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Ranked: The Flattest States in America
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Key Takeaways
- Florida has the smallest elevation range in the country, just 345 feet between its highest and lowest points.
- Several Midwest states—including Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio—rank among the 10 flattest states.
- Despite its long-standing reputation for flatness, Kansas ranks only 20th by elevation range, flatter than many states, but far from the top of the list.
America’s landscape ranges from towering mountain ranges to vast plains. But which states actually have the least change in elevation?
Using elevation range, the difference between a state’s highest and lowest points, we ranked all 50 states based on USGS data via the U.S. Census Bureau.
The results reveal several surprises. While Florida takes the top spot by a wide margin, Kansas—long associated with flat terrain—ranks only 20th due to its gradual rise toward the Rocky Mountains.
Florida’s Narrow Elevation Range
Florida ranks as the flattest state in the country, with just 345 feet separating its highest point, Britton Hill, from sea level along its coastline.
Looking at it another way, Florida’s elevation change is roughly equivalent to the height of a 30-story building. Given Florida’s low-lying coastline, more than 500,000 residents could live in areas at risk of severe coastal flooding by 2050.
| Rank | State | Elevation Range (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 345 |
| 2 | Delaware | 448 |
| 3 | Louisiana | 543 |
| 4 | Mississippi | 806 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 812 |
| 6 | Indiana | 937 |
| 7 | Illinois | 956 |
| 8 | Ohio | 1,095 |
| 9 | Iowa | 1,190 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 1,372 |
| 11 | Michigan | 1,408 |
| 12 | Missouri | 1,542 |
| 13 | Minnesota | 1,700 |
| 14 | New Jersey | 1,803 |
| 15 | Connecticut | 2,380 |
| 16 | Alabama | 2,407 |
| 17 | Arkansas | 2,698 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 2,756 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 3,213 |
| 20 | Kansas | 3,360 |
| 21 | Maryland | 3,360 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | 3,491 |
| 23 | South Carolina | 3,560 |
| 24 | Kentucky | 3,888 |
| 25 | Vermont | 4,298 |
| 26 | Nebraska | 4,584 |
| 27 | West Virginia | 4,623 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | 4,684 |
| 29 | Georgia | 4,784 |
| 30 | Maine | 5,268 |
| 31 | New York | 5,344 |
| 32 | Virginia | 5,729 |
| 33 | South Dakota | 6,276 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | 6,288 |
| 35 | Tennessee | 6,465 |
| 36 | North Carolina | 6,684 |
| 37 | Texas | 8,749 |
| 38 | New Mexico | 10,319 |
| 39 | Wyoming | 10,705 |
| 40 | Montana | 10,999 |
| 41 | Colorado | 11,118 |
| 42 | Oregon | 11,239 |
| 43 | Utah | 11,528 |
| 44 | Idaho | 11,952 |
| 45 | Arizona | 12,563 |
| 46 | Nevada | 12,661 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 13,796 |
| 48 | Washington | 14,411 |
| 49 | California | 14,776 |
| 50 | Alaska | 20,320 |
Delaware (448 ft) and Louisiana (543 ft) follow closely behind Florida, reflecting the relatively low-lying landscapes of the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast.
Like Florida, they are among the most flood-prone states in the country. Delaware, for instance, has the lowest mean elevation across all states, and sits on a tectonic plate that is sinking. Louisiana, meanwhile, faces one of the fastest rising sea levels on Earth.
Meanwhile, many of the flattest states are concentrated across the Midwest and Great Lakes region. States like Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Iowa all rank within the top 10, highlighting the influence of ancient glaciers that helped shape much of the region’s broad plains.
Kansas, often stereotyped as one of the flattest places in the U.S., ranks 20th, with an elevation range of 3,360 feet. While large portions of the state are indeed flat, the gradual rise toward the Rocky Mountains in western Kansas increases its overall elevation variation.
Overall, the ranking highlights how coastal geography, glacial history, and regional topography shape the landscapes across the U.S., often challenging common assumptions about which states are truly the flattest.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
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