The States Getting the Worst Sleep

We gathered and analyzed data from Google Trends, and Google Keywords to identify the states most worried about getting a good nights sleep. 

Check out the surprising results below. Is your state in the Red or Green?

 

We used Google Keyword Planner to compile a list of 109 search terms relating to sleep and sleeping disorders.  Then we analyzed them, and calculated a monthly search volume per 100,000 residents in each state over the last year. The states were ranked from most worried to least worried about their sleeping routine.

It turns out New York is the city that can't sleep as it took top spot. Massachusetts came in second withy Nevada in third. The most popular search among Americans was "sleep deprivation".

Versus the States ACTUALLY Getting the Worst Sleep

So how does it compare to the states that are statistically the worst?

We’ve all had those groggy mornings where hitting snooze feels like a survival tactic. But for millions of Americans, exhaustion isn’t just a bad day—it’s a way of life. And where you live might play a bigger role than you think.

Take Hawaii, for instance. It’s the poster child for paradise—yet nearly half of adults there say they’re running on empty. Who’d guess that palm trees and ocean breezes don’t guarantee rest? Meanwhile, in states like West Virginia and Kentucky, the struggle to sleep walks hand-in-hand with health challenges like obesity and diabetes. Imagine lying awake night after night, your body tangled in a cycle where poor health steals sleep, and lost sleep deepens health woes.

Then there’s the hustle of cities like New York or Los Angeles. Picture a nurse working back-to-back shifts, juggling a two-hour commute, or a barista grinding through gig jobs around the clock. Stress and nonstop work culture don’t just burn the candle at both ends—they douse it in gasoline.

So why does sleep slip away so easily? It’s not just about willpower. Where you live shapes how you live: access to healthcare, safe spaces to unwind, jobs that respect boundaries, even street noise filtering into your bedroom. These invisible threads weave together, leaving some communities perpetually drained.

The cost? More than yawns and extra coffee. Poor sleep shadows every part of life—mood, focus, heart health, even loneliness. It’s a reminder that rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline we’re all fighting for, one night at a time.

Factors Contributing to Poor Sleep

Across the country, sleep is slipping through Americans’ fingers—but why? The answer lies in a tangled web of modern-day pressures, environmental traps, and health gaps that vary starkly by region.

Hawaii's reliance on tourism means erratic shift work for hospitality and healthcare workers, fracturing natural sleep cycles. Similarly, in tech hubs like Silicon Valley, the “always-on” work culture glorifies sleeplessness.

A 2023 CDC report found 47% of Californians regularly clock less than seven hours of sleep—a side effect of what one San Francisco startup employee calls “the grind trap.”

Head south, and a different crisis unfolds. In Alabama and Mississippi, where obesity rates are around 40%, sleep apnea and diabetes ravage communities.

The same technology that promises to optimize our lives is hijacking our sleep. In the US, 90% of Americans admit to using technological devices an hour before bed—a habit that suppresses melatonin by up to 55%. 

The Growth of the Sleep Tech Industry as a solution

In an era where sleeplessness is a growing epidemic, the sleep tech industry emerges as a beacon of hope. With over one-third of adults worldwide failing to get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep, the consequences—ranging from chronic health issues to diminished productivity—are staggering.

Enter the sleep tech industry: a rapidly expanding sector leveraging innovation to transform how we rest. This blog explores its evolution, key innovations, and the promise it holds for a well-rested future. Traditional remedies like medication or meditation apps are now being eclipsed by cutting-edge technologies designed to tackle sleep at its root.

Evolution of Sleep Tech: From Basic Gadgets to AI-Driven Insights

• • • Early Innovations: Simple tools like white noise machines and over-the-counter sleep aids laid the groundwork.
    • Wearables Revolution: Devices like Fitbit and Apple Watch introduced sleep stage tracking, offering users insights into REM, deep, and light sleep.
    • Smart Environments: Companies like Eight Sleep developed mattresses that adjust temperature dynamically, while smart lights (e.g., Philips Hue) sync with circadian rhythms.
    • AI and Personalization: Apps like Sleep Cycle analyze patterns to recommend optimal bedtimes, while AI-driven platforms like Somnofy use radar to monitor sleep without wearables.

Key Players and Innovations

• • • Oura Ring: This sleek wearable tracks sleep quality, body temperature, and recovery, providing actionable insights.

    • Withings Sleep Analyzer: A under-mattress sensor detects sleep apnea and offers detailed sleep reports.

    • Dreem Headband: Combines EEG sensors and bone conduction audio to enhance deep sleep through real-time feedback.

    • Calm and Headspace: Apps offering guided sleep meditations and stories, blending tech with mindfulness.

Benefits: Why Consumers Are Investing

• • • Data-Driven Insights: Users gain clarity on sleep patterns, empowering lifestyle adjustments.

    • Holistic Health Integration: Devices like Garmin and Whoop link sleep data to heart rate, stress, and activity levels.

    • Convenience: Non-invasive solutions (e.g., smart mattresses) require minimal effort compared to traditional methods.

Challenges and Criticisms

• • • Accuracy Concerns: Many devices lack clinical validation, raising questions about reliability.

    • Sleep Anxiety: Over-reliance on metrics may exacerbate stress, ironically worsening sleep.

    • Privacy Risks: Data collection by apps and wearables sparks fears of misuse.

Future Trends: Where Sleep Tech is Headed

1. 1. 1. Integration with Smart Homes: Expect systems that auto-adjust thermostats, lights, and blinds based on sleep stages.

      2. Telehealth Collaboration: Doctors may remotely monitor sleep data to personalize treatments for conditions like insomnia or apnea.

      3. Genomic and Biometric Advances: Emerging research could tailor sleep solutions to genetic profiles or real-time stress levels.

The sleep tech industry is more than a trend—it’s a critical response to a global health crisis. By merging technology with neuroscience, it offers personalized, accessible tools to reclaim rest. Yet, as we embrace these innovations, balancing tech reliance with mindfulness and addressing ethical concerns will be key. In the quest for better sleep, the future is bright, intelligent, and restful.

Implications of Our Study

This analysis reveals a critical paradox: the states most obsessed with sleep are not always the ones actually suffering the worst rest. While New York, Massachusetts, and Nevada top Google searches for sleep-related concerns, states like Hawaii, West Virginia, and Kentucky face systemic sleep deprivation rooted in healthcare gaps, economic pressures, and chronic health conditions.

This disconnect suggests that heightened awareness—driven by stress, urban lifestyles, or access to health information—does not equate to better sleep outcomes. Instead, it highlights how socioeconomic and environmental factors create invisible barriers to rest, even in regions where sleep is a frequent topic of inquiry.

For instance, Hawaii’s tourism-driven grind and the South’s obesity-linked sleep apnea epidemics underscore that “worrying about sleep” cannot compensate for structural challenges like shift work, limited healthcare, or environmental disruptors.

Meanwhile, the booming sleep tech industry offers tools to bridge this gap, but its promise is tempered by risks like data privacy concerns and over-reliance on metrics. Ultimately, the findings demand a dual approach: leveraging technology to empower individuals while advocating for systemic changes—affordable healthcare, workplace reforms, and noise regulation—to address the root causes of sleeplessness.

The path forward lies not just in tracking sleep, but in reshaping the conditions that make rest possible.