Prairie State Wire

Illinois scored 53.71 out of 100 on a new analysis by the personal finance website WalletHub to determine which states offer the most entertainment, recreation and amusement options for their residents. 

The score earned by Illinois was the fifth highest among the 50 states, according to WalletHub. The state was also ranked fifth in the category of entertainment and recreation and third in nightlife options, according to researchers. 

In terms of restaurants per capita, Illinois came in fifth among the 50 states, while it was fourth in the category of performing arts theaters per capita. The state had the fifth highest local and state spending on parks and recreation per capita, according to the study.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic hobbled Americans’ ability to enjoy recreation and amusements, the distribution of the coronavirus vaccines has increased the number of diversions available to the public, according to WalletHub. 

The analysis consisted of rankings in 26 categories, including the cost of seeing a movie and accessibility to gaming casinos and national parks, the study said. 

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Which States Rank Highest on the Fun Meter

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Entertainment & Recreation	Nightlife
1	California	60.81	1	5
2	Florida	58.09	2	8
3	Nevada	56.24	4	1
4	New York	55.61	3	4
5	Illinois	53.71	5	3
6	Colorado	49.14	6	11
7	Washington	46.99	7	13
8	Texas	46.83	8	12
9	Minnesota	46.82	9	7
10	Pennsylvania	42.47	11	9
11	Oregon	41.39	10	15
12	Louisiana	41.28	18	6
13	Ohio	39.91	17	10
14	Missouri	39.59	14	14
15	Wisconsin	39.53	24	2
16	Arizona	39.04	12	24
17	Maryland	38.49	13	25
18	North Carolina	37.22	15	27
19	Michigan	36.77	19	22
20	Hawaii	35.62	16	37
21	New Mexico	35.28	20	26
22	South Carolina	34.38	21	32
23	Massachusetts	34.06	25	23
24	Georgia	33.96	22	36
25	Oklahoma	33.78	26	21
26	Tennessee	33.24	29	18
27	Utah	32.49	23	47
28	Idaho	31.81	27	31
29	Virginia	31.09	28	35
30	New Jersey	31.01	30	30
31	South Dakota	30.81	34	16
32	Iowa	30.05	37	17
33	Alaska	29.42	32	42
34	Wyoming	29.38	31	45
35	North Dakota	28.74	33	29
36	Nebraska	28.57	36	28
37	Montana	28.36	42	19
38	Indiana	28.05	40	20
39	New Hampshire	26.86	38	40
40	Maine	26.83	35	44
41	Kansas	26.58	39	33
42	Kentucky	25.6	41	39
43	Connecticut	24.37	43	41
44	Alabama	23.41	44	43
45	Vermont	21.45	45	38
46	Rhode Island	19.78	47	34
47	Arkansas	19.49	46	48
48	Delaware	15.87	48	50
49	Mississippi	14.82	50	46
50	West Virginia	14.67	49	49

Source: WalletHub.com