State Happiness Rankings Revealed
New WalletHub Analysis Ranks All Fifty States by Overall Happiness and Well-Being
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Key Points
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WalletHub’s methodology grouped the 30 measures into three dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale, then combined using a weighted average to determine the overall rankings.
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New Jersey led the nation in emotional and physical well-being, while Utah ranked highest for work environment and community-related measures, showing that different states excelled in different aspects of happiness.
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Only 44% of Americans told Gallup they were “very satisfied” with their lives in 2025, providing broader national context for the state-by-state happiness rankings.
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WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said that happiness depends not only on economic strength and health care but also on leisure time, weather, fulfilling hobbies, relationships and opportunities for personal growth; he added that having enough money for a comfortable life matters, but income beyond that does not necessarily increase happiness proportionately.
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Tennessee’s neighboring states Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia ranked among the country’s happiest, while Mississippi and Missouri ranked below average, underscoring regional differences surrounding Tennessee’s No. 41 placement.
Hawaii ranks as America's happiest state while West Virginia sits at the bottom, according to a new WalletHub analysis of all 50 states across 30 happiness measures. The study examined emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community factors — finding wide gaps in life satisfaction across the country. WalletHub noted that only 44% of Americans told Gallup they felt "very satisfied" with their lives in 2025, highlighting how few states and residents achieve top-tier happiness.
How WalletHub Measured Happiness Across States
The study ranked all 50 states using 30 specific metrics scored on a 100-point scale. WalletHub grouped these measures into three dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. Each state received a weighted average score combining all three areas. New Jersey led in emotional well-being, while Utah ranked highest for work and community measures — showing different states excel in different happiness aspects.
Nebraska's Paradox: Strong Jobs, High Substance Abuse
Nebraska ranked sixth overall despite significant trade-offs in its happiness profile. The state boasted strong job security, adequate sleep, high volunteer rates, and low divorce rates — key happiness drivers. However, Nebraska also reported comparatively high alcohol-use disorder and financial anxiety among residents. This mixed picture demonstrates how strong performance in some areas can offset weaknesses elsewhere when calculating overall happiness scores.
Tennessee and Kentucky Face Mounting Unhappiness
Tennessee ranked 41st among the nation's least-happy states, with residents citing economic uncertainty and rising cost of living. WalletHub analysts found Kentucky even worse off, ranking it as the fifth-most unhappy state. Kentucky carries the nation's second-highest adult depression rate, a major drag on overall well-being. Meanwhile, Tennessee's neighboring states — Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia — all ranked among America's happiest, underscoring sharp regional differences in life satisfaction.
Money Matters, But Income Beyond Comfort Does Not
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo explained that happiness depends on far more than paychecks. Economic security, health care, meaningful work, strong relationships, leisure time, and personal growth opportunities all drive satisfaction. Having enough money for a comfortable life matters significantly. But Lupo stressed that earning income beyond that comfortable threshold does not increase happiness proportionately — a finding that challenges the assumption that more money always means happier people.
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