WASHINGTON — As the pursuit of happiness remains a cornerstone of the American dream, an annual survey shows which states are coming closest to achieving it. From the beaches of Hawaii to the mountains of West Virginia, the 2024 WalletHub report on the “Happiest States in America” offers a data-driven look at well-being across the nation. And in perhaps not much of a surprise, Hawaii takes the cake for the most joyful place to be this year.
The research examined all 50 states across 30 key metrics to determine where Americans exhibit the best combination of emotional, physical, economic and social well-being.
The study comes at a time when many Americans are still grappling with ongoing economic challenges and the stress of a contentious election year. According to recent surveys, only 47% of Americans report being “very satisfied” with their lives currently.
“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,” says Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, 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.”
Methodology
To determine the happiest states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions:
- Emotional & Physical Well-Being (50 points)
- Work Environment (25 points)
- Community & Environment (25 points)
These dimensions were evaluated using 30 relevant metrics, each graded on a 100-point scale with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness. The metrics encompassed factors such as depression rates, adequate sleep, sports participation, work hours, income levels, unemployment rates, and divorce rates.
Data was collected from reputable sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Gallup polls. WalletHub then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score, which was used to rank the states from happiest to least happy.