Everyone would like to think they're smart, but intelligence is a spectrum. And, well, some of us just aren't the sharpest tools in the shed. One of the easiest ways to gauge your own cognitive skills is to take an IQ test, which scores your mental capacity based on a set of standardized questions. The average score of an IQ test is 100, and many psychologists use that value as a baseline to compare places and people. For instance, the United States has a national IQ of 98, however, each state varies on the scale—and quite a few fall under the 100 benchmark. To see how your state stacks up, here are the states with residents whose IQs are below average, according to the most recent data collected by The Washington Post and Inc. And if you're wondering how unsafe your area is, This Is the Most Dangerous State in the U.S.
20 Illinois
Average IQ: 99.9
19 Maryland
Average IQ: 99.7
And if you want to have a long and happy life, Here's How Long You're Likely to Live in Every State.
18 Rhode Island
Average IQ: 99.5
17 Kentucky
Average IQ: 99.4
And to see where your dollar doesn't go far, This Is the State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.
16 Oklahoma
Average IQ: 99.3
15 Alaska
Average IQ: 99
14 West Virginia
Average IQ: 98.7
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13 Florida
Average IQ: 98.4
12 South Carolina
Average IQ: 98.4
11 Georgia
Average IQ: 98
10 Tennessee
Average IQ: 97.7
9 Arkansas
Average IQ: 97.5
8 Arizona
Average IQ: 97.4
7 Nevada
Average IQ: 96.5
6 Alabama
Average IQ: 95.7
5 New Mexico
Average IQ: 95.7
4 Hawaii
Average IQ: 95.6
3 California
Average IQ: 95.5
2 Louisiana
Average IQ: 95.3
1 Mississippi
Average IQ: 94.2
And if you'd like to show off your knowledge, check out these 40 Random Obscure Facts That Will Make Everyone Think You're a Genius.
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