Healthcare

Mapped: Health Care Spending Per Person by State

Published

July 14, 2026 7:11 am

Srijaa Chatterjee

Design

Sabrina Lam

Map of U.S. per-capita health care spending by state in 2024, showing Alaska with the highest spending at $14,044 per resident, Utah with the lowest at $7,180, and the national average at $9,717.

Mapped: Health Care Spending Per Person by State

Key Takeaways:

Americans spent an average of $9,717 per person on health care in 2024, ranging from $7,233 in Utah to $14,044 in Alaska.
Alaska, Washington, D.C., South Dakota, New York, and West Virginia recorded the highest per-capita spending.
Much of the variation reflects differences in health care prices, provider availability, demographics, and geography, not simply how often people receive care.

Health care represents a major share of consumer spending in America, but the amount spent per resident varies considerably by location.

New data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis highlights the differences in per-capita health care spending across the country in 2024.

The map below ranks every state using the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures by State data from the BEA. Figures are reported in current dollars and allocated according to residents’ state of residence.

Which States Spend the Most on Health Care?

Below is a ranking of states based on per-person health care spending:

Rank	State	Per-Capita Health Care Spending
1	Alaska	$14,044
2	District of Columbia	$13,865
3	South Dakota	$12,451
4	New York	$12,221
5	West Virginia	$12,055
6	Delaware	$11,987
7	Massachusetts	$11,985
8	North Dakota	$11,667
9	Vermont	$11,493
10	Indiana	$11,071
11	California	$11,054
12	Maine	$10,913
13	New Hampshire	$10,682
14	Connecticut	$10,639
15	Minnesota	$10,567
16	New Jersey	$10,468
17	Pennsylvania	$10,262
18	Ohio	$10,202
19	Nebraska	$10,192
20	Louisiana	$10,148
21	Wisconsin	$10,079
22	Missouri	$10,036
23	Kentucky	$9,964
24	Oregon	$9,931
25	Illinois	$9,895
26	Rhode Island	$9,864
27	Hawaii	$9,808
28	Montana	$9,747
29	Washington	$9,693
30	Wyoming	$9,640
31	Florida	$9,545
32	Maryland	$9,456
33	Virginia	$9,123
34	Kansas	$9,066
35	Oklahoma	$9,052
36	Michigan	$9,023
37	Colorado	$8,871
38	Tennessee	$8,761
39	North Carolina	$8,744
40	Georgia	$8,680
41	Iowa	$8,660
42	Arkansas	$8,562
43	Arizona	$8,556
44	New Mexico	$8,469
45	Mississippi	$8,135
46	Idaho	$8,078
47	Alabama	$7,980
48	Texas	$7,807
49	South Carolina	$7,741
50	Nevada	$7,536
51	Utah	$7,233

Alaska spent nearly twice as much per resident on health care as Utah in 2024.

Several Northeastern states, along with South Dakota and Washington, D.C., also ranked near the top. Meanwhile, much of the Mountain West and South recorded below-average spending.

Why Do Some States Spend More Than Others?

Higher spending does not necessarily mean residents receive more medical care.

Numerous studies have found that differences in prices, especially for hospital and physician services, explain much more of the variation in U.S. health spending than differences in how often people use care. Administrative costs, provider wages, and regional labor markets also play major roles.

State-specific factors matter as well. Alaska’s remote geography and limited provider network make delivering care significantly more expensive, while states with older populations often spend more because seniors tend to use more medical services.

Broader insurance coverage can also increase the share of care captured in personal consumption expenditures.

Health Care Spending Continues to Climb

Nationally, health care expenditures continue to rise.

CMS projects U.S. health spending will approach $9 trillion annually by 2034, driven by increased enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid, along with continued growth in health care prices. Despite already spending more per person than any comparable high-income country, the U.S. is expected to devote an even larger share of its economy to health care over the next decade.

International comparisons show the U.S. spends substantially more on health care than other high-income countries, largely because medical services cost more rather than because Americans use dramatically more care.

