Sunshine and Smiles: Hawaii Tops the List as America’s Happiest State
Simply changing the environment is not enough to solve various problems in life, but the living environment and the people, views and opportunities in it are all external factors that affect overall happiness.
To that end, personal finance company WalletHub recently released its annual U.S. state happiness rankings. The list, released Monday, evaluated all 50 states (excluding the District of Columbia) based on 30 indicators including social, physical, economic and emotional health.
“In addition to pursuing a career you love, maintaining a good work-life balance and maintaining an emotional support network, choosing a good place to live is a key factor in improving happiness,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Ruper in a press release announcing the list. “The happiest states offer residents above-average quality of life in a variety of areas, such as strong economies and high-quality physical and mental health care, as well as ample leisure time and a pleasant climate.”
In addition to the overall score, each state was ranked in the following categories: physical and emotional health, including indicators such as adult depression and life expectancy; work environment, including indicators such as commute time and financial anxiety; and community and environment, including indicators such as safety and volunteer participation rates.
Hawaii, which ranked second last year, topped the list with a score of 68.71 in 2024, becoming the happiest state. The “Aloha State” Hawaii also ranked first in physical and emotional health, and third in community and environment. However, the state’s work environment ranked 31st.
In addition, Louisiana fell from 49th place to last place with a score of 32.97, becoming the least happy state this year. The “Pelican State” Louisiana also scored low in work environment and physical and emotional health, both ranking 49th. The state ranked slightly better in community and environment, ranking 40th.
Dr. Peter Harms, professor of management at the University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business, believes that while there is no so-called “magic bullet” to improve happiness, life circumstances do have an impact.
“You thrive when your environment allows you to pursue your interests and meet your needs,” Harms said in the release. “You can’t be happy in a closed environment where you’re isolated. The environment you live in also affects your physical health, your ability to develop and maintain strong relationships, and other factors associated with well-being.”
“Even so, humans have a great capacity for resilience and adaptation. People who live in harsher environments seem to be able to tolerate those conditions better.”
The 10 happiest states
1. Hawaii (ranked higher, ranked 2nd last year)
2. Maryland (ranked up from No. 3 last year)
3. New Jersey (ranked up from No. 5 last year)
4. Utah (dropped from No. 1 last year)
5. Delaware (ranked higher, ranked 11th last year)
6. Minnesota (down from fourth place last year)
7. Connecticut (dropped from No. 6 last year)
8. Idaho (ranked up from No. 9 last year)
9. Nebraska (ranked higher, ranked 10th last year)
10. Massachusetts (up from No. 12 last year)
The 10 least happy states
50. Louisiana (down from No. 49 last year)
49. Arkansas (down from No. 47 last year)
48. West Virginia (ranked higher, ranked 50th last year)
47. Tennessee (ranked higher, ranked 48th last year)
46. New Mexico (down from No. 42 last year)
45. Alaska (down from 43rd last year)
44. Alabama (ranked higher, ranked 45th last year)
43. Oklahoma (down from No. 41 last year)
42. Mississippi (ranked higher, ranked 44th last year)
41. Kentucky (ranked higher, ranked 46th last year)
States with the highest and lowest job climate ratings
Feeling valued in the workplace is crucial to career satisfaction, said Buffy Rommel-Avital, a professor of psychology at Elon University’s College of Arts and Sciences in North Carolina.
“When hard work (or lack of it) isn’t recognized, people experience insecurity, discomfort and stress,” she said in a news release. “This is because, for many people, self-identity is closely tied to their actual and perceived productivity.”
She adds: “If you don’t have the opportunity to develop or grow in your career, it’s going to be hard to maintain job satisfaction. Satisfaction isn’t about being content; it’s about fully accepting that you’re where you’re supposed to be at work, or at least on the right track.”
States with the highest ratings for work environment
1. Utah
2. Vermont
3. Idaho
4. Minnesota
5. Massachusetts
States with the lowest job environment ratings
50. West Virginia
49. Louisiana
48. Alaska
47. New Mexico
46. Kentucky
Other work environment rankings
Shortest work hours: Utah
Longest working hours: Alaska
Biggest income increase: Idaho
Slowest income growth: Alaska
Lowest long-term unemployment rate: South Dakota
Highest long-term unemployment rate: New Jersey
States with the highest and lowest physical and emotional health
Stress is inevitable in life. If it is not controlled, it will affect your physical and mental health. Rommel-Avital said that she teaches a method called “REDUCE” to reduce stress:
“Remember to breathe; evaluate your options, including possible support (social support is crucial); develop effective time management skills; disconnect from electronic devices and understand that no one is perfect (including you); focus on practical solutions; and stay energized through healthy habits.”
States with the highest physical and emotional health scores
1. Hawaii
2. New Jersey
3. Maryland
4. Massachusetts
5. Florida
States with the lowest physical and emotional health scores
50. Arkansas
49. Louisiana
48. Oklahoma
47. West Virginia
46. Tennessee
Other physical and emotional health rankings
Highest rate of adequate sleep: Vermont
Lowest rate of adequate sleep: Hawaii
Lowest rate of depression among adults: Hawaii
Highest rate of depression among adults: Tennessee
Highest sports participation rate: Colorado
Lowest sports participation rate: Mississippi
Lowest suicide rate: New Jersey
Highest suicide rate: Montana
States with the highest and lowest community and environment scores
The health of the environment you live in is closely linked to your physical and mental health, says Theresa DiDonato, PhD, sociology and associate director of graduate studies at Loyola University Maryland’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“Environmental psychologists often point out that living in environments with noise pollution (such as near airports) or high levels of air pollution is detrimental to health,” DiDonato said in the news release. “On the other hand, living in natural, green environments can help maintain positive emotions and improve overall health. If people include nature in their daily lives, this can lead to increased happiness. Other evidence shows that even in urban areas, scenic surroundings are strongly associated with greater happiness.”
States with the highest community and environment scores
1. Utah
2. Idaho
3. Hawaii
4. Delaware
5. Oklahoma
States with the lowest community and environment scores
50. Rhode Island
49. Texas
48. Colorado
47. Florida
46. New York
Other community and environment rankings
Safest state: Vermont
Least safe state: Louisiana
State with the highest volunteer participation rate: Utah
State with the lowest volunteer participation rate: Florida
State with the lowest divorce rate: Utah
State with the highest divorce rate: New Mexico (Fortune Chinese website)
Translator: Liu Jinlong
Reviewer: Wang Hao
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