A change of scenery alone isn’t enough to make life’s problems melt away, but your environment—and the people, perspectives, and opportunities it offers—is among the myriad external factors that shape your overall happiness.
To that end, personal finance company WalletHub just announced its annual Happiest States in America rankings. Released Monday, the list assessed the 50 states, excluding the District of Columbia, across 30 metrics encompassing social, physical, economic, and emotional health.
“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,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a news release about the rankings. “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.”
Along with receiving an overall score, each state was ranked in these categories: physical and emotional well-being, whose metrics included adult depression and life expectancy; work environment, whose metrics included commute time and financial anxiety; and community and environment, whose metrics included safety and volunteer rates.
After being the runner-up last year, Hawaii topped the overall rankings as 2024’s happiest state, with a score of 68.71. The Aloha State also snagged the top spot for physical and emotional well-being, and came in third for community and environment. For work environment, however, it ranked 31st.
Louisiana, on the other hand, moved down from No. 49 to be crowned this year’s unhappiest state, with a score of 32.97. The Pelican State also scored poorly in work environment and physical and emotional well-being, coming in at No. 49 in both categories. It performed a bit better in community and environment, listed 40th.
While there’s no “magic bullet” for happiness, where you live does play a role, according to Peter Harms, PhD, a professor of management at the University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business.
“To the extent that the environment allows you to pursue your interests and meet your needs, it allows you to flourish,” Harms said in the news release. “You won't find many happy people in solitary confinement. Where you live also impacts your health, your capacity to develop and maintain strong relationships, and other factors associated with happiness.
“That said, humans are remarkably resilient and adaptable. People who live in harsher environments seem to be more tolerant of such conditions.”
10 happiest states
1. Hawaii (up from No. 2)
2. Maryland (up from No. 3)
3. New Jersey (up from No. 5)
4. Utah (down from No. 1)
5. Delaware (up from No. 11)
6. Minnesota (down from No. 4)
7. Connecticut (down from No. 6)
8. Idaho (up from No. 9)
9. Nebraska (up from No. 10)
10. Massachusetts (up from No. 12)
10 unhappiest states
50. Louisiana (down from No. 49)
49. Arkansas (down from No. 47)
48. West Virginia (up from No. 50)
47. Tennessee (up from No. 48)
46. New Mexico (down from No. 42)
45. Alaska (down from No. 43)
44. Alabama (up from No. 45)
43. Oklahoma (down from No. 41)
42. Mississippi (up from No. 44)
41. Kentucky (up from No. 46)
States with best, worst work environments
Feeling valued in the workplace is critical to career contentment, said Buffie Longmire-Avital, PhD, a psychology professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at Elon University in North Carolina.
“Working hard (or not) when not appreciated leads to unrest, discomfort, and stress,” she said in the news release. “That is because, for many, the sense of self is intricately linked to our actual and perceived career productivity.”
She added, “When there is no opportunity to develop or grow within a career, contentment will be hard to maintain. Contentment is not about settling for where you are; it is about complete acceptance that you are where you are supposed to be, or at least on the right path to getting there.”
Best work environments
1. Utah
2. Vermont
3. Idaho
4. Minnesota
5. Massachusetts
Worst work environments
50. West Virginia
49. Louisiana
48. Alaska
47. New Mexico
46. Kentucky
Other work environment rankings
- Fewest work hours: Utah
- Most work hours: Alaska
- Highest income growth: Idaho
- Lowest income growth: Alaska
- Lowest long-term unemployment rate: South Dakota
- Highest long-term unemployment rate: New Jersey
States with best, worst physical and emotional well-being
Stress is an inherent part of life that, unchecked, can take a toll on both your physical and mental health. Longmire-Avital said she teaches the “REDUCE” method to lowering stress:
“Remember to breathe; Evaluate your options, including potential support (social support is essential); Develop effective time management skills; Unplug and Understand no one (including you) is perfect or superhuman; Concentrate on finding practical solutions; and Energize through health behaviors.”
Best physical and emotional well-being
1. Hawaii
2. New Jersey
3. Maryland
4. Massachusetts
5. Florida
Worst physical and emotional well-being
50. Arkansas
49. Louisiana
48. Oklahoma
47. West Virginia
46. Tennessee
Other physical and emotional well-being rankings
- Highest adequate-sleep rate: Vermont
- Lowest adequate-sleep rate: Hawaii
- Lowest share of adult depression: Hawaii
- Highest share of adult depression: Tennessee
- Highest sports participation rate: Colorado
- Lowest sports participation rate: Mississippi
- Lowest suicide rate: New Jersey
- Highest suicide rate: Montana
States with best, worst communities and environments
The health of the environment in which you live is linked to your mental and physical health, noted Theresa DiDonato, PhD, associate dean of social sciences and graduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Maryland.
“Environmental psychologists often point to the costs of living with noise pollution (e.g., near an airport) or living in areas of high air pollution, and—on the other hand—the benefits of natural, green environments, which have been linked to positive mood and overall well-being,” DiDonato said in the news release. “If where people live day-to-day includes natural environments, that might support happier living. Other evidence suggests scenic surroundings, even if they are urban areas, are linked to happiness.”
Best communities and environments
1. Utah
2. Idaho
3. Hawaii
4. Delaware
5. Oklahoma
Worst communities and environments
50. Rhode Island
49. Texas
48. Colorado
47. Florida
46. New York
Other community and environment rankings
- Safest: Vermont
- Least safe: Louisiana
- Highest volunteer rate: Utah
- Lowest volunteer rate: Florida
- Lowest divorce rate: Utah
- Highest divorce rate: New Mexico
If you need immediate mental health support, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
For more on mental health:
- These states and cities have the best—and worst—brain health in America
- COVID is negatively impacting Americans’ mental health, reveals Elmo-inspired survey
- 75% of Americans think mental health issues are treated worse than physical illness, new survey says. Here’s why
- One of the best things you can do for your mental health and well-being, according to a psychologist who counsels U.S. Olympians
