| Trait | State | Explanation |
| Holds the country's oldest High School and oldest College | |
| Lowest population | |
| Was the first U.S. state to have its own state constitution | |
| Has 3 NBA franchises | |
| It has the longest freshwater shoreline of any political subdivision in the world | |
| Became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States | |
| Was the first of the thirteen original colonies to declare independence from British rule and the last to ratify the United States Constitution | |
| The first state to vote to secede from the Union and was the founding state of the Confederate States of America | |
| Is home to the most caves in the U.S. | |
| The only New England state with no coastline along the Atlantic Ocean | |
| Birthplace of 8 U.S. presidents | |
| The Northernmost state which does not share a border with Canada | |
| Held twice the winter olympic games | |