America's Sports Divide: Survey Maps Where We're Watching More, Playing Less

America’s slow drift from playing fields to living rooms isn’t news - health experts have been ringing alarm bells for years. But our survey of 3,024 adults cracks open the story state by state, revealing a nation that’s not just sitting still, but doing so in wildly different ways.

From days since last breaking a sweat to the tug-of-war between watching and playing, the data offers a gritty, ground-level view of how sports fit into - or fall out of - everyday life.

What’s clear is that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all fade; it’s a mix of local habits, climates, and priorities. Here’s what the numbers unpack.

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Key Findings

Oregon is a standout in a sea of couch potatoes.

With just 19 days since residents last broke a sweat, it’s the most active state by a distance.

Only 17% have lost interest in playing sports - the lowest anywhere - and a mere 33% would rather watch than hit the court.

It appears rain and rugged landscapes don’t seem to dampen the urge to move.

Compare that to the national drift toward spectating, and Oregon feels like a significant outlier.

North Dakota and South Dakota paint a bleaker picture.

North Dakotans haven’t exercised in 188 days on average - the longest hiatus in the survey - while South Dakotans clock in at 148.

Both lean hard toward watching, with 89% and 86% preferring the screen to the sweat.

Maybe brutal winters or sparse populations make playing feel out of reach.

West Virginia’s apathy runs deep.

A hefty 56% have lost interest in sports, tying Oklahoma for the highest mark, and it’s been 152 days since their last workout.

Yet only 56% prefer watching over playing - a number that’s low compared to, say, North Dakota’s 89%.

It’s a curious split: half still want to play, but something’s holding them back.

Rural decline or a lack of local leagues might be the culprits, turning a once-active state into a benchwarmer’s haven.

Hawaii and Vermont hint at a climate advantage.

Hawaii’s 36 days and Vermont’s 32 days since last exercising are among the shortest gaps, despite 40% and 25% losing interest, respectively.

Hawaii’s mild weather and Vermont’s outdoor culture could explain it - easy access to nature might nudge people into action, even if their hearts aren’t fully in it.

Big states like California and Texas stay in the middle of the road.

California’s at 77 days, 65% favoring watching, and 35% losing interest; Texas logs 105 days, 71%, and 40%.

They’re not the most sedentary, nor the most active - just coasting along.

Urban sprawl and packed schedules might keep participation lukewarm, while pro sports fandom keeps the screens on.

It’s a predictable shrug from places too busy to sweat or sit still entirely.

Arkansas and Kansas lean hard into spectating.

Arkansas leads with 85% preferring to watch - the highest in the survey - paired with 114 days since exercise and 45% losing interest.

Kansas isn’t far behind, with 83% opting for the sidelines, 133 days of inactivity, and 43% checked out.

These Plains states seem to have traded community games for game-day broadcasts, raising questions about what’s filling the void left by pickup hoops or touch football.

March Madness throws a spotlight on the watching trend - and states feel it differently.

Nationally, basketball fans clock 59 hours glued to the tournament, but the state data hints at varied appetites.

Oregon’s active streak (19 days since exercise, 33% preferring to watch) suggests they might mix some pickup games with their viewing, while North Dakota’s 89% watch-over-play preference and 188-day drought scream all-in on the couch.

West Virginia’s 56% disinterest could mean fewer brackets filled, yet states like Arkansas (85% watching) and Kansas (83%) are likely all about the wings and buzzer-beaters. It’s a microcosm of the broader shift - big events pull eyes, but local habits dictate who’s just spectating.

Final Thoughts

Our survey data reveals a country at a crossroads - not just between playing and watching, but between past habits and new realities.

It’s less about blaming the couch and more about understanding what’s tipping the scales: time crunches, missing buddies, or a lack of places to play.

Big events like March Madness prove we still love the thrill of sports, but the drift toward spectating suggests we’re more comfortable cheering than sweating.

Turning that around doesn’t mean a grand overhaul - it’s about small, scrappy fixes that make moving feel less like a chore and more like a win.

The game’s not over yet; it’s just waiting for a new playbook.