The Happiest (And Unhappiest) States In The U.S.

A new report from Gallup shows just which state's the happiest in the union.

Results of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, released Monday (Feb. 27), ranks the states based on their well-being. And the verdict is: life seems to be (figuratively) sunnier in the western U.S., while well-being was reported to be lowest in southern states.

The nation in general scored a 66.2 in 2011 on the 0-to-100 scale, which is down a little bit from 2010, when the score was a 66.8. The Gallup researchers noted that this was because the scores decreased slightly among all six factors used for the index. However, state scores largely remained unchanged from 2010 to 2011.

The well-being index took into account these factors:

- Emotional health, which included how likely a resident was to say they smiled or laughed a lot yesterday, or whether they had a daily stress or worry. Hawaii ranked the highest in this category, while Kentucky ranked the lowest.

- Life Evaluation, which was how likely residents were to say they were "thriving." Alaska ranked the highest in this category, while West Virginia ranked the lowest.

- Work Environment, which is how positive or negative the perception an employee has on his or her workplace. It includes how well the employee can utilizes his or her strengths at work and whether the work environment is a trusting one. North Dakota ranked the highest in this category, while Delaware ranked the lowest.

- Physical Health, which includes the percentage of obese residents in the state. Minnesota ranked the highest in this category, while West Virginia ranked the lowest.

- Healthy Behaviors, which included exercising, not smoking and eating healthily. Hawaii ranked the highest in this category, while Oklahoma ranked the lowest.

- Basic Access, which measures ease of access to health insurance, a safe work-out space, food, shelter and medicines. Massachusetts ranked the highest in this category, while Mississippi ranked the lowest.

To see which 10 states ranked the highest overall in the well-being index -- and which 10 states ranked the lowest -- click through the slideshow. What are your thoughts? Are any of these results surprising to you?

RATE IT!   |  

VOTE

CURRENT TOP 5 PICK YOUR OWN TOP 5

USERS WHO VOTED

NEW! CREATE YOUR OWN SLIDESHOW

Comments

[Kilburn Hall]

07:48 PM on 04/30/2013

Articles like this are always incorrect. Having lived in Montana on/off since 1987 I should tell you that Montana is no longer "home on the range." Most of Montana is over-developed and Californicated, bumper to bumper traffic as of summer 2011, high cost of living. The only affordable housing I could find was a flophouse for $350 month with bath down the hall and bedbugs. Banks only extend you $500 a day on your credit card despite my having ten-thousand in the bank. Their afraid you'll lose or have your card stolen and since they are small banks- don;t want to be liable for the charges. In other words, banks in Montana assume you are stupid and irresponsible. And did I mention- there are NOOOOOO! jobs for professionals. Unless you want to work at Pet Smart or WalMart I wouldn't go there. And the place is crawling with wealthy Canadians who have no respect for Americans. Unless you're a wealthy retiree, a snowbird who lives in his RV in the summer months I would avoid Montana. Check out Texas, lots of jobs, low cost of living, beautiful scenery, women, tough law enforcement that doesn;t play. You wanna avoid Texas if you're a druggie. Or check out Salt Lake City, if you can stomach the wealthy, spoiled Mormons.

[Cam Lemmon]

10:34 AM on 03/17/2012

The only reason I can think of that Alabama is in the list of top states for 'well-being' is the fact this state is blessed with a top health care facility, in fact, not just one. Otherwise, I find people here are very closed off to making new friends (from other states). I've lived in 3 other states and have always made friends easily. Here, not so much! Thank God for grandchildren; and, I haven't given up on Birmingham yet! It's now become my 'home away from home.'

[Cam Lemmon]

10:46 AM on 03/17/2012

My apologies; it's early Saturday morning and I need my coffee! I did not see in the slide show that the slides had shifted from states ranking in the top to bottom well being and Alabama is among the bottom states. Still think the state has better health care facilities than many others, but aside from that, I thank God it's within driving distance to the mountains, the beach, Atlanta, and a long day's drive to Dallas. Oak Mountain State Park is a beautiful resource and the neighborhood I live in is absolutely great! I just wish people were more personable and not so closed off from their neighbors.

[delilahpower]

10:34 PM on 03/10/2012

that's it! I'm moving to hawaii. Is it any wonder that most of these states are so cold there's little human contact? Guess we all can't get along after all.

