What makes a person happy is different for everyone, but there are certainly some outside factors that can affect a person’s overall happiness. Apparently, where we choose to live is one of them.
Well, WalletHub has just come out with their list of the happiest states in America, judging states on 28 key metrics, including depression rates, sports participation rate, income growth and more. They also looked at things like emotional and physical well-being on personal happiness, life expectancy, suicide rate, and food insecurity rate.
So where in the U.S. are folks the happiest? Well, apparently Minnesota, which gets high marks for emotional and physical well-being, as well as community and environment. Meanwhile, the least happy people in the U.S. live in West Virginia, which ranks near the bottom for emotional and physical well-being and work environment.
Top Ten Happiest States in the U.S.
- Minnesota
- Utah
- Hawaii
- California
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- South Dakota
- Iowa
- Wisconsin
- New Hampshire
Ten Least Happiest States in the U.S.
- West Virginia
- Oklahoma
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- Tennessee
- Alaska
Other findings from the survey:
- Hawaii is the state with the lowest share of adult depression, while Oregon has the highest rate.
- Colorado has the highest adequate sleep rate, while Hawaii has the least.
- Colorado also has the highest sports participation rate, while Mississippi has the lowest.
- New York has the lowest suicide rate, while Wyoming has the highest.
- Folks in Utah have the fewest work hours, while those in Alaska work the most.
- North Dakota has the highest growth income rate, while Nevada has the lowest.
Source: WalletHub