The happiest states in the US, ranked

Sep 16, 2026 11:31 PM - 1 hour ago 1

Crowds locomotion on a sunny amusement boardwalk past a colorful clown-themed arcade and aquarium sign.

Happiness whitethorn travel from within, but external factors tin still play a domiciled successful really happy you feel.

Even if you're a glass-half-full benignant of person, factors for illustration financial security, entree to healthcare, and organization tin besides effect your well-being.

A caller WalletHub study classed each 50 states based connected metrics that measurement residents' happiness.

All states were compared crossed 3 categories: affectional and beingness well-being, activity environment, and community and environment. These dimensions were surgery down into 30 metrics, graded connected a 100-point standard to create a happiness score.

The astir heavy weighted class was affectional and beingness well-being, which included metrics specified arsenic profession well-being, beingness health, the stock of adults pinch depression, and life expectancy.

Work situation metrics included the number of activity hours and the stock of households earning yearly incomes supra $75,000.

For organization and environment, the metrics included perfect weather, mean regular leisure time, and safety.

WalletHub's study utilized information from sources specified arsenic the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Gallup.

Here are the 50 states, classed from slightest to astir happy.

50. West Virginia

Downtown Charleston skyline rises down trees and a riverfront connected a clear sunny day.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 50

Work situation rank: 50

Community and situation rank: 40

49. Louisiana

Barges walk the Baton Rouge skyline crossed the Mississippi River beneath a pastel evening sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 49

Work situation rank: 49

Community and situation rank: 38

48. Arkansas

Buildings successful Little Rock, Arkansas.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 47

Work situation rank: 47

Community and situation rank: 30

47. Alaska

Colorful storefronts statement a quiet thoroughfare beneath a forested upland pinch patchy snowfall nether cloudy skies.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 38

Work situation rank: 44

Community and situation rank: 50

46. Kentucky

Downtown Frankfort and the Kentucky River beryllium among autumn trees nether an orangish sunset sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 48

Work situation rank: 41

Community and situation rank: 25

45. Alabama

Aerial position of downtown Montgomery beside the Alabama River, pinch skyline, obstruction tracks, riverfront park, and shot stadium.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 45

Work situation rank: 35

Community and situation rank: 36

44. New Mexico

Aerial position of downtown Santa Fe pinch the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and surrounding mountains.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 36

Work situation rank: 48

Community and situation rank: 37

43. Wyoming

Downtown thoroughfare intersection pinch postulation lights, parked cars, storefronts, and a ample “WYOMING HOME” mural.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 40

Work situation rank: 42

Community and situation rank: 35

42. Oregon

Downtown Salem skyline pinch a religion steeple, trees, and the Oregon State Capitol dome nether a clear bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 44

Work situation rank: 38

Community and situation rank: 29

41. Tennessee

Downtown Nashville skyline glows astatine dusk down an arched span complete the Cumberland River.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 41

Work situation rank: 14

Community and situation rank: 44

40. Oklahoma

Bricktown Canal successful Oklahoma City winds betwixt reddish ceramic buildings and h2o taxis astatine sunset.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 46

Work situation rank: 43

Community and situation rank: 4

39. Ohio

Downtown Columbus skyline and arched span bespeak successful the Scioto River nether a streaked evening sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 39

Work situation rank: 32

Community and situation rank: 26

38. Michigan

Downtown Lansing skyline astatine dusk pinch Boji Tower and the illuminated Michigan State Capitol dome.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 32

Work situation rank: 45

Community and situation rank: 28

37. Mississippi

Mississippi State Capitol pinch a golden dome stands among trees and downtown Jackson high-rises nether a cloudy sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 35

Work situation rank: 46

Community and situation rank: 12

36. Colorado

Downtown Denver skyline stands earlier snow-covered Rocky Mountains nether a clear bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 28

Work situation rank: 23

Community and situation rank: 49

35. Texas

Downtown Austin skyline rises beyond trees and Barton Springs Pool astatine dusk.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 24

Work situation rank: 30

Community and situation rank: 46

34. Maine

Waterfront ceramic buildings and a religion spire bespeak successful a calm stream beneath a cloudy dusk sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 42

Work situation rank: 10

Community and situation rank: 20

33. Indiana

Downtown Indianapolis skyline surrounds the Indiana World War Memorial beneath a partially cloudy sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 34

Work situation rank: 19

Community and situation rank: 21

32. Nevada

Aerial position of the Nevada State Capitol amid trees pinch barren mountains beyond.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 37

Work situation rank: 39

Community and situation rank: 5

31. Missouri

State capitol building successful Jefferson City, Missouri.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 33

Work situation rank: 15

Community and situation rank: 24

30. Montana

Aerial position of downtown Helena pinch the Cathedral of Saint Helena, surrounding buildings, trees, and mountains.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 43

Work situation rank: 7

Community and situation rank: 10

29. Rhode Island

Downtown Providence skyline rises supra riverwalk stairs, bridges, trees, and waterfront connected a clear sunny day.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 23

Work situation rank: 26

Community and situation rank: 45

28. Delaware

Delaware Legislative Hall’s reddish ceramic destruction and achromatic cupola guidelines supra wide beforehand steps nether a partially cloudy sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 14

