How kind is America? Find out how your state faired
Kentucky tops list of kindest states, as new research reveals the state of kindness in the United States.
[June 24, 2021: Verizon Communications]
How kind is America? What are the kindest acts you can do for others?
Verizon Wireless worked with Kindness.org, a non-profit whose mission is to educate and inspire people to choose kindness, to commission a first-of-its-kind academic research study to find out the state of kindness in America. The results? All 50 states have a surprisingly high capacity to be kind - but only one state could be crowned the kindest.
The top 10 kindest states are:
Kentucky
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Georgia
North Dakota
Alaska
New Hampshire
Missouri
West Virginia
Wyoming
“We surveyed thousands of people from all 50 states and from all walks of life on what kind acts they would do,” said Dr. Oliver Scott Curry, research director for Kindness.org. “Overall, our research revealed a surprisingly high capacity for kindness across America, and the results across all the states were remarkably similar.”
Top takeaways from the research include:
The top three kindest acts ranked by Americans overall were: “Become an organ donor for a family member,” “Pull a stranger from a burning car,” “Adopt and raise a family member.”
The top three kind acts that you can plan ahead are: “Cover the shift for a work colleague,” “Cheer up a family member,” “Call a friend to encourage them.”
The average American would give up $6.40 if that meant a stranger got $10.
86 percent of people would donate a part of their liver to a family member
72 percent would lend money to a friend in a financial crisis
53 percent would donate their vacation time to a colleague
Like these kind of feel good stories? Get the Brighter Side of News' newsletter.
Tags: #Good_News, #Kindness, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News
Joseph Shavit
Science News Writer, Editor-At-Large and Publisher
Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.