Are you happy? If so, it could be because you live in one of the happiest states in America. Odds are, at least according to a recent study, that if you live in the Northeast, you live in a happy state. However, if you live in the South, there is a lower likelihood of being happy.
The study, conducted by WalletHub, examined all 50 states across three main dimensions: community and environment, work environment, and emotional and physical well-being. The researchers assessed 30 important variables across the 50 states, from the unemployment rate and income growth to the depression rate and the percentage of adults feeling productive, in order to discover where Americans show the strongest combination of economic, emotional, physical, and social health.
“The happiest states are those that provide above-average quality of life in a wide variety of areas, from strong state economies and great physical and mental healthcare to adequate amounts of leisure time and good weather,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst. “It’s also important to note that while the adage that money can’t buy happiness has a lot of truth to it, having enough money to live comfortably is still essential. But anything beyond that won’t necessarily enhance happiness as much as having fulfilling hobbies, relationships and opportunities for personal growth.”
The happiest states in America
Researchers found that Hawaii is the happiest state in America. Hawaiians had the second-lowest rate of depression and the highest levels of life happiness in the country.
Hawaiians also have excellent physical health; 84% of adults say they are in good or better health, which is the 12th-highest rate in the country. Along with having the longest life expectancy in the United States, approximately 72% of Hawaiian adults say they are active and productive every day.
Hawaii also boasts the third-highest percentage of households earning more than $75,000 annually and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the US, at 2.5%. As a result, the state has the second-lowest percentage of adults who experience financial worry.
Second on the list is New Jersey. The state has the fifth-highest life satisfaction rate, the lowest depression rate and the highest share of people who have supportive relationships and love in their lives. Residents of New Jersey have the second-lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, at around 17%.
Additionally, New Jersey has the second-highest percentage of households with annual incomes over $75,000. Furthermore, New Jersey has the 17th-lowest percentage of residents who experience anxiety while considering their personal financial situation. It also boasts the seventh-lowest rate of food insecurity.
Rounding out the top 10 were Utah, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, Connecticut, Minnesota, California, and New Hampshire.
Interestingly, a study WalletHub conducted this year on the “best” states to live in ranked Idaho first, followed by New Jersey, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Utah, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
The least happy states in America
On the flip side, WalletHub’s study found that West Virginia ranked last in happiness. It scored 50th in both emotional and physical well-being and 40th in community and environment. West Virginia also ranks last in adult depression and 49th in adequate sleep rate.
Louisiana ranked 49th based on its being 49th in both emotional and physical well-being and 38th in community and environment. The state also ranks in the bottom five in safety, income growth, work hours, sports participation, divorce rate, and adequate sleep.
The rest of the bottom 10 were Arkansas, Alaska, Kentucky, Alabama, New Mexico, Wyoming, Oregon, and Tennessee.
In WalletHub’s study of the “best” states to live in, New Mexico was ranked last, followed by Louisiana, Mississippi, Alaska, Arkansas, Nevada, Oklahoma, West Virginia (despite ranking first in affordability), Oregon, and Kentucky.
So, Alabama, Wyoming, Tennessee, Mississippi, Nevada, and Oklahoma were the only states that did not appear at the bottom of both lists.
View the full list of rankings for the happiest states in America here.