As national spending continues to rise, the nearly twofold gap between states highlights how geography remains a major factor in what Americans ultimately spend on health care.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed this visualization, check out Americans Pay More for Healthcare, Yet Have Shorter Life Expectancy on the Voronoi app, where you can discover thousands of data-driven charts from trusted sources covering health, economics, markets, and more.

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Healthcare

Mapped: The Most Expensive States for Healthcare in 2026

See healthcare costs by state in 2026, from Massachusetts and Alaska at the top to Mississippi and Alabama at the bottom.

Published

September 8, 2026 7:09 am

Niccolo Conte

See healthcare costs by state in 2026, from Massachusetts and Alaska at the top to Mississippi and Alabama at the bottom.

Mapped: The Most Expensive States for Healthcare in 2026

Key Takeaways

Massachusetts has the highest healthcare costs in the ranking, at nearly 32% above the U.S. average.
Eight of the 10 highest-cost states are in the Northeast or West.
Mississippi has the lowest healthcare index at 85.1, around 15% below the national average.

Healthcare prices vary substantially across the U.S., with the gap between the highest- and lowest-cost states approaching 47 index points.

This map ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia by their healthcare cost index in 2026, with the national average set at 100.

The data for this visualization comes from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), using data from the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index.

The healthcare component is based on listed prices for doctor, dentist, and optometrist visits, along with commonly used drugs.

Massachusetts and Alaska Lead the Ranking

Massachusetts has the highest healthcare index at 131.8, meaning costs are nearly 32% above the national benchmark.

Rank	State	Healthcare Cost Index (U.S. = 100)
1	Massachusetts	131.8
2	Alaska	130.7
3	District of Columbia	118.7
4	New Jersey	115.8
5	Oregon	115.3
6	Maine	114.7
7	Hawaii	113.1
8	Minnesota	111.5
9	California	111.1
10	Washington	110.3
11	Connecticut	108.9
11	New York	108.9
13	North Carolina	108.4
14	Vermont	108.2
15	North Dakota	107.7
16	Maryland	106.9
17	New Hampshire	106.5
18	Montana	106.3
19	Nebraska	105.6
20	Nevada	105.4
21	Wisconsin	105.3
22	Rhode Island	104.1
22	South Dakota	104.1
24	Colorado	103.9
25	Illinois	103
26	New Mexico	101.9
27	Delaware	101.6
27	Idaho	101.6
29	Florida	101.4
30	Georgia	99.6
31	Arizona	98.8
32	Oklahoma	98.1
33	Missouri	98
34	South Carolina	97.6
35	Wyoming	97
36	Virginia	96.9
37	Texas	96.8
38	Ohio	96.5
39	Pennsylvania	95.1
40	Iowa	94.3
41	Kentucky	92.4
42	Louisiana	91.6
43	Indiana	91.5
44	Kansas	90.6
45	Utah	89.9
46	West Virginia	89.5
47	Tennessee	88.7
48	Michigan	88.2
49	Arkansas	85.8
50	Alabama	85.6
51	Mississippi	85.1

Massachusetts is home to a dense network of major hospitals, universities, and research institutions. High wages and operating costs can also contribute to higher healthcare prices.

Alaska follows closely at 130.7. Its geography creates a very different cost structure, with remote communities often facing limited provider competition and higher transportation and staffing expenses.

Delivering medical services across large distances can make routine care more expensive.

High Costs Cluster in the Northeast and West

The top of the ranking has a clear regional tilt, with eight of the 10 highest-cost states located in the Northeast or West.

New Jersey has an index of 115.8 and Maine stands at 114.7, while Connecticut and New York both come in at 108.9. High labor, real estate, and operating costs can contribute to higher prices across the region.

Western states also feature prominently. Oregon ranks fifth nationally at 115.3, followed by Hawaii at 113.1, California at 111.1, and Washington at 110.3.

The South Has Some of the Lowest Healthcare Costs

At the opposite end of the ranking, Mississippi has the lowest healthcare index at 85.1.

