WalletHub ranked all 50 states on happiness using 30 metrics across three categories: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment.
The study weighted emotional and physical well-being most heavily. That category included career well-being, physical health, the share of adults with depression, and life expectancy. Work environment metrics included work hours and the share of households earning annual incomes above $75,000. Community and environment included ideal weather, average daily leisure time, and safety.
WalletHub said it used data from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Gallup.
Hawaii finished as the happiest state. WalletHub said residents reported the second-lowest rate of depression and high levels of life satisfaction. The ranking also pointed to strong physical health, with about 84% of adults reporting they were in good or better health, along with low unemployment.
For founders and operators, the playbook is simple: well-being is not just personal, it is economic. The same basics that support happier communities - health, work, safety, and time - also shape consumer demand, labor supply, and how fast a state can grow.
That makes this more than a feel-good ranking. It is a reminder that prosperity shows up in the daily conditions people live under. When the basics are in place, businesses get a steadier workforce and customers with more confidence to spend.
