A new study analyzing women’s well-being across all 50 states finds that where a woman lives in the U.S. can significantly affect her access to healthcare, financial security, and workplace rights. The findings highlight wide disparities nationwide, with states like Nevada and California leading the way in protections and opportunities for women, while others such as Louisiana and Mississippi rank at the bottom.
The report was published by women’s health brand Intimate Rose, which examined data from Oxfam America, the Commonwealth Fund, and the National Women’s Law Center. Researchers calculated an overall score for each state based on four key factors: healthcare access (35%), workplace rights (30%), poverty rate (20%), and gender wage inequality (15%).
Top-Ranked States Prioritize Healthcare Access and Gender Equality
Nevada emerged as the top state for women, earning a score of 79.36 thanks to its strong workplace protections, access to healthcare, and efforts to close the gender wage gap. Women in Nevada earn an average of $0.85 for every dollar a man earns, and the state has invested in programs that promote financial independence and support women entrepreneurs.
California followed in second place (score: 70.01), praised for its robust social safety net and gender-inclusive policies like paid family leave, mental health care expansion, and minimum wage increases that benefit women in lower-income brackets.
Alaska (69.96) ranked third, driven by its healthcare outreach, low poverty rates among women, and support for career advancement programs, particularly in rural regions.
Florida came in fourth (65.75), recognized for its growing number of women-owned businesses and improvements in healthcare accessibility. Statewide initiatives have focused on workplace equality and increasing financial stability for women.
Arizona rounded out the top five (64.14), earning high marks for efforts to reduce the wage gap and expand mentorship, training, and healthcare programs that reach both urban and rural women.
Southern and Rural States Lag Behind
At the other end of the spectrum, Louisiana ranked last with a score of 26.38. The state has the largest gender pay gap in the U.S., with women earning just $0.71 for every dollar paid to men. High rates of domestic violence, limited healthcare access, and minimal workplace protections further contribute to the state’s challenges for women.
North Dakota (36.26) and West Virginia (36.32) also ranked near the bottom due to limited access to reproductive and general healthcare, persistent wage gaps, and scarce policies supporting family leave or workplace equity.
Alabama (40.22) and Mississippi (40.53) rounded out the bottom five, with both states struggling with high poverty rates among women, few anti-discrimination protections, and significant barriers to economic advancement.
Alarming National Trends
The study’s findings come amid broader concerns about women’s health outcomes in the U.S. According to the Commonwealth Fund, American women had the lowest life expectancy (80 years) among high-income countries in 2022. The U.S. also reported the highest rate of preventable deaths among women—270 per 100,000—in 2021.
“These disparities between states in terms of women’s health and well-being are growing more evident as women face increasingly complex societal, professional, and personal demands,” said Dr. Amanda Olson, President and Chief Clinical Officer at Intimate Rose. “Expanding access to essential services, addressing pay disparities, and advancing workplace protections are essential steps toward ensuring women across all states can thrive.”
Methodology
The rankings were based on normalized, weighted data from:
- Oxfam America (workers’ rights and policies)
- The Commonwealth Fund (women’s health and reproductive care access)
- The National Women’s Law Center (poverty rates and wage inequality)
Each category was adjusted to ensure comparability, and scores were inverted when necessary so that higher totals indicated better outcomes for women.
For the full dataset and rankings, visit: Intimate Rose
