Only one U.S. state was found to be more stressed out than the Bluegrass State.
KENTUCKY, USA — Kentucky is the second-most stressed U.S. state in 2026, according to a WalletHub report.
WalletHub compared the 50 states across 40 key indicators of stress, ranging from average hours worked per week to the personal bankruptcy rate to the share of adults getting adequate sleep.
“There are plenty of small ways for people to manage stress, from staying active and participating in hobbies to taking vacations from work and getting help from a mental health professional. What many people don’t realize, though, is that changing location can also be a big stress reducer. For example, states that have lower crime rates, better health care and better economies tend to have much less stressed residents,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said.
Kentucky has the second-most stressed residents, and many of the largest contributing factors are financial in nature, according to the WalletHub report.
WalletHub found Kentucky has the third-highest unemployment rate in the country, sixth-highest bankruptcy rate, and one of the lowest median credit scores, at 689.
Kentuckians experience a lot of stress in their family lives, too, with some of the highest rates of separation, divorce and parental stress in the country.
Health is also big concern in the Bluegrass State. Around 23% of Kentuckians report that their health is “fair” or “poor,” the fourth-highest rate in the country.
Additional indicators show that Kentucky has the 10th-largest share of adults with poor mental health and the second-largest share of adults diagnosed with depression. These figures highlight broader health challenges facing residents across the state, WalletHub analysts say.
The only U.S. state that ranked higher in WalletHub’s most stressed state report was Louisiana, in large part because it has the highest poverty rate in the country.
To see the full WalletHub Most & Least Stressed States (2026) report, click here.