These are the most patriotic states in the US for 2025, study shows
FILE-People participate in a parade during celebrations marking Independence Day on July 4, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)
The United States symbolizes different things for Americans, and many express their devotion to the nation in a myriad of ways, including military service or actively helping others through community efforts.
And while a love of America can be defined in various ways, WalletHub released a new study ranking the most patriotic states by comparing states across 13 major categories of patriotism that include "Military Engagement" and "Civic Engagement."
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Researchers graded each category on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 ranking as the top level of patriotism. The team’s data set also ranges from the state’s military enlistees and veterans to the share of adults who voted in the 2024 presidential election to AmeriCorps volunteers per capita. An overall score for the states was calculated based on the criteria to rank these areas.
Here are the most patriotic states in the U.S.
Local perspective:
Based on WalletHub’s criteria and grading system, these states are the top areas for patriotism.
- Virginia
- Montana
- Vermont
- Colorado
- Oregon
- Washington
- North Dakota
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Alaska
- Utah
- Kansas
- Wyoming
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Hawaii
- Nebraska
- Kentucky
- Delaware
A deep dive into the top 3 patriotic states
Dig deeper:
Virginia, Montana, and Vermont were ranked as near the top as the most patriotic states, and here’s a closer look at WalletHub’s scoring for these areas.
Virginia
Virginia is the number one state for patriotism for 2025. The study found that for every 100,000 civilians in Virginia, there are over 1,850 active-duty military personnel, the third-most in the U.S. And for every 1,000 civilians, there are over 103 veterans, the second-most in the nation.
Virginia has a high voter turnout rate, with 72.9% of residents having voted in the 2024 presidential election, compared to the national average of 66%. According to WalletHub, Virginia has the fifth-highest number of peace corps volunteers per capita, and it’s one of the many states that require standalone courses in civics for high school graduation.
Montana
Montana is the second-most patriotic state, in part due to the state’s high voter turnout. WalletHub noted that approximately 69% of the state’s population were at the voting polls for the 2024 presidential election, and roughly 46% voted in the 2020 primary election, representing the highest turnout for a primary in the nation.
The state also ranks second in the U.S. for jury service, and it also has the second-highest number of AmeriCorps volunteers, and over 37% of residents volunteer for an organization. According to the study, Montana also has 102 veterans for every 1,000 civilians, the fourth-highest number in the U.S.
Vermont
Vermont is the third-most patriotic state, with the second-highest volunteer rate. The area also has the eighth-highest number of military reserves. Combined, these rankings emphasize the state’s involvement in civic engagement and community service.
The state also has the highest number of residents per capita who served as jurors over the past year. And WalletHub noted that Vermont has the highest AmeriCorps volunteers per capita.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by WalletHub ranking the most patriotic states by comparing states across the U.S. using 13 major categories of patriotism, including "Military Engagement" and "Civic Engagement." The states were graded on a 100-point scale. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.