Which American state in 2026 is the most patriotic? The first three may surprise you | Today’s news
Virginia has been named the most patriotic state in the United States for 2026, according to a new study that measured military and civic engagement in all 50 states.
The WalletHub report ranked states using 13 metrics grouped into two broad categories — Military Engagement and Civic Engagement — including active duty military personnel, veterans, voter turnout, volunteerism, jury service and participation in national service programs.
Virginia tops the list
Virginia secured the #1 spot thanks to its strong military presence and high civic participation.
According to the study, the state has nearly 1,761 active duty military personnel for every 100,000 civilians, the third highest ratio in the country. It also has nearly 103 veterans per 1,000 civilians, second nationally.
On the civic front, 72.9% of eligible voters in Virginia participated in the 2024 presidential election, well above the national average of 66%.
The study also highlighted Virginia’s strong civics education, noting that it requires a separate civics course for high school graduation. In addition, the state ranks fifth in the number of Peace Corps volunteers per capita.
Montana is second
Montana finished second overall due to high voter turnout and community service.
According to WalletHub, 69.2% of Montana voters participated in the 2024 presidential election, while nearly 46% participated in the 2020 primary, the highest primary turnout in the nation.
The state also ranks second nationally in jury and AmeriCorps volunteers per capita. More than 37% of Montanans volunteer in community organizations, making it among a small group of states where volunteer participation exceeds 35%.
Montana also boasts nearly 101 veterans per 1,000 civilians, the fifth highest in the United States.
Third place went to Vermont
Vermont ranked third, with the study highlighting its exceptional record in volunteerism and public service.
The state has the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers per capita and the highest number of AmeriCorps volunteers per capita in the country. It also recorded the second highest overall volunteer rate.
In addition, Vermont has the highest rate of jury service per capita and the eighth highest proportion of military reservists, reflecting strong civic and military involvement.
How the ranking was calculated
WalletHub compared all 50 states using 13 metrics in two main categories:
-Military deployments, including active duty personnel, veterans and military reservists.
-Civic involvement, including voting, jury service, volunteering, Peace Corps participation, and AmeriCorps service.
Each metric was rated on a 100-point scale, with higher scores indicating stronger patriotic involvement. The weighted scores were then combined to create each state’s overall ranking.
