Surprising top Bucket List items for all 50 states

Tiffany Wismer
·2 min read

(NATIONAL) — A recent study sent to us by Richfield Research reveals the top bucket list items for all 50 states. Colorado’s top dream is also the top list item across the nation: early retirement. Colorado is one of nine states that chose early retirement as the thing they want most to do.

Seeing the Northern Lights someday is a top dream for people in California, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Maryland. Courtesy: Getty Images.
Seeing the Northern Lights someday is a top dream for people in California, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Maryland. Courtesy: Getty Images.

The other eight states where people want an early retirement more than anything else are: Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia, and New Jersey.

The next two most popular items on the list were “build a dream home” and “see the Northern Lights” with each dream chosen by six states as their top bucket list item. People in Montana, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, and New York want to build a dream home. Seeing the Northern Lights was most important to people in California, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Maryland.

Next in line was “hit a fitness goal” chosen by five states; Wyoming, South Dakota, Alabama, South Carolina, and Maine, and “solo travel” also chosen by five states; Oregon, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Michigan, and Kentucky.

People in Virginia, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts want most to attend a major sports event, while people in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and North Carolina want most to write and publish a book. Mastering a new language is most important to people in Alaska, Arizona, and Idaho.

Building a dream home is a top bucket list item for many Americans, especially those in Montana, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, and New York. Courtesy: Getty Images.
Building a dream home is a top bucket list item for many Americans, especially those in Montana, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, and New York. Courtesy: Getty Images.

Nevada and New Hampshire each put “gain career-boosting certification or degree” at the top of the list, and people in New Mexico and Mississippi want most to go on a meditation retreat. The top dream for people in Delaware and Arkansas is to launch a business/nonprofit.

People in the state of Washington want more than anything to hike a major trail. In Hawaii, the top bucket list item is the dream to one day exhibit their artwork. Adventurous Minnesotans put “African safari” on the top of their bucket list.

Finally, in Vermont, what the majority of people want most is to plant and watch a tree grow.

The bucket list data was taken by surveying 2,000 Americans and was completed in March 2024. The median age of respondents was 37, with 68% responding as women, 30% as men, and 2% as non-binary. 65% reported that they cannot afford to complete their top bucket list item right now.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.