How independent is California? See how state scored for job security, finances
How self-sufficient is California?
According to a new study by WalletHub, the Golden State ranks among the most independent in the nation.
The personal finance platform recently ranked the most and least independent states in the United States, based on financial stability, job security and other key factors.
Despite placing a high value on self-sufficiency, “Many Americans are finding it harder to remain financially independent,” WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann wrote in a June 23 article. “Some have become more reliant on federal government assistance, while others have turned to personal coping habits such as alcohol or drugs due to stress and depression.”
Here’s where California ranked — and why:
How independent is California?
According to WalletHub, California ranked 14th in the nation in terms of independence, with an overall score of 57.12 out of 100.
California ranked among the top 20 states in four out of five categories.
The Golden State was sixth in the nation in terms of its independence from “vices” such as drug use, binge drinking and smoking, WalletHub said.
In fact, California had the second-lowest share of adult smokers in the countries.
According to an American Lung Association report, only 8.5% of California adults smoked in 2023.
California also ranked among the top 20 states for independence from government dependency, financial dependency and International trade dependency.
However, California lagged behind in terms of the job market with one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States.
What are the top 10 states for self-sufficiency?
According to WalletHub, these were the 10 most independent states in 2026:
- Idaho
- Utah
- Hawaii
- Colorado
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Massachusetts
- Wisconsin
- Washington
- Virginia
Which US states are the least independent?
WalletHub said these states ranked the lowest for independence in 2026:
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alaska
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
- Indiana
- Alabama
- New Mexico
- Michigan
How did WalletHub rank states?
To rank all 50 U.S. states in terms of independence, WalletHub relied on five categories to calculate each score:
- Financial dependency: Median credit score, median household income, debt and poverty rate
- Government dependency: Households receiving public assistance, subsidized housing and government employees
- Job market dependency: Industry variety, job growth rate and unemployment rate
- International trade dependency: jobs supported by exported goods, employment at foreign firms and state GDP from exports
- Vice dependency: Adult drug users, binge drinkers and smokers
Data came from sources including from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