Alabama follows at 85.6, while Arkansas stands at 85.8. Tennessee, at 88.7, and West Virginia, at 89.5, also rank among the least expensive.

Overall, the gap between Massachusetts and Mississippi is 46.7 index points, underscoring the wide variation in routine healthcare prices across the country.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapped: U.S. States With the Most Financial Distress on Voronoi.

Healthcare

Mapped: Smoking Rates by State, From 6% to 20%

West Virginia has the highest adult smoking rate in the U.S. at 20.4%, more than three times Utah’s rate.

Published

June 21, 2026 7:31 am

Bruno Venditti

Mapped: Which States Have the Most Smokers? Explore adult smoking rates across U.S. states based on CDC data.

Mapped: Smoking Rates by State, From 6% to 20%

See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

West Virginia has the highest adult smoking rate in America at 20.4%, while Utah has the lowest at 6.0%.
Smoking rates remain highest across Appalachia and parts of the South.
Several Western and Northeastern states now report single-digit smoking rates.

Cigarette smoking has declined significantly in the United States over the past several decades, but it remains one of the leading causes of preventable death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke contribute to roughly one in five deaths nationwide each year.

This map highlights the share of adults who smoke in every U.S. state based on CDC data.

West Virginia and Kentucky Lead the Nation

West Virginia has the highest smoking rate in the country, with 20.4% of adults reporting that they smoke.

Kentucky follows at 17.6%, while Tennessee ranks third at 17.0%.

Rank	State	Adults who smoke
1	West Virginia	20.4%
2	Kentucky	17.6%
3	Tennessee	17.0%
4	Oklahoma	15.8%
5	Louisiana	15.7%
6	Mississippi	15.6%
7	Missouri	15.3%
8	Alaska	15.3%
9	South Dakota	15.2%
10	Ohio	15.0%
11	Arizona	15.0%
12	Pennsylvania	14.9%
13	Indiana	14.5%
14	Alabama	14.2%
15	Nevada	14.2%
16	Maine	14.0%
17	Wyoming	14.0%
18	Kansas	13.9%
19	Iowa	13.7%
20	Michigan	13.6%
21	North Dakota	13.4%
22	North Carolina	13.2%
23	Montana	12.4%
24	New Mexico	12.2%
25	Minnesota	12.2%
26	South Carolina	12.1%
27	Nebraska	12.1%
28	Wisconsin	12.0%
29	Georgia	12.0%
30	Delaware	11.4%
31	Vermont	11.3%
32	Texas	11.3%
33	Virginia	10.9%
34	Illinois	10.8%
35	Oregon	10.6%
36	Florida	10.5%
37	Idaho	10.4%
38	New Hampshire	10.4%
39	Colorado	10.2%
40	Arkansas	10.0%
41	Massachusetts	9.8%
42	District of Columbia	9.8%
43	Rhode Island	9.5%
44	New York	9.3%
45	New Jersey	9.1%
46	Maryland	9.1%
47	Hawaii	9.0%
48	Washington	9.0%
49	California	8.5%
50	Connecticut	8.4%
51	Utah	6.0%

These states have long struggled with elevated tobacco use rates due to a combination of economic, cultural, and historical factors.

The Appalachian region has been closely linked to tobacco production and consumption for generations.

Although smoking rates have declined over time, the region continues to record some of the nation’s highest levels of tobacco use.

The South and Midwest Remain Above Average

Several Southern and Midwestern states rank near the top of the list.

Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio all report smoking rates of 15% or higher.

Many of these states also face higher rates of smoking-related illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions. These states also tend to have lower life expectancy rates.

Utah Stands Out as the Lowest-Smoking State

At the other end of the spectrum, Utah reports the nation’s lowest adult smoking rate at just 6.0%.

Connecticut, California, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, and New Jersey also rank among the states with the lowest smoking prevalence.

Utah’s exceptionally low rate is often attributed to cultural and religious influences, along with longstanding public health efforts.

Meanwhile, California’s rate of 8.5% reflects decades of aggressive anti-smoking campaigns and tobacco-control policies that have helped reduce cigarette use across the state.