Business

The happiest states in the US, ranked

A recent study measured Americans' happiness based on three factors: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community.

By Roya Shahidi Business Insider 16 Sep 2026 Americas

Crowds walk along a sunny amusement boardwalk past a colorful clown-themed arcade and aquarium sign. — New Jersey was ranked among the happiest states in America.
andykazie/Getty Images

Your level of happiness can be affected by external factors, such as work and community.
A WalletHub study examined three different categories to determine which states are happiest.
Here are the 50 states, ranked from the least to the most happy.

Happiness may come from within, but external factors can still play a role in how happy you feel.

Even if you're a glass-half-full kind of person, factors like financial security, access to healthcare, and community can also impact your well-being.

A recent WalletHub study ranked all 50 states based on metrics that measure residents' happiness.

All states were compared across three categories: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. These dimensions were broken down into 30 metrics, graded on a 100-point scale to create a happiness score.

The most heavily weighted category was emotional and physical well-being, which included metrics such as career well-being, physical health, the share of adults with depression, and life expectancy.

Work environment metrics included the number of work hours and the share of households earning annual incomes above $75,000.

For community and environment, the metrics included ideal weather, average daily leisure time, and safety.

WalletHub's analysis used data from sources such as the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Gallup.

Here are the 50 states, ranked from least to most happy.

50. West Virginia

Downtown Charleston skyline rises behind trees and a riverfront on a clear sunny day. — Charleston, West Virginia.
Leonid Andronov/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 50

Work environment rank: 50

Community and environment rank: 40

49. Louisiana

Barges pass the Baton Rouge skyline across the Mississippi River beneath a pastel evening sky. — Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Sabrina Gordon/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 49

Work environment rank: 49

Community and environment rank: 38

48. Arkansas

Buildings in Little Rock, Arkansas. — Little Rock, Arkansas.
ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 47

Work environment rank: 47

Community and environment rank: 30

47. Alaska

Colorful storefronts line a quiet street below a forested mountain with patchy snow under cloudy skies. — Juneau, Alaska.
Lana2011/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 38

Work environment rank: 44

Community and environment rank: 50

46. Kentucky

Downtown Frankfort and the Kentucky River sit among autumn trees under an orange sunset sky. — Frankfort, Kentucky.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 48

Work environment rank: 41

Community and environment rank: 25

45. Alabama

Aerial view of downtown Montgomery beside the Alabama River, with skyline, rail tracks, riverfront park, and baseball stadium. — Montgomery, Alabama.
stockphoto52/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 45

Work environment rank: 35

Community and environment rank: 36

44. New Mexico

Aerial view of downtown Santa Fe with the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and surrounding mountains. — Santa Fe, New Mexico.
alexeys/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 36

Work environment rank: 48

Community and environment rank: 37

43. Wyoming

Downtown street intersection with traffic lights, parked cars, storefronts, and a large “WYOMING HOME” mural. — Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Ceri Breeze/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 40

Work environment rank: 42

Community and environment rank: 35

42. Oregon

Downtown Salem skyline with a church steeple, trees, and the Oregon State Capitol dome under a clear blue sky. — Salem, Oregon.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 44

Work environment rank: 38

Community and environment rank: 29

41. Tennessee

Downtown Nashville skyline glows at dusk behind an arched bridge over the Cumberland River. — Nashville, Tennessee.
Bilanol/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 41

Work environment rank: 14

Community and environment rank: 44

40. Oklahoma

Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City winds between red brick buildings and water taxis at sunset. — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 46

Work environment rank: 43

Community and environment rank: 4

39. Ohio

Downtown Columbus skyline and arched bridge reflect in the Scioto River under a streaked evening sky. — Columbus, Ohio.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 39

Work environment rank: 32

Community and environment rank: 26

38. Michigan

Downtown Lansing skyline at dusk with Boji Tower and the illuminated Michigan State Capitol dome. — Lansing, Michigan.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 32

Work environment rank: 45

Community and environment rank: 28

37. Mississippi

Mississippi State Capitol with a gold dome stands among trees and downtown Jackson high-rises under a cloudy sky. — Jackson, Mississippi.
CRobertson/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 35

