Census ACS 5-Year · 52 states
States With Highest Disability Rates
Approximately 13% of Americans live with a disability, but rates vary significantly by state due to differences in age demographics, economic conditions, occupational hazards, and healthcare access. West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas consistently have the highest disability rates, influenced by older populations, higher rates of physically demanding work in mining, agriculture, and manufacturing, and higher obesity rates that contribute to mobility limitations. Disability rates strongly correlate with poverty, people with disabilities face substantial employment barriers and often depend on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). States with high disability rates require more accessible public infrastructure, specialized healthcare services, and employment support programs. Understanding these geographic disparities helps policymakers direct resources to communities with the greatest need for disability services, accessible housing, and vocational rehabilitation.
Key Findings
- 1West Virginia leads with a disability rate of 19.1%, followed by Arkansas (17.8%) and Kentucky (17.7%).
- 2The national median across all states is 13.4% (Nevada at the midpoint).
- 3The top 10 states are: West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Alabama, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Disability Rates
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Disability % | Median Age | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 13.9% | 38.8 | $74,815 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 12.0% | 40.1 | $75,670 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 19.1% | 42.7 | $57,917 |
| 4 | Washington | 13.3% | 38.2 | $94,952 |
| 5 | Virginia | 12.2% | 38.8 | $90,974 |
| 6 | Vermont | 14.5% | 43 | $78,024 |
| 7 | Utah | 10.3% | 31.7 | $91,750 |
| 8 | Texas | 12.0% | 35.5 | $76,292 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 15.0% | 38.9 | $67,097 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 12.1% | 37.7 | $72,421 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 14.4% | 40.1 | $66,818 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 13.6% | 40.5 | $86,372 |
| 13 | Puerto Rico | - | 44.2 | $25,096 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 14.2% | 40.9 | $76,081 |
| 15 | Oregon | 15.1% | 40.1 | $80,426 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 16.8% | 36.9 | $63,603 |
| 17 | Ohio | 14.2% | 39.6 | $69,680 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 11.8% | 35.7 | $75,949 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 13.4% | 39.1 | $69,904 |
| 20 | New York | 12.2% | 39.6 | $84,578 |
| 21 | New Mexico | 16.7% | 39.2 | $62,125 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 10.6% | 40.1 | $101,050 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 13.0% | 43.2 | $95,628 |
| 24 | Nevada | 13.4% | 38.9 | $75,561 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 12.1% | 37.1 | $74,985 |
| 26 | Montana | 14.3% | 40.2 | $69,922 |
| 27 | Missouri | 14.6% | 38.9 | $68,920 |
| 28 | Mississippi | 17.4% | 38.4 | $54,915 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 11.4% | 38.6 | $87,556 |
| 30 | Michigan | 14.2% | 40.1 | $71,149 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 12.1% | 40 | $101,341 |
| 32 | Maryland | 11.4% | 39.3 | $101,652 |
| 33 | Maine | 15.6% | 44.8 | $71,773 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 16.1% | 37.8 | $60,023 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 17.7% | 39.1 | $62,417 |
| 36 | Kansas | 13.4% | 37.2 | $72,639 |
| 37 | Iowa | 12.4% | 38.6 | $73,147 |
| 38 | Indiana | 13.8% | 38 | $70,051 |
| 39 | Illinois | 11.8% | 38.9 | $81,702 |
| 40 | Idaho | 13.8% | 37.1 | $74,636 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 12.5% | 40.6 | $98,317 |
| 42 | Georgia | 12.9% | 37.4 | $74,664 |
| 43 | Florida | 13.5% | 42.6 | $71,711 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 11.0% | 34.9 | $106,287 |
| 45 | Delaware | 13.9% | 41.5 | $82,855 |
| 46 | Connecticut | 12.1% | 41.2 | $93,760 |
| 47 | Colorado | 11.2% | 37.5 | $92,470 |
| 48 | California | 11.3% | 37.6 | $96,334 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 17.8% | 38.4 | $58,773 |
| 50 | Arizona | 13.6% | 38.8 | $76,872 |
| 51 | Alaska | 13.1% | 35.6 | $89,336 |
| 52 | Alabama | 16.2% | 39.3 | $62,027 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
West Virginia has the highest disability rate at 19.1%, according to latest Census ACS data. Arkansas and Kentucky round out the top three.
Puerto Rico has the lowest disability rate at -. Utah is second-lowest at 10.3%.
The median across all 52 states is 13.4%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.