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A new study has identified the "happiest" states in America, with several in the Northeast claiming the top spots, while some in the South ranked at the bottom.
WalletHub's analysis compared all 50 states across three key dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. The study evaluated 30 metrics, ranging from work hours and commute times to economic security and various health indicators, then calculated an overall score out of 100 for each state to determine the rankings.
The study found that the 10 happiest states were Hawaii, New Jersey, Utah, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, Connecticut, Minnesota, California, and New Hampshire.
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At the other end of the rankings, West Virginia was the least happy state, followed by Louisiana, Arkansas, Alaska, and Kentucky in the top five least happy states.
The findings come as many Americans continue to prioritize their well-being, especially in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, which sparked an existential shift in how people view and shape their lives.
According to data compiled by Statista for 2025, 30 percent of U.S. workers reported experiencing high or very high levels of burnout, while 38 percent reported moderate burnout. In an August 2026 Longevity Insights Report by the Health website, 73 percent of those surveyed say they’d rather focus on living better than living longer. Nearly three-quarters (68 percent) said longevity should focus on aging well, not staying young.
What Makes These the Happiest States?
Experts told Newsweek that the common thread linking the happiest states extends beyond weather or income.
Jeff Gardere, a clinical psychologist and professor of behavioral studies at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, told Newsweek: "From a psychological point of view, one of the strongest drivers of happiness is a sense of security and connection."
He explained that this includes feeling physically safe, having access to employment, health care and quality schools, and being meaningfully connected to others.
Gardere said what stood out about the highest-ranking states was not their similarities in geography or culture, but rather the resources they provide residents. In his view, stability, meaningful relationships, security, and connection were shared factors among the top-performing states.
Chloë Bean, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles, told Newsweek that community, belonging and supportive relationships are among the most important contributors to happiness. She pointed to strong community networks, access to nature, and stable local economies as recurring traits among many of the highest-ranked states.
“You see more tight-knit groups and institutions, more space to be active and explore the outdoors,” Bean said, which decreases stress and increases serotonin levels.
“People's nervous systems relax when there is space, access to nature, and connection. Humans are wired towards safety, comfort, belonging, and pleasure. So, when that's easier to find, you don't have to work so hard to find that or try to recreate it.”
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The Limitations of Happiness Rankings
While experts said state-level rankings can provide useful insights, they cautioned against viewing them as definitive measures of individual well-being.
Adam Mendler, who teaches leadership at UCLA, told Newsweek that the rankings help identify health, financial, workplace, and community conditions associated with happier populations. However, he noted that “happiness is deeply personal” and that people assign different importance to factors such as weather, income, or lifestyle, while rankings tend to assign the same importance to each factor for everyone.
He explained: “As a Los Angeles native who has lived in a cold climate, I know that sunshine and warm weather are essential to my own happiness, while climate may rank near the bottom of someone else’s priorities.”
Anthony Jack, an associate professor at Case Western Reserve University, believes “the social climate” is the most important driver of happiness, describing it as the degree to which people have rich and meaningful relationships with others. However, he noted that social connection is “exceedingly hard to measure reliably across contexts.”
Bean also warned that rankings do not tell the whole story. "Burnout, loneliness, depression, and anxiety can happen anywhere you live, and individual variation matters," the therapist said. Someone living in Hawaii may have access to beaches and natural beauty, she added, but still struggle with trauma, mental health concerns or an unsafe relationship.
Gardere echoed that point, warning that “a state can rank very highly while still containing detractors such as poverty, discrimination, loneliness, inadequate healthcare or significant mental health challenges.”
The clinical psychologist also argued that happiness is not solely an individual responsibility. While self-care and positive thinking matter, he said, communities play a significant role in determining whether people have the opportunity to thrive.
“It is much easier for people to thrive when the communities around them give them the opportunity to thrive.”
The 10 Happiest States in America
- Hawaii
- New Jersey
- Utah
- Idaho
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- Connecticut
- Minnesota
- California
- New Hampshire
The 10 Least Happy States in America
- West Virginia
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Alaska
- Kentucky
- Alabama
- New Mexico
- Wyoming
- Oregon
- Tennessee
Source: Based on a study by WalletHub.
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