[EJD1208]

12:56 PM on 03/05/2012

So I'm in Montana... and we have considerably high suicide per capita rates. High levels of alcoholism and DUI related arrests and deaths. Our reservations certainly have high levels of violence, poverty, suicide... etc. Montana always gets painted in this beautiful light and I worry that it takes away from some of our ability to get funding for programs to reach our disparate populations. Not so sure about the validity of this article.

[raceyday]

07:58 AM on 03/02/2012

although, with a range of 70 to 62, wouldn't you say we're all pretty happy?

[delilahpower]

10:35 PM on 03/10/2012

no. If i get a 70 in college I don't have to repeat the course. get it?

[carolla7411]

07:05 AM on 03/02/2012

happiness is loving yourself and only getting what u need to live, not looking to someone else for your own happiness. go with the flow and being ind to your neighbors, thanking
God everyday for what u do have, and stop whining about things u don't need

[bigbuggie5]

12:10 AM on 03/02/2012

Who wouldn't be happy if they lived in Hawaii? That's a no brainer.

[myplenny]

10:04 PM on 03/01/2012

They live of the federal tax payers should be happy. Freebies Galore worse than Pussie Galore

[IamSuperior]

10:01 PM on 03/01/2012

Hawaii is the happiest state because gay marriage is still not allowed there. This should be a lesson to all the states who have already legalized the despicable union that is gay marriage.

[oksanafox77]

01:06 PM on 05/29/2012

Obviously you don't know a lot about Hawaii... there is a very large gay population here. There is a culture of men, collectively called "mahus" that dress as women and get a level of respect you probably wouldn't find on the mainland (not to mention, many of them are some big Samoans that you would not want to tick off). Same-sex civil unions are recognized by the state government. Why don't you do a little research before making uneducated statements.

[DebMarchant]

09:52 PM on 03/01/2012

Could Mountain Top Removal for coal be related somehow? Mountain Top Removal is primarily occurring in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, and has been going on for about 30 years. (from iLoveMountains.org)

[KenLowJr]

08:23 PM on 03/01/2012

I was born and raised in Hawai'i and yes I enjoyed it. But for economic reasons, I moved my family to the mainland. Don't be fooled by the grass is greener effect of this report. I'be been to States from the west, midwest, east, and south. Each State has good and bad but the good far outweighs the bad. And this is mainly reflected in the people. Americans are overwhelmingly friendly, generous, kind, and just. Good relationships are not only supportive in good times but are invaluable when times go bad. And you can find this anywhere in the U.S.A. Happiness is not a place. If you live in this country, then you're already ahead in the game.

[bob819]

11:53 PM on 03/02/2012

well said

[AuthorBookshelf]

07:59 PM on 03/01/2012

Gallup also released a study that gave the profile for the happiest person in the U.S. It's a retired Jewish-Asian male who lives in Hawaii and earns $120K+ And, he exists! Hello Alvin Wong :o)

Melissa
- http://bookclubreading.com/

[James MD]

06:46 PM on 03/01/2012

The only area of this survey, which Massachusetts Ranks Highest in the country had a lot to do with Mitt Romney and the MASS health care program, which is said to be tied very closely, by his fellow Republican Candidates, to what is called Obama Care, which Romney is ashamed of the healthcare and its options in Massachusetts, that rank No. 1 in the US.

The Happiest (And Unhappiest) States In The U.S.
- Basic Access, which measures ease of access to health insurance, a safe work-out space, food, shelter and medicines. Massachusetts ranked the highest in this category, while Mississippi ranked the lowest.

[Ali Rockwood]

06:31 PM on 03/01/2012

i have a cousin who moves from city to city, bringing all of her misery with her, her attitudes, preconceptions, etc., always rationalizing that it's the city she lives in that is miserable and that's her problem. she never seems to realize that she's the problem, where she lives is incidental. hopefully soon she'll leave my city and go plague seattle, where she thinks she'll be happy (this time.)

i'm in one of the most miserable cities in america, according to some pollster, although you couldn't tell it by me or anyone in my neighborhood, or anyone i know bc we are literally walking around with smiles on our faces, waving at each other. numbers only tell part of the story, and only the boring part at that.

[pl1224]

06:21 PM on 03/01/2012

Well, I live in New Hampshire and I can't imagine living anywhere else. When I occasionally feel like traveling, I head for Maine or Vermont. As far as I'm concerned, Northern New England is just glorious! And I'll still feel that way when we finally have to say 'good-bye" to our beloved, old-fashioned New England winters. (Darn you, climate change!)

[hotspur10000]

07:55 PM on 07/23/2012

I agree. I lived in Dover for awhile, and it's a lovely state. And the people are very kind and welcoming.