The States Most Like a Country Song (And The Least Like One)

States Most Like a Country Song Research Summary

The state most like a country song is Idaho, where 42% of the population owns a dog and there are only 21 people per square mile.

Arkansas boasts the highest percentage of dog lovers in the U.S., with 48% of households owning one.

New Hampshire has the highest alcohol consumption in the U.S., at 4.8 gallons per person per year.

New York is the least like a country song, with only 29% of households owning a dog and a high population density of 413 people per square mile.

While many people are drawn to the vibrant energy of large urban centers, it’s easy to overlook the charm of rural life—where you can enjoy a cold drink, a loyal dog by your side, and the soothing sounds of country music filling the air.

So, where in the U.S. embodies the essence of a country song? One might instinctively think of the South, but as country artist Brantley Gilbert noted, “in every state there’s a station playing Cash, Hank, Willie, and Waylon.”

We set out to discover where country music is not just a genre, but a way of life, by analyzing common themes and lyrics.

Other Interesting Findings

Western states dominate the list of those most reflective of country music culture.
The abundance of open land contributes to the western states’ appeal for a country lifestyle.
High divorce rates in Delaware, Arkansas, and Nevada suggest a correlation with country music themes of heartache.
The Northeast and several coastal states, including California and New York, rank low on the country scale.

10 Most Country States

10 Least Country States

How We Figured This One Out

Ever wonder what happens when you play a country song backwards? You might say your wife comes back, your dog returns, and your beer stays full!

To capture the essence of country living, we examined various metrics: alcohol consumption (sourced from reliable studies), the percentage of households that own dogs (according to the American Veterinary Medical Association), and the latest divorce rates from the ACS Census.

A significant theme in country music is the lifestyle it represents, particularly the freedom to live authentically. We included population density to gauge how much space each state has for that country lifestyle. While we can’t claim these are the states with the most bonfires or trucks on dirt roads, they certainly have the room for it.

Please note that our data covers only the continental U.S., excluding Hawaii and Alaska. The remaining 48 states were ranked accordingly.

These States Walk The Line

While the Devil may have gone down to Georgia and “Sweet Home, Alabama” might echo in many hearts, it’s clear the West stands tall as the heart of country music culture.

On the other hand, the Northeast and several coastal states seem to miss the mark on country music appreciation. But that just means more space and fun for the rest of us!

For a detailed look at our findings, see the table below:

States Most Like A Country Song

Rank	State	Dog Owners (%)	Alcohol Consumption (Gallons)	Divorce	People Per Sq Mile
1	Idaho	42	2	1.35%	21
2	Nevada	37	3	1.41%	27
3	New Mexico	46	2	1.38%	17
4	Oregon	38	2	1.33%	43
5	Missouri	45	2	1.32%	88
6	Montana	41	3	1.07%	7
7	North Dakota	36	3	1.15%	11
8	Wyoming	38	2	1.12%	5
9	Arkansas	47	1	1.43%	57
10	South Dakota	42	2	0.94%	11
11	Colorado	42	2	1.04%	54
12	Texas	44	2	1.24%	109
13	Oklahoma	43	1	1.40%	57
14	Mississippi	45	2	1.17%	63
15	Arizona	40	2	1.20%	63
16	Kentucky	45	1	1.33%	112
17	Delaware	33	3	1.52%	495
18	Vermont	37	3	0.99%	67
19	Alabama	44	2	1.28%	96
20	Tennessee	44	2	1.31%	164
21	West Virginia	45	1	1.20%	75
22	Louisiana	36	2	1.15%	107
23	Indiana	39	2	1.37%	186
24	Kansas	42	1	1.14%	35
25	Maine	34	2	0.86%	43
26	Florida	35	2	1.23%	395
27	Georgia	40	1	1.30%	181
28	Nebraska	33	2	0.97%	25
29	Wisconsin	33	2	0.92%	107
30	Minnesota	31	2	0.96%	70
31	North Carolina	40	2	1.16%	213
32	Michigan	34	2	1.14%	176
33	Washington	36	2	1.09%	113
34	Iowa	33	2	0.92%	56
35	New Hampshire	30	4	0.88%	151
36	Virginia	35	2	1.17%	215
37	Rhode Island	29	2	1.27%	1,011
38	Utah	29	1	1.16%	38
39	Ohio	36	2	1.16%	285
40	South Carolina	38	2	0.93%	168
41	Pennsylvania	32	2	0.96%	285
42	California	32	2	0.97%	253
43	Maryland	30	2	1.19%	618
44	Illinois	32	2	0.94%	229
45	Connecticut	28	2	1.09%	737
46	Massachusetts	23	2	0.95%	880
47	New Jersey	32	2	0.84%	1,201
48	New York	29	2	0.93%	413

Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.

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The States Most Like A Country Song (And The Least Like One)

The States Most Like a Country Song (And The Least Like One)

Other Interesting Findings

How We Figured This One Out

These States Walk The Line