Work situation rank: 28

Community and situation rank: 47

27. Wisconsin

Aerial position of downtown Madison pinch the Wisconsin State Capitol betwixt lakes successful lukewarm evening light.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 30

Work situation rank: 18

Community and situation rank: 34

26. Illinois

Springfield, Illinois, USA, downtown metropolis skyline astatine dusk.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 13

Work situation rank: 40

Community and situation rank: 42

25. Pennsylvania

Downtown Harrisburg skyline pinch Pennsylvania State Capitol dome and riverfront buildings nether a bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 20

Work situation rank: 37

Community and situation rank: 27

24. South Dakota

Aerial position of the South Dakota State Capitol pinch a domed roof, surrounding lawns, trees, and adjacent water.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 29

Work situation rank: 2

Community and situation rank: 41

23. Kansas

Downtown Topeka skyline pinch the Kansas State Capitol dome, religion towers, tree-lined streets, and parked cars.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 26

Work situation rank: 12

Community and situation rank: 31

22. Vermont

Aerial position of a downtown thoroughfare lined pinch ceramic buildings, a timepiece tower, cars, and autumn hills.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 31

Work situation rank: 9

Community and situation rank: 7

21. Florida

Florida State Capitol analyzable successful Tallahassee pinch the historical domed capitol, tower, streets, and bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 9

Work situation rank: 29

Community and situation rank: 48

20. Iowa

Downtown Des Moines skyline rises down a span complete the stream connected a clear sunny day.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 27

Work situation rank: 16

Community and situation rank: 16

19. Washington

Snow-covered Mount Rainier rises down evergreen trees and municipality flat buildings astatine dusk.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 18

Work situation rank: 25

Community and situation rank: 33

18. Georgia

Downtown Atlanta skyline rises supra highways and trees nether a agleam bluish entity pinch ample cumulus clouds.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 21

Work situation rank: 22

Community and situation rank: 22

17. Arizona

Desert hillside pinch saguaro cacti overlooks a downtown skyline and distant mountains nether a bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 16

Work situation rank: 33

Community and situation rank: 13

16. Virginia

Downtown Richmond skyline rises supra greenish parkland and ceramic buildings nether a colorful sunset sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 10

Work situation rank: 31

Community and situation rank: 32

15. South Carolina

Aerial position of the South Carolina State House surrounded by trees and downtown Columbia buildings.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 25

Work situation rank: 13

Community and situation rank: 3

14. North Carolina

Downtown Raleigh skyline rises down an outdoor amphitheater and normal halfway nether a bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 15

Work situation rank: 21

Community and situation rank: 15

13. Massachusetts

Aerial position of Boston pinch skyscrapers visible successful the inheritance and orange-brick houses successful the foreground.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 7

Work situation rank: 17

Community and situation rank: 43

12. North Dakota

North Dakota State Capitol building rises supra greenish lawns and trees nether a clear bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 22

Work situation rank: 4

Community and situation rank: 6

11. New York

Downtown Albany thoroughfare position frames SUNY Plaza’s green-roofed building betwixt ceramic buildings and bare trees.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 3

Work situation rank: 34

Community and situation rank: 39

10. New Hampshire

Brick storefronts statement a downtown thoroughfare pinch cars, American flags, benches, and melodramatic cloudy sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 12

Work situation rank: 8

Community and situation rank: 14

9. California

Aerial position of Sacramento’s Tower Bridge spanning the Sacramento River adjacent waterfront buildings astatine sunset.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 4

Work situation rank: 36

Community and situation rank: 19

8. Minnesota

Downtown Saint Paul skyline glows astatine dusk beside the Mississippi River nether a cloudy bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 8

Work situation rank: 11

Community and situation rank: 17

7. Connecticut

Aerial position of downtown Hartford skyscrapers beside the Connecticut River and aggregate bridges.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 5

Work situation rank: 27

Community and situation rank: 9

6. Nebraska

Aerial position of the Nebraska State Capitol surrounded by downtown Lincoln streets, buildings, lawns, and autumn trees.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 11

Work situation rank: 6

Community and situation rank: 8

5. Maryland

A sailboat moored astatine Annapolis harbor pinch downtown streets and the Maryland State House astatine sunset.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 6

Work situation rank: 20

Community and situation rank: 11

4. Idaho

Downtown Boise skyline and Idaho State Capitol seen complete an autumn tree-lined boulevard pinch foothills beyond.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 19

Work situation rank: 3

Community and situation rank: 2

3. Utah

Downtown Salt Lake City skyline spreads toward the Wasatch Mountains nether a partially cloudy bluish sky.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 17

Work situation rank: 1

Community and situation rank: 1

2. New Jersey

State capitol building successful Trenton, New Jersey.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 1

Work situation rank: 24

Community and situation rank: 23

1. Hawaii

Palm trees framework a waterfront lagoon, marina, and high-rise skyline nether colorful sunset clouds successful Honolulu.

Emotional and beingness well-being rank: 2

Work situation rank: 5

Community and situation rank: 18

With residents reporting the second-lowest complaint of slump and precocious levels of life satisfaction, Hawaii was classed the happiest state.

This is owing to factors specified arsenic bully beingness wellness — astir 84% of adults study being successful bully aliases amended wellness — and debased unemployment rates.