With April being Stress Awareness Month and 77% of adults being stressed out by the future of the nation, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025's Most & Least Stressed States, as well as expert commentary.
To determine the states with the highest stress levels, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 40 key metrics. The data set ranges from average hours worked per week to the personal bankruptcy rate to the share of adults getting adequate sleep.
Stress Levels in New York (1=Most Stressed, 25=Avg.):
- Overall Rank: 23rd
- 43rd – Avg. Hours Worked per Week
- 10th – Share of Adults Getting Adequate Sleep
- 37th – % of Adults in Fair/Poor Health
- 13th – Job Security
- 27th – Median Credit Score
- 4th – Housing Affordability
- 12th – % of Population Living in Poverty
- 29th – Divorce Rate
- 22nd – Crime Rate per Capita
- 49th – Psychologists per Capita
Expert Commentary
What tips do you have for fighting stress without spending money?
“In moments of stress, I’ve found simple things work best; a short walk outside, petting my dog, putting on my favorite happy song, or closing my eyes to take ten deep breaths. To manage longer term stress, I’ve used bi-weekly massages, built regular exercise into my schedule, and logged time in meditation apps like Headspace or Calm. I’ve also found business coaches and therapists instrumental in helping me find customized stress management solutions. During a period where work was hectic, a therapist gave me the mantra ‘I have all the time in the world.’ That mantra immediately helped calm my nerves and allowed me to tackle my to-do list slowly and methodically, one item at a time, without getting overwhelmed wondering how I would get everything done.”
Dana Anspach, CFP®, RMA®, Kolbe CertifiedTM Consultant (6-5-8-2) – Founder and CEO, Sensible Money, LLC
“Read or watch non-stressful books or videos. Listen to music. Go for walks in nature. I do all of the above.”
David R Kotok – Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor, Cumberland Advisors
What steps can people take to reduce their stress over finances?
“The first step in managing financial stress is getting a plan in place. If you’re starting out, that means having a budget – a schedule of outgoing expenses. You then match that against your income and find areas where you can reasonably reduce costs. If you’re near retirement, a plan is more involved, showing you when you can retire, what you’ll get from Social Security and how much you can realistically withdraw from savings. If you’ve lost a job, a plan involves finding what resources you’re eligible for, such as unemployment, job training programs, or Medicaid for health coverage. Positive action can help you regain control and move in the right direction.”
Dana Anspach, CFP®, RMA®, Kolbe CertifiedTM Consultant (6-5-8-2) – Founder and CEO, Sensible Money, LLC
“Keep your exposure to loss within affordable bounds. Everyone has a ‘unit’ that is small enough in monetary value so as not to inflict hardship if it is lost. The amount varies with wealth, but the concept is the same. Invest at or below your unit size. If you lose, you will not like it, but it will not injure you.”
David R Kotok – Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor, Cumberland Advisors
What can people do to address the financial stress caused by the current economic environment?
“It’s said the only things certain in life are death and taxes, but I’d add a third item to that list – change. Economies go through broad cycles and change is inevitable. Uncertainty around what and when things may change is stressful. Most of the worst-case scenarios we worry about don’t happen. However, it can be difficult not to ‘catastrophize’ in our minds. Categorize your thinking into items you can and can’t control. Then only focus on the items you can control. For example, if you’re worried about what may come, could you get a second job or build up extra savings to provide a cushion for uncertain times?”
Dana Anspach, CFP®, RMA®, Kolbe CertifiedTM Consultant (6-5-8-2) – Founder and CEO, Sensible Money, LLC
“Read and learn to develop a proper understanding. The present times and news flow are bewildering and complex, with tariffs, wars, government shrinkage, layoffs, deportations, and disease shocks like measles, etc. We have not seen an array like this since the 1930s. Sorting out where information is believable and acceptable is part of the challenge now. Therefore, verifying sources is important. I constantly ask people where they get their news. It helps me understand how they form their views of the world. When they get their news from X or TikTok, it tells me something. When they use Reuters, AP, or Bloomberg, it tells me something else.”
David R Kotok – Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor, Cumberland Advisors