Utah ranked most independent state in the US — WalletHub study

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A study from WalletHub has named Utah as the most independent state in the U.S. They compared the 50 states across five “key dimensions:” financial dependency, government dependency, job-market dependency, international-trade dependency, and vice (addictions like substances or gambling) dependency.

The top five states for independence were as follows:

1. Utah
2. Colorado
3. Virginia
4. Idaho
5. Hawaii

Why was Utah first?

According to WalletHub, Utah ranked first, in part, because “very few people receive government benefits.” Compared to other states, Utah has a low percentage of people who are dependent on government benefits. WalletHub states that 1.6% of Utahns require public assistance income, while 5.3% of Utahns receive SNAP or food stamps.

A March 2025 study from WalletHub found that Utah was one of the least “federally dependent” states in the U.S. In that study, ranked from most to least federally dependent, Utah was ranked 46th as a state, and residents were ranked 29th for their dependence on federal funds.

WalletHub also explained that Utah has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country (3.2%), meaning that residents are not as dependent on unemployment income as in other states. The median income in Utah, which is over $88,500 according to WalletHub, is the second-highest in the nation. These factors help Utah maintain independence.

An interesting point brought up in the study is that Utah has the lowest share of people who binge drink or smoke in the country. Less spending on addictive substances (vices) can contribute to the overall financial well-being of an individual.

For more information on the methodology of this study and how other states measured up, visit WalletHub’s website.