The State Similarity Index attempts to quantify how similar states are to each other relative to other states. The index is a statistically-based way to measure this. 20% of the index is based on culture. 16.66% of a state’s culture score (3.33% of the overall State Similarity Index score) is allocated for the typical religious practices of the state’s people. The following paragraphs explain which aspects were used in the calculation.
Weekly Religious Attendance
Utah reported the highest weekly attendance of religious services. It is the only state above 50%. Mormons tend to attend church more than other religious groups in the country. The rest of the states with over 40% of people attending religious services weekly are in the South. In general, states in New England have the lowest rate. Vermont has the lowest with less than 25% of its people attending weekly.
Source: Pew Forum
States were categorized into the following groups by percentage attending religious services weekly:
22-27, 27-32, 32-37, 37-42, 42-47, 47-52
Daily Prayer
75% of people in Mississippi say they pray daily, the highest in the country. Many other states in the Southern region are also above 70%. Despite Utah’s high weekly religious attendance, it has a relatively lower rate of people praying daily, at just 61%. Again, on average people living in New England pray the least, with only one third of people in Vermont reporting that they pray daily.
Source: Pew Forum
States were categorized into the following groups by percentage praying daily:
33-40, 40-47, 47-54, 54-61, 61-68, 68-75
Absolute Belief in God
82% of people in Alabama and Mississippi say that they have “absolute belief in god”. Like daily prayer, the states in the South generally have a higher percentage of people that believe without a doubt. Massachusetts has the lowest percentage, with only 40% of its people reporting that they have absolute belief in god. Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are the only other states with less than 50% .
Source: Pew Forum
States were categorized into the following groups by percentage that have absolute belief in god:
40-47, 47-54, 54-61, 61-68, 68-75, 75-82
Do Not Believe in God
In Alabama, just 2% of people report that they do not believe in god. Like daily prayer, the states in the Southern region have the lowest percentage of people that do not believe in god. Yet again, Vermont has the highest percentage of people who state that they do not belief in god. It is the only state with over 20%. Massachusetts has the second highest percentage with 18%.
Source: Pew Forum
States were categorized into the following groups by percentage that do not believe in god:
2-5, 5-8, 8-11, 11-14, 14-17, 17-20
Religious Denomination
The states with the highest percentage of Catholics are all concentrated around New York. Not only are there many Latinos there, but also many people with Irish and Italian ancestry. Rhode Island (42%) has the highest percentage. New Mexico (34%) has the highest percentage outside of the Northeast, due to many immigrants from Mexico. Obviously, Black Protestant churches are most common in states with high percentages of African Americans, like Mississippi (24%). Evangelical Protestant churches are more common in the South, while Mainline Protestant churches are more common in the North. Utah (55%) is the only state with a high percentage of Mormons, but Idaho (19%) also has a significant percentage. Alaska (5%) has the highest percentage of Orthodox Christians, since it was once part of Russia. New York (7%) has the most Jewish people. Due to immigration from Asia, Hawaii (8%) has the highest percentage of Buddhists.
Source: Pew Forum
Major Denominations:
Evangelical Protestant, Black Protestant, Mainline Protestant
Roman Catholic
Mormon
Eastern Orthodox
Jewish
Buddhist
Religious Groups
Protestant religious groups were further broken into which specific church they attend. There is a large variation in denominations between different regions. Baptists are concentrated in the South, although the first Baptist church in America was actually in Rhode Island. Methodists tend to be highest in states on the border between the North and the South, like Delaware, West Virginia, and Kansas. Lutherans are most common in Minnesota and its surrounding states. This is due to a high amounts of people with Scandinavian ancestry moving there. Non-Denominational churches can be found throughout the country, but there tend to be more on the Pacific Coast. Rhode Island has the highest percentage of Episcopalians. Congregationalist churches are most commonly found in New England. Restorationist churches tend to be located around the Ozark Mountains.
Source: Pew Forum
Major Protestant Denominations:
Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Restorationist, Congregationalist
