Americans are known for being industrious and hard-working, but are all states created equal in the hours they devote to work? A new map from Qualtrics can give us the answer. The team calculated the percentage of time Americans spent working last year, then color-coded each state based on where it fell on the spectrum. The colorful map shows us that all states fell somewhere within the range of 16% and 27% of last year spent on labor. States on the high end of the spectrum have a green hue, and states on the low end have a pink hue, with average time in the center of the scale represented in shades of blue. The result is an easy-to-read chart showing which state residents worked the most and the least.

Click below to zoom.

While the range the map represents isn’t huge, workers certainly notice a difference between 16% and 27% of the year spent on the job. What can cause such a big discrepancy? The map helps us get some insights into work culture throughout the nation. For example, residents of Utah spent the most time at work out of all 50 states, and they also have some of the lowest unemployment levels in America. This suggests that plentiful work means lots of time spent laboring, or maybe it implies that Utah residents genuinely enjoy working.

We can also see the effects of low wages on hours spent at work. In states where wages are lowest, like Mississippi, Alabama, South Dakota, and West Virginia, residents worked longer hours, most likely to earn what they need to get by. We can also see this in states with high living costs, like Colorado. It’s an expensive state to live in, and workers there spent more time on the job. We can speculate that the need for more wages pushes employees to work more.

Industry can also play a part in work hours. We already know that Alabama and Mississippi workers are spending a lot of time in the workplace, but we also have to consider that there are a lot of manufacturing jobs in these states. These jobs often come with a high demand for long shifts that exceed 40 hours a week. On the other end of the spectrum, we can see that high availability of part-time work can lead to lower work hours. Connecticut residents worked the least amount of time last year, which is clearly because 29% of the workforce has a part-time job. Other states with the lowest work hours include Michigan, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington, and Texas.

This map is a fascinating insight into American work culture and how it varies across the nation. The best maps and studies give us statistics that can provide us with a bigger picture of an issue like labor, and this map certainly delivers.

Do you have a passion for fast cars, scenic drives, and classic automobiles? If so, you might be curious about which states cater best to car lovers. The experts at Speedway Motors have developed a ranking system that evaluates each state based on the factors most important to auto enthusiasts. Their in-depth analysis reveals which parts of the country offer the best experience for those who live and breathe cars.

Click below to zoom.

How the Rankings Were Determined

Determining the ultimate destination for car fans isn’t an exact science, but the research team considered a variety of key factors to ensure a well-rounded assessment. Here’s what they looked at:

• The percentage of roads in excellent condition
• The average number of snow days per year
• The frequency of hailstorms annually
• Registration costs and duration
• The price of fuel per gallon
• The percentage of uninsured drivers
• The number of car shows held in the state
• The availability of auto racing venues

Do these factors align with what you’d consider important for an ideal car-friendly state? We think this method covers all the essential aspects—driving conditions, costs, events, and opportunities to enjoy the thrill of the road.

Top States for Car Lovers

Based on this ranking system, the following states earned top spots for their well-maintained roads, favorable weather, affordable fuel, and exciting car culture:

• Florida
• Alabama
• Idaho
• North Carolina
• West Virginia
• Tennessee
• Arizona
• Indiana
• New Hampshire
• Kentucky

Florida takes the lead as the best state for car enthusiasts, thanks to its warm climate, minimal snowfall, and well-kept roads. Car lovers will also appreciate the numerous auto events, such as the prestigious Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where rare and luxury cars take center stage. Racing fans, on the other hand, can enjoy the adrenaline rush of the iconic Daytona 500. Even though fuel prices are slightly above average, Florida’s thriving car culture more than makes up for it.

The State with the Most Car Meet-Ups

This chart’s strength comes from the way it breaks down specific aspects that appeal to car lovers. For example, if you don’t care about driving as much as you care about attending car shows, you can re-evaluate the rankings and bring the states with the highest scores for car shows to the top of your list. This would make California the top state in terms of car shows, with more than any other state. Monterey Car Week alone can satisfy even the most passionate enthusiasts!

The State with the Best Roads

For those who express their love of cars with road trips, you’ll be interested to know that Alabama has the best-kept roads in the nation. 75% of them are well-maintained and in good condition. They’re closely followed by New Hampshire at 74%.

States with Low Gas Prices

It’s hard to enjoy a good road trip if you blow your budget on gas. Oklahoma offers the most value for your money, with average gas prices of $2.53 per gallon at the time of the study. Texas came in second place at $.259 per gallon.

A Guide to the Best Beaches in America

Visual guides like this one from Florida Rentals can be handy for planning a vacation. The team has released a scoring system that points us toward America’s best beaches. Grab your flip-flops and dive in. There’s a wealth of information to find here. The team created its own scoring system to help us understand why these 20 beaches are considered the best. At a glance, you’ll be able to see which beaches are best, but if you want the details, the team outlined the criteria they used to judge the beaches and the score they gave each beach in each category.

Click below to zoom.

How the Beaches are Ranked

Everyone has different qualities they look for in a beach, but we think the Florida Rentals crew did an excellent job pinpointing what’s most important to a variety of beachgoers. These are the factors that were used to create the scoring system:

• Air temperature
• Water temperature
• Humidity
• Annual sunny days
• Annual precipitation
• Wind speed
• Annual comfortable days
• Miles of beach
• Beach crowdedness
• Suitability for water sports
• Boardwalk presence

The Beaches with the Best Scores

The final high-score list represents beaches all across America, although it’s clear that California and Florida have the lion’s share of top beaches. After crunching the numbers and weighing the factors, Florida Rentals determined that these beaches are best:

• Laguna Beach – California
• Monterey Bay – California
• Panama City Beach – Florida
• Destin Beach – Florida
• Santa Monica – California
• Augustine Beach – Florida
• Coronado Beach – California
• Cape Cod National Seashore – Massachusetts
• Pete Beach – Florida
• Ka’anapali Beach – Hawaii
• Clearwater Beach – Florida
• Siesta Key Beach – Florida
• Hilton Head Beach – South Carolina
• Miami Beach – Florida
• Fort Lauderdale Beach – Florida
• Gulf Shores – Alabama
• Ocean City Beach – Maryland
• Waikiki Beach – Hawaii
• Cape May – New Jersey
• Coney Island – New York

Finding a Beach Based on Specific Qualities

The great thing about this chart is that we can ignore the official ranking system and focus on what matters to each of us personally. For example, if you think the bigger the beach, the better, then you might believe St. Augustine Beach in Florida is the true winner. It has a stunning 42 miles of coastline, the most of any beach on the list.

Many beach lovers prize good weather the most, allowing them to spend a long day on the sand and in the surf with comfort. For these beach fans, the overall winner, Laguna Beach, truly is the top beach, with near-perfect weather in all seasons, along with warm sun and low humidity.  Others may want to avoid the country’s most famous beaches because let’s face it, sharing a beach with a crowd of people kicking sand all over your blankets and picnic baskets can ruin a beach day fast. For low crowds, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts offers the best proportion of miles of beach to the number of visitors.