First, let's start with the full list of the grossest states. Then we'll get to the criteria that was used to make this list.

  1. Virginia
  2. South Carolina
  3. North Carolina
  4. Pennsylvania
  5. TEXAS
  6. New Jersey
  7. Connecticut
  8. Georgia
  9. Delaware
  10. New York
  11. Tennessee
  12. Rhode Island
  13. Ohio
  14. Wisconsin
  15. Vermont
  16. Louisiana
  17. West Virginia
  18. Kansas
  19. Indiana
  20. Kentucky
  21. NEW MEXICO
  22. Maryland
  23. Illinois
  24. Oklahoma
  25. Alabama
  26. Massachusetts
  27. Mississippi
  28. Hawaii
  29. Florida
  30. New Hampshire
  31. California
  32. Oregon
  33. Arkansas
  34. South Dakota
  35. Missouri
  36. North Dakota
  37. Colorado
  38. Minnesota
  39. Washington
  40. Iowa
  41. Arizona
  42. Michigan
  43. Utah
  44. Wyoming
  45. Nevada
  46. Maine
  47. Idaho
  48. Nebraska
  49. Montana
  50. Alaska

There are a few simple metrics that Zippia used to come up with this list. They went with Air Filters Delivered to rank the air quality and to measure the dirtiness of the air. They also went with the EPA for a trash rating, which was based on the percentage of the land in each state that is taken up by landfills. And finally, they took a look at disease. For this, it was to the CDC ad how they ranking the spread of illness in each state.

On top of those three criteria, there were a some other "cultural factors" they used. Zippia took a look at what states are Googling. This is where this whole list just flies off the rails. The two terms they looked at in regards to "Google search interest" were mayo recipes and Croc wearing. Of course, I get the croc thing. Not that they're gross or disgusting, but I know that Crocs are a HUGE thing in Texas. I go to outlet malls in El Paso and Austin frequently enough to know that there is ALWAYS a line outside the Croc store.

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

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