What do you think this map of US states represents?

[AviatorTom]

With 100 the average for all 50 US states in 2025, this map shows whether each state is above or below that average, for a specific thing. For example, California's 109.3 means that it is 9.3% above the national average, while Texas's 95.3 means that it is 4.7% below the average..

Can you guess what that thing is?

Updates

1 mo

I'll have the correct answer tomorrow... Friday

Updates

1 mo

The map shows the relative COST OF GROCERIES for each state.

Congratulations to those who got this, or at least got that it had to do with the cost of living.

It's interesting to note that most of the lower numbers are in the middle of the country, where most food is produced, with higher numbers farther away, along the coasts. California is the exception, known for having the highest overall cost of living in the country... for just about everything: food, gasoline, housing, taxes...

[WindAtMyBack]

No idea. But some things are interesting.

There is not much variation. Even with the outliers of Alaska and Hawaii there is not much variance. Except for Alaska and Hawaii, they are all within 10%. That's pretty consistent across states that are otherwise VERY different. This eliminates a lot of things.

If I counted right, 30 states are below average. That doesn't tell you much though.

The text says it's "metro-area averages." So this is limited to certain metro areas, and not the entire state? Some of those states don't even have what I'd call a metro area.

If I'm interpreting this right, what does Cheyenne, Wyoming and New York City have in common that they are within a few percent of each other?

I'm guessing that it's not population based. In other words, the average for a small metro area counts the same as the average for a large metro area. That puts a very different spin on it.

I'm gonna throw a wild one out there. The hours per day that people have their lights on.

[DryGermanGuy]

Grocery prices? 🤔

[1WildBeatlejuice]

Don’t knock smart people in Alaska till you lived a few years up there if you’re not smart you stand a good chance of dying lol
Maybe it’s murder crime statistics per capita or something like Texas lots of people in Alaska carry firearms or have such in their trunk you don’t want to see them pull out lol 😂

[1WildBeatlejuice]

Cost of living index 😣

[RandomGirl42]

Average of people on social media sites trying to figure out answers to questions like this one that I just realized I've been sitting here for 10 minutes trying to figure out?

[SaoirseS]

Most popular FM radio stations?

[AviatorTom]

@SaoirseS That's the best answer I've ever heard that is 100% incorrect. Congratulations on being an early MHO possibility.

[SaoirseS]

😀😀😀😀

[SaoirseS]

Thanks for MHO!

[OlderAndWiser]

Average price gasoline per gallon?

[jamesgoldman]

I second this

[WindAtMyBack]

The price of gas varies more than that.

[Anonymous]

Future Democratic Victories? For the blue party of y'all Yanks lol 💙🔵 chuckle chuckle 🤭😁

Probably after Trump's third term. Personally I think and hope @AviatorTom the Republicans 🍒♥️ win the Midterms significantly in 2026 will be my prayerful hopes only because "then I'd find it amusing watching any future SCOTUS news stories of "will Trump get a third term" or raise an amendment or a Congress law change 🤭

[Maddie248]

The blueer they are the bigger the percentage of morons live there would be my guess. Luckily I'm moving to Alabama or Louisiana in 28 days

[NathanDavis]

Texas is lower... so I was thinking about the cost of fuel, but groceries make sense too

TRADE

[ArrowheadSW]

Wait a minute... I see @SaoirseS comment regarding FM radio stations. I like that one! But couldn't be... LOL

[Anonymous]

Probably the cost of living in each state as compared to the national average. The colors on the map are appropriate given that the numbers are highest in blue states, and lowest in "red" states. Hmm, I wonder why.

[AviatorTom]

Florida is a blue state with a high number, and New Mexico is a blue state with a low number, so it's not all red and blue states.

[Opinion Owner]

Florida is red. And yes, there are exceptions. But Hawaii, California, Washington, Oregon... all blue states.
upload.wikimedia.org/.../...ates_Governors_map.svg

[CaptainObivous]

Map showing the cost of living index for each state.

[lightbulb27]

Avg body temperature after drinking glass of blended halapinos juice.

[rosemilk]

the cost of living index for states compared to a national baseline of 100.

[katiesmuff]

Could be many things like gas or food prices!

[Xawyx-2]

Average forest area in each state compared to urban area? (considering Alaska, Oregon, Washington and Vermont have kinda higher numbers.

[exitseven]

I am baffled. I thought it wasa Misery Index but Florida is right up there with California

[Ironco]

I'd say the amount of fraud, but Minnesota and California are way too low on this map.

[beefcakebradybatson]

And the most buxom blondes, which is why many of us boys want to live there !!!

[Masumgunahkar]

I think this is an indicator of educated and uneducated societies.

[Kingofkings1992]

Cost of living, possibly? I don't know, how am I supposed to just guess?

[Curmudgeon]

Costs of living?

[FunkyMonkee]

What do the different colours mean?

[AviatorTom]

@FunkyMonkee Magnitude of the numbers, from white lowest to dark blue highest, as shown at the top of the image.

[FunkyMonkee]

I thought as much but, the number variants in each range are VERY small!!

[Anonymous]

Number of Jews per state?

[jamesgoldman]

My would be a lot higher

[jamesgoldman]

New York NY

[Opinion Owner]

@jamesgoldman penis size?

[purplepoppy]

100 suggests IQ

[DryGermanGuy]

So many smart people in Alaska? I doubt that! :-D

[MrChinaski]

@DryGermanGuy Small sample, stochastic error?

[strateguy632]

Gas price?

[QuietRunner]

Price of a dozen eggs

[EveryDayIsPretzelDay]

Average IQ?

[MrChinaski]

IQ? Perhaps.

[Anonymous]

%100 wrong chart biased statistics

[fish5505_87]

Here we go, again.

[Godihateyou]

Cost of living

[Smegskull]

Rainfall maybe.