Work environment rank: 46

Community and environment rank: 12

36. Colorado

Downtown Denver skyline stands before snow-covered Rocky Mountains under a clear blue sky. — Denver, Colorado.
KathyKafka/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 28

Work environment rank: 23

Community and environment rank: 49

35. Texas

Downtown Austin skyline rises beyond trees and Barton Springs Pool at dusk. — Austin, Texas.
BackyardProduction/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 24

Work environment rank: 30

Community and environment rank: 46

34. Maine

Waterfront brick buildings and a church spire reflect in a calm river beneath a cloudy dusk sky. — Augusta, Maine.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 42

Work environment rank: 10

Community and environment rank: 20

33. Indiana

Downtown Indianapolis skyline surrounds the Indiana World War Memorial beneath a partly cloudy sky. — Indianapolis, Indiana.
Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 34

Work environment rank: 19

Community and environment rank: 21

32. Nevada

Aerial view of the Nevada State Capitol amid trees with dry mountains beyond. — Carson City, Nevada.
Wirestock/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 37

Work environment rank: 39

Community and environment rank: 5

31. Missouri

State capitol building in Jefferson City, Missouri. — Jefferson City, Missouri.
Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 33

Work environment rank: 15

Community and environment rank: 24

30. Montana

Aerial view of downtown Helena with the Cathedral of Saint Helena, surrounding buildings, trees, and mountains. — Helena, Montana.
stockphoto52/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 43

Work environment rank: 7

Community and environment rank: 10

29. Rhode Island

Downtown Providence skyline rises above riverwalk stairs, bridges, trees, and waterfront on a clear sunny day. — Providence, Rhode Island.
Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 23

Work environment rank: 26

Community and environment rank: 45

28. Delaware

Delaware Legislative Hall’s red brick facade and white cupola stand above broad front steps under a partly cloudy sky. — Dover, Delaware.
Amy Sparwasser/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 14

Work environment rank: 28

Community and environment rank: 47

27. Wisconsin

Aerial view of downtown Madison with the Wisconsin State Capitol between lakes in warm evening light. — Madison, Wisconsin.
marchello74/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 30

Work environment rank: 18

Community and environment rank: 34

26. Illinois

Springfield, Illinois, USA, downtown city skyline at dusk. — Springfield, Illinois.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 13

Work environment rank: 40

Community and environment rank: 42

25. Pennsylvania

Downtown Harrisburg skyline with Pennsylvania State Capitol dome and riverfront buildings under a blue sky. — Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
TW Farlow/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 20

Work environment rank: 37

Community and environment rank: 27

24. South Dakota

Aerial view of the South Dakota State Capitol with a domed roof, surrounding lawns, trees, and nearby water. — Pierre, South Dakota.
Nathan McDaniel/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 29

Work environment rank: 2

Community and environment rank: 41

23. Kansas

Downtown Topeka skyline with the Kansas State Capitol dome, church towers, tree-lined streets, and parked cars. — Topeka, Kansas.
Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 26

Work environment rank: 12

Community and environment rank: 31

22. Vermont

Aerial view of a downtown street lined with brick buildings, a clock tower, cars, and autumn hills. — Montpelier, Vermont.
Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 31

Work environment rank: 9

Community and environment rank: 7

21. Florida

Florida State Capitol complex in Tallahassee with the historic domed capitol, tower, streets, and blue sky. — Tallahassee, Florida.
Dennis MacDonald/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 9

Work environment rank: 29

Community and environment rank: 48

20. Iowa

Downtown Des Moines skyline rises behind a bridge over the river on a clear sunny day. — Des Moines, Iowa.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 27

Work environment rank: 16

Community and environment rank: 16

19. Washington

Snow-covered Mount Rainier rises behind evergreen trees and urban apartment buildings at dusk. — Olympia, Washington.
John Callery/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 18

