Americans have spoken out about which states they love to hate. 

A ranking has named Illinois the most disliked state in the nation, with 25 percent of its own residents saying it is the worst place to live.

New Jersey landed in the number two spot, reinforcing its long-standing reputation as a frequent target of jokes across the country.

New York followed closely behind, with a significant portion of residents admitting they believe their own state ranks among the worst. 

The World Population Review analyzed three key factors to determine which states inspire the strongest negative feelings: how many residents said their own state was the worst place to live, whether population numbers were shrinking and how frequently other states named them as their most disliked neighbor.

In some cases, the dislike may reflect frustration over rising costs of living, limited job opportunities or changing lifestyles. 

In others, long-standing rivalries, particularly in sports and regional identity, appear to play a surprisingly powerful role in shaping public opinion. 

However, Colorado stood out as one of the few states that no other state named as their most disliked, a rare distinction in a country filled with fierce regional pride and occasional grudges.

Researchers at Zippia, a job-listing platform, said the rankings were created using a multi-step method designed to measure dissatisfaction across the country. 

The first factor examined was the percentage of residents who told Gallup, a representative survey of public opinion or consumer behavior, their state was the 'worst possible state to live in,' a measure researchers said provided direct insight from the people who live there.

The team at Zippia then analyzed so-called 'foot votes,' or population movement trends, to determine whether residents were leaving certain states in significant numbers. 

By examining population growth and decline, researchers aimed to identify where people were choosing to leave for better opportunities elsewhere. 

The larger the population decrease, the more negatively a state was viewed in the analysis. To calculate this, researchers used population data from the American Community Survey (ACS), comparing figures from the two most recent years available.

Finally, the study considered how states were perceived by the rest of the country. Researchers noted that public opinion from outside a state can play a major role in shaping its reputation, as negative views from neighboring regions often reflect long-standing rivalries, stereotypes or regional frustrations.

After compiling the three datasets, resident dissatisfaction, population change and nationwide opinions, researchers combined the results into a final composite score.

Illinois topped the list with the harshest statistic of all, one in four residents admitted they believe their state is the worst place to live. That level of dissatisfaction coincides with the state's steady population decline, with Illinois losing roughly 0.54 percent of its population in recent years.

Coming in second was New Jersey, a state that has long struggled with a less-than-flattering national reputation. 

Known for everything from aggressive driving stereotypes to punchline-worthy jokes in movies and television, the Garden State also faced criticism from neighboring states, with five reporting they disliked New Jersey more than any other.

New York landed in third place, with 12 percent of residents describing it as the worst place to live, a striking statistic for a state often celebrated as one of the world's most iconic destinations. 

Even rivalries appear to play a role, with Massachusetts residents reportedly naming New York as their least favorite neighbor, possibly fueled by long-standing sports grudges and regional tensions.

Further down the list, West Virginia ranked fourth, largely due to its shrinking population and the steady outflow of residents seeking better opportunities elsewhere. 

California, often portrayed as glamorous and influential, surprisingly landed in fifth place, with nine other states identifying it as their most disliked neighbor, the highest number recorded in the study.

Massachusetts followed, with both internal dissatisfaction and external rivalries pushing it into the top tier of disliked states. 

Michigan also made the list, with nearly one in ten residents admitting they viewed their own home state negatively, an attitude that researchers suggest may be linked to economic pressures and shifting industries.

Connecticut presented an unusual case. While no other states singled it out as their most hated neighbor, nearly 17 percent of Connecticut residents themselves said they disliked living there, suggesting the harshest criticism may sometimes come from within.

Kentucky rounded out the top ten, with neighboring states Tennessee and Indiana reportedly naming it as their least favorite, proving that even states known for bourbon and horse racing are not immune to regional rivalries.

Despite the harsh label of 'most hated,' researchers emphasized that the findings do not necessarily mean these states lack appeal. Instead, the rankings highlight shifting population patterns, economic challenges and cultural stereotypes that continue to shape how Americans view the places they live.