If a real-life zombie apocalypse broke out, New York might be one of the worst places to be. As The Last of Us returns to TV screens and “28 Years Later” hits theaters this summer, a new report ranks New York among the least prepared states in America to survive a full-scale undead uprising — citing scarce hospitals, dense cities, and limited survival resources.
According to new data, New York is the fifth least prepared state in the nation for a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. The analysis considered critical survival metrics including hospital access, population density, and even the availability of hunting stores and military bases.
Why is New York so unprepared?
New York’s readiness score of 2.61 out of 10 places it near the bottom of the national rankings. Here’s how the Empire State stacks up across several survival categories:
| Metric | New York Value |
|---|---|
| Population density | 424 people per sq. mile |
| Water area % | 13.6% |
| Hospitals per 100k people | 0.8 |
| Airports per 100k people | 1.7 |
| Hunting stores per 100k people | 3.0 |
| Military bases per 100k people | 0.1 |
While New York boasts strong infrastructure in urban areas, its high population density could be a major liability in the early stages of an outbreak. Densely populated areas like New York City would be especially vulnerable to rapid spread and civil unrest.
How does New York compare to other states?
New York ranks worse than most of its Northeast neighbors:
- New Jersey ranked dead last (50th), with a score of 1.66
- Connecticut came in second-worst, scoring 2.15
- Pennsylvania and Massachusetts tied for third-worst with 2.57
By contrast, Alaska tops the list with a survival score of 7.89, thanks to its sparse population, abundant hunting stores, and high number of airports — ideal for evacuation and supply runs.
Survival infrastructure gaps
One of the study’s key metrics was access to essential services, which would be critical in a large-scale emergency:
- Hospitals: New York has fewer than one community hospital per 100,000 residents, limiting care capacity in a mass casualty scenario.
- Military bases: The state has just 0.1 per 100,000 residents, suggesting limited immediate defense or emergency response.
- Hunting and outdoor supply stores: With only 3 per 100,000 people, access to survival tools and self-defense equipment is limited.
Even states like Indiana and Tennessee, with smaller populations and fewer resources overall, rank higher due to better emergency infrastructure and less dense communities.
Why population density matters
Zombie fiction or not, population density is a crucial survival factor. More people in closer quarters means faster spread of infections, greater competition for supplies, and more difficulty in maintaining public order.
New York’s metro areas — especially NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany — would likely experience bottlenecks, panic buying, and overwhelmed medical services within days of an outbreak.
What would help New York survive?
To improve its odds in a theoretical apocalypse scenario, New York would need to:
- Increase hospital capacity in rural and suburban regions
- Expand access to outdoor survival supplies and hunting gear
- Bolster military presence or National Guard readiness
- Develop comprehensive evacuation plans from urban hubs
While the state may not be prepping for zombies, these are the same strategies emergency planners already emphasize for natural disasters, pandemics, or cyberattacks.
Alaska, Maine, and South Dakota lead the pack
The top three most prepared states include:
- Alaska: Vast wilderness, low population, and 78 airports per 100,000 people
- Maine: Best access to hunting and fishing stores (69.6 per 100,000)
- South Dakota: Most hospitals per capita (7 per 100,000)
These states combine space, resources, and infrastructure to offer the best chance of survival if the undead ever become more than fiction.
- Check out the ranking here
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