Work environment rank: 25

Community and environment rank: 33

18. Georgia

Downtown Atlanta skyline rises above highways and trees under a bright blue sky with large cumulus clouds. — Atlanta, Georgia.
Sean Davis/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 21

Work environment rank: 22

Community and environment rank: 22

17. Arizona

Desert hillside with saguaro cacti overlooks a downtown skyline and distant mountains under a blue sky. — Phoenix, Arizona.
eric1513/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 16

Work environment rank: 33

Community and environment rank: 13

16. Virginia

Downtown Richmond skyline rises above green parkland and brick buildings under a colorful sunset sky. — Richmond, Virginia.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 10

Work environment rank: 31

Community and environment rank: 32

15. South Carolina

Aerial view of the South Carolina State House surrounded by trees and downtown Columbia buildings. — Columbia, South Carolina.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 25

Work environment rank: 13

Community and environment rank: 3

14. North Carolina

Downtown Raleigh skyline rises behind an outdoor amphitheater and convention center under a blue sky. — Raleigh, North Carolina.
zimmytws/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 15

Work environment rank: 21

Community and environment rank: 15

13. Massachusetts

Aerial view of Boston with skyscrapers visible in the background and orange-brick houses in the foreground. — Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 7

Work environment rank: 17

Community and environment rank: 43

12. North Dakota

North Dakota State Capitol tower rises above green lawns and trees under a clear blue sky. — Bismarck, North Dakota.
Jonathan W. Cohen/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 22

Work environment rank: 4

Community and environment rank: 6

11. New York

Downtown Albany street view frames SUNY Plaza’s green-roofed tower between brick buildings and bare trees. — Albany, New York.
SerrNovik/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 3

Work environment rank: 34

Community and environment rank: 39

10. New Hampshire

Brick storefronts line a downtown street with cars, American flags, benches, and dramatic cloudy sky. — Concord, New Hampshire.
Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 12

Work environment rank: 8

Community and environment rank: 14

9. California

Aerial view of Sacramento’s Tower Bridge spanning the Sacramento River near waterfront buildings at sunset. — Sacramento, California.
MattGush/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 4

Work environment rank: 36

Community and environment rank: 19

8. Minnesota

Downtown Saint Paul skyline glows at dusk beside the Mississippi River under a cloudy blue sky. — Saint Paul, Minnesota.
RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 8

Work environment rank: 11

Community and environment rank: 17

7. Connecticut

Aerial view of downtown Hartford skyscrapers beside the Connecticut River and multiple bridges. — Hartford, Connecticut.
Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 5

Work environment rank: 27

Community and environment rank: 9

6. Nebraska

Aerial view of the Nebraska State Capitol surrounded by downtown Lincoln streets, buildings, lawns, and autumn trees. — Lincoln, Nebraska.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 11

Work environment rank: 6

Community and environment rank: 8

5. Maryland

A sailboat moored at Annapolis harbor with downtown streets and the Maryland State House at sunset. — Annapolis, Maryland.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 6

Work environment rank: 20

Community and environment rank: 11

4. Idaho

Downtown Boise skyline and Idaho State Capitol seen over an autumn tree-lined boulevard with foothills beyond. — Boise, Idaho.
christiannafzger/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 19

Work environment rank: 3

Community and environment rank: 2

3. Utah

Downtown Salt Lake City skyline spreads toward the Wasatch Mountains under a partly cloudy blue sky. — Salt Lake City, Utah.
Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 17

Work environment rank: 1

Community and environment rank: 1

2. New Jersey

State capitol building in Trenton, New Jersey. — Trenton, New Jersey.
Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 1

Work environment rank: 24

Community and environment rank: 23

1. Hawaii

Palm trees frame a waterfront lagoon, marina, and high-rise skyline under colorful sunset clouds in Honolulu. — Honolulu, Hawaii.
Iryna Olkhova/Getty Images

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 2

Work environment rank: 5

Community and environment rank: 18

With residents reporting the second-lowest rate of depression and high levels of life satisfaction, Hawaii was ranked the happiest state.

This is owing to factors such as good physical health — about 84% of adults report being in good or better health — and low unemployment rates.

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