Mental Floss

The 10 Best States for Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse

We've yet to see a zombie apocalypse outside of science fiction, but you can never be too careful. Whether they're loaded with weapons or Twinkies, these states offer your best chances of survival.

By Claudia Dimuro

Californians and Midwesterners have the best shot at surviving this situation.
Californians and Midwesterners have the best shot at surviving this situation. / photo by Pam Susemiehl/Moment/Getty Images
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As pop culture suggests, the zombie apocalypse might not be far off. Though you’ll probably want to wait a while before you start battening down the hatches or brandishing any barbed-wire bats, it wouldn’t hurt to keep the best places to survive the zombie apocalypse in the back of your head.

CableTV.com helpfully listed the best states to seek refuge if and when zombie doomsday should occur. They designated each U.S. state as a Zone 1, 2, 3, or 4, with Zone 1 being the safest and Zone 4 being areas with the lowest likelihood of survival.

To tabulate these results, the crew at CableTV.com aggregated data based on each state’s agriculture, weapon ownership, solar energy, and climate. Unfortunately, residents in the northeast didn’t fare too well: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey were all hit with Zone 4 statuses. However, these states give you a better chance than Nevada, which came in dead last.

Should you find yourself on the beaches of California, you have less to worry about, zombie-wise: The Golden State was deemed the safest haven in all of Zombie America, thanks to its gorgeous weather and implementation of solar power. Midwesterners, too, can breathe easy, as the majority of them fell into Zones 1 or 2.

CableTV.com points out that the four aforementioned indicators aren’t the only factors crucial to survival. The site mentions that finding areas hosting slowly decomposing food may prove useful for survivors in need of sustenance. The two best dystopian snacks to choose? Twinkies and ramen.

Health consciousness is a privilege of a zombie-less world, but when you’re running from the undead, being a picky eater isn’t an easy option. Sneak over to Kansas, Georgia, or Indiana, where Hostess’s three Twinkie bakeries reside, and stock up.

Are those Midwestern states too far away? Don’t fret: New Jersey and Kentucky have the longest-lasting supply of ramen.

For the best chance of survival, these 10 states are your safest bets. Good luck out there!

10 Best States for Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse

  1. California
  2. Iowa
  3. Nebraska
  4. Minnesota
  5. Illinois
  6. Kansas
  7. North Carolina
  8. Wisconsin
  9. Indiana
  10. Washington

A version of this story ran in 2019; it has been updated for 2024.

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