota | B+ | 53.3 | 81.8 | AQI 35 · 80% renewable · 66.1 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 12 | Minnesota | B+ | 51.0 | 76.7 | AQI 36 · 36% renewable · 26.7 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 13 | New Mexico | B+ | 50.8 | 33.1 | AQI 40 · 53% renewable · 27.4 disaster risk | West |
| 14 | Alaska | B+ | 49.5 | 42.1 | AQI 25 · 33% renewable · 100 disaster risk | West |
| 15 | Virginia | B+ | 48.0 | 74.9 | AQI 37 · 10% renewable · 5.5 disaster risk | South |
| 16 | Kansas | B+ | 48.0 | 59.3 | AQI 40 · 61% renewable · 41.3 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 17 | Iowa | B+ | 46.7 | 69.5 | AQI 43 · 67% renewable · 38.3 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 18 | Wyoming | B+ | 46.6 | 69.4 | AQI 35 · 33% renewable · 38 disaster risk | West |
| 19 | Maryland | B | 46.1 | 67.7 | AQI 40 · 12% renewable · 0 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 20 | Colorado | B | 45.9 | 66.2 | AQI 42 · 39% renewable · 17.9 disaster risk | West |
Show all 50 states ▾Show fewer ▴
| 21 | New Hampshire | B | 45.2 | 87.8 | AQI 37 · 14% renewable · 15.6 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 22 | Nebraska | B | 44.1 | 74.9 | AQI 34 · 34% renewable · 48.5 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 23 | Michigan | B | 42.0 | 47.7 | AQI 40 · 13% renewable · 10.5 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 24 | Nevada | B | 41.5 | 40.3 | AQI 41 · 32% renewable · 25.7 disaster risk | West |
| 25 | Texas | B | 40.8 | 45.8 | AQI 43 · 37% renewable · 24 disaster risk | South |
| 26 | Wisconsin | B | 40.6 | 65.2 | AQI 37 · 13% renewable · 25.4 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 27 | North Dakota | C+ | 38.5 | 76.6 | AQI 38 · 41% renewable · 52.7 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 28 | Indiana | C+ | 38.4 | 50.7 | AQI 41 · 15% renewable · 16.9 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 29 | Connecticut | C+ | 38.3 | 73.5 | AQI 39 · 5% renewable · 15.6 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | C+ | 38.0 | 60.3 | AQI 40 · 6% renewable · 13.4 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 31 | New Jersey | C+ | 37.4 | 65.9 | AQI 40 · 8% renewable · 16.6 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 32 | Oklahoma | C+ | 37.3 | 41.5 | AQI 46 · 52% renewable · 34.6 disaster risk | South |
| 33 | Tennessee | C+ | 36.2 | 46.8 | AQI 40 · 14% renewable · 25 disaster risk | South |
| 34 | Ohio | C+ | 35.2 | 49.1 | AQI 43 · 6% renewable · 8.3 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 35 | North Carolina | C | 34.6 | 53.7 | AQI 41 · 13% renewable · 24 disaster risk | South |
| 36 | Florida | C | 34.0 | 52.8 | AQI 41 · 10% renewable · 22.5 disaster risk | South |
| 37 | Delaware | C | 33.5 | 52.3 | AQI 41 · 6% renewable · 19.9 disaster risk | Northeast |
| 38 | Georgia | C | 32.1 | 51.5 | AQI 45 · 12% renewable · 13.4 disaster risk | South |
| 39 | Illinois | C | 31.0 | 52.0 | AQI 43 · 20% renewable · 31.2 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 40 | Kentucky | C | 28.9 | 38.4 | AQI 41 · 9% renewable · 33.6 disaster risk | South |
| 41 | West Virginia | C | 28.8 | 34.4 | AQI 40 · 8% renewable · 36.7 disaster risk | South |
| 42 | Utah | C | 28.5 | 79.3 | AQI 44 · 15% renewable · 28.3 disaster risk | West |
| 43 | Alabama | D | 28.3 | 38.9 | AQI 42 · 9% renewable · 31.1 disaster risk | South |
| 44 | Arizona | D | 25.9 | 44.7 | AQI 45 · 16% renewable · 31.5 disaster risk | West |
| 45 | Arkansas | D | 25.8 | 30.9 | AQI 42 · 12% renewable · 39.6 disaster risk | South |
| 46 | Missouri | D | 25.3 | 49.3 | AQI 42 · 16% renewable · 44.5 disaster risk | Midwest |
| 47 | California | D | 24.7 | 42.9 | AQI 48 · 52% renewable · 56.3 disaster risk | West |
| 48 | Mississippi | D | 22.7 | 31.5 | AQI 43 · 5% renewable · 36.4 disaster risk | South |
| 49 | South Carolina | F | 21.1 | 44.0 | AQI 44 · 8% renewable · 39.2 disaster risk | South |
| 50 | Louisiana | F | 16.0 | 25.9 | AQI 43 · 5% renewable · 52 disaster risk | South |
Top 10 States for Environment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best state for the environment in 2026?
Maine ranks #1 for environment in 2026, followed by Vermont and Washington, based on air quality, renewable energy, and disaster risk.
Which states have the worst environmental quality?
The states with the worst environmental scores in 2026 are Louisiana, South Carolina, and Mississippi, due to poorer air quality, lower renewable energy adoption, or higher disaster risk.
How is the environment score calculated?
The environment score combines EPA air quality index (40%), EIA renewable energy percentage (30%), and FEMA disaster risk (30%). Environment carries a 4% weight in the composite.
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Data Sources
📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024📎America's Health Rankings, 2025📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025📎National Park Service API, 2024📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022