The happiest states in the US in 2024

Do you live in one of America’s happier places?

So which states were rated the happiest?

That’s right, Hawaii is the happiest US state

Do you live in one of America’s happier places?

Which states are the happiest in the US? This may seem like a weird question but there has been a lot of research done to find an answer. Some of the best research from 2024 on the topic comes from WalletHub.

What we know about happy states

In order to sort out which states are the happiest, WalletHub looked at key three factors: emotional & physical well-being, community & environment, and work environment. These factors were broken down into 30 metrics and states were given a score out of 100.

So which states were rated the happiest?

Let’s take a look at the 20 happiest in the US and the five least happiest. You may be surprised by the least and happiest states since neither seems like the logical pick! Let’s start with the 10 happiest states in America.

10. Massachusetts

Total Score: 58.24

Work Environment Rank: 5

Community and Environment Rank: 45

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 4

9. Nebraska

Total Score: 58.60

Work Environment Rank: 7

Community and Environment Rank: 28

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 11

8. Idaho

Total Score: 58.84

Work Environment Rank: 3

Community and Environment Rank: 2

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 30

7. Connecticut

Total Score: 60.14

Work Environment Rank: 16

Community and Environment Rank: 21

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 6

6. Minnesota

Total Score: 60.43

Work Environment Rank: 4

Community and Environment Rank: 8

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 12

5. Delaware

Total Score: 60.43

Work Environment Rank: 27

Community and Environment Rank: 4

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 10

4. Utah

Total Score: 62.20

Work Environment Rank: 1

Community and Environment Rank: 1

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 27

3. New Jersey

Total Score: 62.46

Work Environment Rank: 32

Community and Environment Rank: 33

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 2

2. Maryland

Total Score: 64.67

Work Environment Rank: 10

Community and Environment Rank: 6

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 3

1. Hawaii

Total Score: 68.71

Work Environment Rank: 31

Community and Environment Rank: 3

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 1

That’s right, Hawaii is the happiest US state

“Hawaii is the happiest state, living up to its reputation as an island paradise, with residents reporting the highest levels of life satisfaction in the nation and the lowest depression rate,” WalletHub’s Adam McCann wrote. Let’s turn to the least happy states now.

41. Kentucky

Total Score: 42.88

Work Environment Rank: 46

Community and Environment Rank: 16

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 44

42. Mississippi

Total Score: 41.83

Work Environment Rank: 40

Community and Environment Rank: 35

Emotional And Physical Well-Being Rank: 41

43. Oklahoma

Total Score: 41.74