The happiest states in America, ranked. Is your state one of them?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” is one of the best-known phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence. We have Thomas Jefferson to thank for the phrase , which has gone on to play significant roles in court cases including 1967’s Loving v. Virginia in which the Supreme Court invalidated a Virginia law that prohibited the interracial marriage, noting the "freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men."
We may all be free to pursue happiness, but where we live in the U.S plays a deeper role in this quest than we may think, or so new research from WalletHub suggests. The personal finance site and app ranked 2018’s Happiest States in America , finding that some states are doing significantly better in this pursuit than others.
"We analyzed the 50 states across 31 metrics, which were chosen in conjunction with several academic experts,” says Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “The metrics were selected based on their relevance as well as availability of data. The most important metrics were the share of adult depression , suicide rates , number of work hours , job security and idealness of weather ."
"There are some differences from last year's results, like Hawaii moving up from third to first place this year, or North Dakota up from fourteenth to fourth this year,” says Gonzalez. “However, we do not encourage comparisons between reports from different years, as we have updated our methodology since then."
Perhaps the most standout quality of this list is what lies in WalletHub’s intro, which notes that “money doesn’t drive happiness” and cites that “happiness only increases with wealth up to an annual income of $75,000”, based on 2010 research .
This is a cheerful but difficult sentiment to buy, particularly when you consider that Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the U.S. You’re probably not relocating to Hawaii unless you’re doing very well financially, and if you’re living there without the means, you could be among the nearly 11 percent of the population struggling with poverty.
But Hawaii has something that is invaluable: a relatively relaxed attitude with a predilection for social interaction and outdoorsy adventures.
“Hawaii’s happiness [ranking] is really attributed to culture,” Pamela Gail Johnson , founder of The Secret Society of Happy People tells NBC News Better. “There's a city environment, but culturally, it's more laid-back, which contributes to emotional and physical well-being. There’s lots of beaches , walking and hiking . It’s an environment that fosters a ‘stop and smell the roses’ mentality.”
Still, it’s interesting that of all 50 states, Hawaii had the lowest- adequate sleep rate. Perhaps there’s an argument for pulling an all-nighter in the name of happiness?
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Is happiness something internal or external. Can we control our own happiness or does our environment control at least part of that?
I think that's a choice each individual makes for themselves-- whether consciously or not.
10 Habits Of Incredibly Happy People
id have to climb the latter
been to the top 2
Hawaii and Utah
I can see Y they rank above others
Have lived off and on in HI for several months at a time and was always ready to get back to the mainland. It was wonderful for the time I was there but I got island fever.
Interesting.
I'm not sure what conclusions may be drawn... but interesting all the same.
The study is flawed, they left out Arizona!
Dodging blue-hairs in Cadillacs doing 3 lane drifts while looking thru their steering wheels without signaling isn't happiness.
No shit. Lived in Tucson for a year and am lucky I made it out.
Tucson and Phoenix were two of the cities in AZ I was referring to above. I would not live in either of those cities for love nor money!
Arizona was on the list. They came in 21.
I don't know how useful such a survey is. Many states have more than one lifestyle. (For example where I live in Illinois, there is a vast urban area of metro Chicago, small cities, and a lot of corn fields and small towns.) Some people who live in Chicago year round say they hate the winter weather but many of them also say they love having four seasons. Similar distinctions abound around the country. I would say maybe the survey means something significant, and maybe it doesnt.
I can agree with you on this one. I live in a small rural town in the Sonora Desert on the AZ/Mexico border that is largely a fairly tight knit community. We do not have many of the problems that plague large metropolitan areas in Arizona and other parts of the country on both coasts. We have different political ideas, but we respect and tolerate different views. My comment above was stated half in jest, but my town is by no means perfect and has it's own share of problems. We just deal with them and go on. I was born in CA but raised in Arizona. I left at 18 to join the Navy at 18. Returned 20 years later when I retired and have not left. The desert is in my blood and I love it here. Many of people that I grew up with left after high school and moved away come back here to retire. My apologies for rambling on. A good day to you Sir.
Anybody want to vouch for Minnesota at #3? I would think life has to be pretty good to overcome that winter.
California is nice. I honestly can't think of a place with superior weather to the spot where I live (Ventura County). Having said that, life here is expensive, and the state, as a whole, is too crowded.
Only because of the immense density along the coast. Everything east of the coastal mountain ranges and north of the Bay area is virtually empty by comparison.
50 years ago CA was still a nice place to live. Now it’s hell with too many people and a state government that Stalin orHugo Chavez would envy
It also has the 6th largest economy in the world.
MN nice is a real thing. It is nice to live where more and more people are just nice to get along with. SKOL!!
Meh, my state came in at 17.. Not bad, I love it here.
I'll take NY at 14. I'll let Billy tell you why. Btw.. the young man playing the piano for Billy is a friend of my daughter's, Michael Pollack. His cousin Danny Pollack is one of their best friends (they are all from the same graduating class in high school) and both boys are brilliant and talented, but Danny graduated Suma and every ivy league said yes to him. Obviously, going to Vanderbilt is hardly shabby after watching this video, you will realize who got a little bit more in the talent department.
My adopted state of Virginia came in at 15. My home state of WV came in at 50, which is why Virginia is my adopted state.
I'll take California at 5. I moved to So Calif when I was 15 Y/o and have spent my entire adult life here in So Calif and love it. They have been happiest years of my life.