Have you ever wondered what the happiest place in the entire country is? Well, to answer your question, our friends at WalletHub did research to rank the happiest states in the country. The results might be different than what you would expect!
To determine their results, the study looked at three main categories: 1. Emotional & Physical Well-Being, 2. Work, and 3. Community, Environment, & Recreational Activities. Here are the top 15 happiest states in the country:
- Maryland
Wikimedia Commons Maryland is the 15th happiest state in the country, maybe in part due to its gorgeous beaches.
- California
Andy/ Flickr California, like Hawaii, is often stereotyped as the land of surfers and superstars. It is the 14th happiest state in the country, mainly thanks to its eighth place spot in Emotional & Physical Well-Being.
- Washington, D.C.
Stefan Fussan/ Flickr Washington, D.C. sounds like an exciting place to live, if not only for its exclusivity! Those living near the president enjoy a lifestyle that ranks fifth in Emotional & Physical Well-Being, but only 17th in Work and 29th in Community.
- Alaska
JLS Photography- Alaska/ Flickr Apparently the dark and the cold is no deterrent to Alaskans’ happiness! The state ranks seventh for Emotional & Physical Well-Being.
- Kansas
Matthew Whitehead Now I understand why Dorothy was upset to not be in Kansas anymore. The state ranks fairly well in all three categories, earning it an 11th place spot for happiness.
- Idaho
Thomas Hawk/ Flickr Idaho’s happiness ranking at #10 is thanks to its seventh place rating for Community, Environment, and Recreational Activities.
- South Dakota
Always Shooting/ Flickr It’s surprising that South Dakota ranks so far below its northernmost counterpart! The two states have similar ratings for Emotional & Physical Well-Being and for Work, but South Dakota is 12th for Community, far below North Dakota.
- Hawaii
Ricymar Photography/ Flickr Hawaii is frequently romanticized as one of the best states in the country, and it looks like the data backs up this stereotype. Hawaii is 32nd in Work (ouch) but FIRST in Community, Environment, and Recreational Activities… No surprises there.
- Iowa
Jason Mrachina/ Flickr Iowa ranks as one of the happiest states mainly because of its Work rating, which is second.
- Wyoming
J. Stephen Conn/ Flickr Wyoming ranks fifth in both Work and in Community. Nice!
- Nebraska
Aaron Hockley/ Flickr Nebraska comes in at fourth for Work and sixth for Community, but only 13th for Emotional & Physical Well-Being… Wonder why!
- Colorado
Wolfgang Staudt/ Flickr Colorado has become an even more popular destination in recent years… And is ranked second for Emotional & Physical Well-Being.
- North Dakota
Andrew Filer/ Flickr North Dakota doesn’t rank incredibly high in the first two categories, but is boosted in our list by its third place position in Community, Environment & Recreational Activities.
- Minnesota
Matthew Paulson/ Flickr Minnesota is the top-ranking state in Emotional & Physical Well-Being, which is pretty important as far as I’m concerned.
- Utah
Diana Robinson/ Flickr Utah is the place to be. With a view like that, who would argue? The state ranks first in Work, second in Community, and third in Emotional & Physical well-being.
Source: WalletHub
Wikimedia Commons
Maryland is the 15th happiest state in the country, maybe in part due to its gorgeous beaches.
Andy/ Flickr
California, like Hawaii, is often stereotyped as the land of surfers and superstars. It is the 14th happiest state in the country, mainly thanks to its eighth place spot in Emotional & Physical Well-Being.
Stefan Fussan/ Flickr
Washington, D.C. sounds like an exciting place to live, if not only for its exclusivity! Those living near the president enjoy a lifestyle that ranks fifth in Emotional & Physical Well-Being, but only 17th in Work and 29th in Community.
JLS Photography- Alaska/ Flickr
Apparently the dark and the cold is no deterrent to Alaskans’ happiness! The state ranks seventh for Emotional & Physical Well-Being.
Matthew Whitehead
Now I understand why Dorothy was upset to not be in Kansas anymore. The state ranks fairly well in all three categories, earning it an 11th place spot for happiness.
Thomas Hawk/ Flickr
Idaho’s happiness ranking at #10 is thanks to its seventh place rating for Community, Environment, and Recreational Activities.
Always Shooting/ Flickr
It’s surprising that South Dakota ranks so far below its northernmost counterpart! The two states have similar ratings for Emotional & Physical Well-Being and for Work, but South Dakota is 12th for Community, far below North Dakota.
Ricymar Photography/ Flickr
Hawaii is frequently romanticized as one of the best states in the country, and it looks like the data backs up this stereotype. Hawaii is 32nd in Work (ouch) but FIRST in Community, Environment, and Recreational Activities… No surprises there.
Jason Mrachina/ Flickr
Iowa ranks as one of the happiest states mainly because of its Work rating, which is second.
J. Stephen Conn/ Flickr
Wyoming ranks fifth in both Work and in Community. Nice!
Aaron Hockley/ Flickr
Nebraska comes in at fourth for Work and sixth for Community, but only 13th for Emotional & Physical Well-Being… Wonder why!
Wolfgang Staudt/ Flickr
Colorado has become an even more popular destination in recent years… And is ranked second for Emotional & Physical Well-Being.
Andrew Filer/ Flickr
North Dakota doesn’t rank incredibly high in the first two categories, but is boosted in our list by its third place position in Community, Environment & Recreational Activities.
Matthew Paulson/ Flickr
Minnesota is the top-ranking state in Emotional & Physical Well-Being, which is pretty important as far as I’m concerned.
Diana Robinson/ Flickr
Utah is the place to be. With a view like that, who would argue? The state ranks first in Work, second in Community, and third in Emotional & Physical well-being.
What do you think of this list? Agree or disagree?
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