I’ve never encountered a kind person from New Jersey.

The Friendliness Rankings: Hawaii Takes the Lead

In an interesting twist, a recent study has deemed Hawaii the friendliest state in the U.S. While perhaps not shocking, it’s noteworthy that New York was ranked as the third friendliest state, with New Jersey snagging second place.

Keith Tolliver, a 74-year-old passing by Penn Station, expressed a mix of disbelief and amusement at New Jersey’s rating. He was one of those surveyed by a travel site that investigated various factors including Reddit comments and happiness metrics from WalletHub.

“I think New York is a better place to live,” he remarked, a glimmer of pride in his voice.

Michael Claps, 63, who used to live in New York and now commutes from New Jersey, shared his surprise at the findings. “Are you really in third place? I’m shocked,” he said, yet he defended New York’s reputation, claiming, “I think people in New York are very friendly.”

Devika Kumar, who grew up in New Jersey but now calls New York City home, believes both states have their merits. “It’s got a bad reputation, but people are really nice, you know?” she explained. “I mean, just talk to me, I’m here to help.”

Dylan Layman, 31, visiting from Montana, agreed that the negative reputation both states have is outdated. He noted the energetic atmosphere of New York as a factor that fosters friendliness. “The more people you meet in a day, the more chances you have to become friends,” he pointed out.

Laura, a 60-year-old native of New Jersey, voiced her belief that New York isn’t as unfriendly as some say. After some thought, she claimed that while New Yorkers might seem tougher, they’re often approachable. “If you walk down the street and smile at someone, they will smile back,” she stated confidently.

Shafiq Ibraheem, 29, visiting from San Francisco, was impressed by the hospitality he experienced in New York, even mentioning how people helped him with his luggage. “I was a little shocked by that,” he admitted, but he did nuance his statement about friendliness in big cities. “California is nice but not too nice. New York is nice but not too nice,” he remarked.

Andrew Fernandez from New Jersey added a realist perspective, suggesting that friendliness varies by location. “You’ll meet a lot of people who are friendlier than others,” he noted, reflecting on his experiences in both states.