If you want to find true happiness in the U.S., there’s one state in particular that is calling to you, according to WalletHub.
The personal finance website evaluated all 50 states using 30 metrics, including depression rate, income growth, and unemployment rate, along with other factors that can contribute to overall happiness and satisfaction in the population. After crunching the numbers, Hawaii tops WalletHub‘s annual ranking of the happiest states in the country.
According to WalletHub’s data, Hawaii residents “have the longest life expectancy in the U.S., and nearly 72 percent of adults in the state report being active and productive on a daily basis.” The company also reported that the Aloha State’s unemployment rate is only 2.4 percent, which is one of the lowest in the country. Economic data revealed that Hawaii has the second-highest share of households with an annual income above $75,000, which contributes to exceptionally low rates of economic anxiety. (That said, Hawaii also has one of the highest costs of living in the country. Earlier this year, a report by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) showed “deepening disparities in health, access to care, and basic needs across Hawaii,” noting that only 23 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders reported being in good health, compared to the 40 percent average for Hawaii residents.)
The team also called out health. “Hawaiians also enjoy great physical health, with around 85 percent of adults reporting that they are in good or better health, the 10th-best percentage in the nation. Hawaiians also have the longest life expectancy in the U.S., and nearly 72 percent of adults in the state report being active and productive on a daily basis.”
The second-happiest state in WalletHub’s ranking was Maryland, due in part to the very low unemployment rate. Marylanders also ranked third in emotional and physical well-being. Nebraska rounds out the top three happiest states in the country, with residents there benefiting from one of the highest levels of economic security, according to WalletHub.
“In addition to pursuing your passions, having a good work-life balance and maintaining an emotional support network, another key way to boost your happiness is living in the right place,” Chip Lupo, a Wallet Hub analyst, said in a statement. “The happiest states are those that provide above-average quality of life in a wide variety of areas, from strong state economies and high quality physical and mental health care to adequate amounts of leisure time and good weather.”
You can see the full rankings on wallethub.com.
