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Everyone has those little things that just get under their skin, from loud noises to slow internet connections. These bothersome habits or situations, known as pet peeves, can evoke feelings of annoyance or frustration. In 2026, as we continue to navigate our fast-paced lives, it’s interesting to see what irks people across the nation.
We researched and compiled a list of each state’s most common pet peeve, reflecting the unique quirks and frustrations that residents experience.
Interesting Insights
- Interestingly, traffic was listed as the top pet peeve for only one state: Delaware. It appears that many have come to accept traffic as a part of daily life.
- Fifteen states reported that slow internet is their main annoyance, highlighting the ongoing frustrations of our digital age.
- Eleven states expressed that burping is their biggest pet peeve, reminding us that some habits are universally disliked.
- Less common pet peeves include nail-biting, traffic, pessimism, laziness, and passive-aggressive behavior.
- Seven states identified poorly behaved children as their biggest annoyance, illustrating the challenges of parenting.
- While all of Nevada’s neighbors agree on slow internet as a nuisance, Nevada itself finds public displays of affection to be the most bothersome.
- Arkansas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia residents are particularly environmentally conscious, listing littering as their top pet peeve.
- Despite being tolerant of various annoyances like burping and laziness, Wyoming cannot stand passive-aggressive behavior.
How We Determined This
To unveil each state’s pet peeves, we analyzed Google Trends data. This approach provides insight into what people are actively seeking help with, revealing their everyday frustrations.
Our list of pet peeves is sourced from our comprehensive article on pet peeves. We identified key search terms and topics related to these annoyances, such as “how to stop snoring” and “snoring solutions,” to understand the broader context of each pet peeve.
We examined a year’s worth of search data, allowing us to capture the most pressing irritations faced by each state.
Summary of Each State’s Biggest Pet Peeve
Pet peeves are among life’s little frustrations that everyone encounters. Whether it’s a spinning cursor on your computer or a neighbor’s littering habits, these annoyances are a universal experience.
Now, we’ve compiled a definitive list of each state’s biggest pet peeve, highlighting what residents find most irritating.
Each State’s Biggest Pet Peeve
| State | Pet Peeve |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Burping |
| Alaska | Nail biting |
| Arizona | Slow Internet |
| Arkansas | Litter |
| California | Slow Internet |
| Colorado | Slow Internet |
| Connecticut | Bragging |
| Delaware | Traffic |
| District of Columbia | Table manners |
| Florida | Badly Behaved Kids |
| Georgia | Badly Behaved Kids |
| Hawaii | Public display of affection |
| Idaho | Slow Internet |
| Illinois | Badly Behaved Kids |
| Indiana | Slow Internet |
| Iowa | Slow Internet |
| Kansas | Burping |
| Kentucky | Litter |
| Louisiana | Bragging |
| Maine | Slow Internet |
| Maryland | Pessimism |
| Massachusetts | Burping |
| Michigan | Badly Behaved Kids |
| Minnesota | Slow Internet |
| Mississippi | Bragging |
| Missouri | Slow Internet |
| Montana | Bragging |
| Nebraska | Laziness |
| Nevada | Public display of affection |
| New Hampshire | Public display of affection |
| New Jersey | Burping |
| New Mexico | Slow Internet |
| New York | Burping |
| North Carolina | Badly Behaved Kids |
| North Dakota | Bragging |
| Ohio | Burping |
| Oklahoma | Burping |
| Oregon | Slow Internet |
| Pennsylvania | Litter |
| Rhode Island | Burping |
| South Carolina | Burping |
| South Dakota | Burping |
| Tennessee | Burping |
| Texas | Badly Behaved Kids |
| Utah | Slow Internet |
| Vermont | Slow Internet |
| Virginia | Badly Behaved Kids |
| Washington | Slow Internet |
| West Virginia | Litter |
| Wisconsin | Slow Internet |
| Wyoming | Passive-aggressive behavior |
Author
Amanda Postma is a writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog with a focus on creating entertaining content to help you through your job search. She received her BA from the University Of Missouri-Columbia.
