It’s said that happiness is a state of mind. It’s also an actual state in which you can live. A place has to have certain qualities that make it a happy place, like a healthy social environment, pleasing physical spaces, a thriving economy, and emotional and physical wellbeing. 

If you live in a place like this, you’re one of the lucky ones. Not everyone is fortunate to live in a place that makes them happy. People who live in unhappy states may feel a sense of disappointment with their economic, emotional, social, and physical environments. 

Do you live in a happy or unhappy state? If you do, what makes you happy? If you don’t, what makes it an unhappy place? 

1. Hawaii

Unsurprisingly, Hawaii comes in as the happiest state to live in. The Hawaiian people are known for their kindness and graciousness, and a lot of that stems from being generally satisfied with their lives. Who could blame them?

The Hawaiian islands have beautiful warm weather year-round, which is probably why almost 72 percent of adult residents say they’re active every day. The low unemployment rate helps. And Hawaii has one of the highest percentages of residents with an over- $75,000 yearly income. That certainly makes them feel good!

2. Maryland

After Hawaii is Maryland, the second happiest state in the country, Marylanders report having fulfilling personal lives with strong support systems and good relationships with others. They also have the most households with annual incomes above $75,000 and a low rate of unemployment. 

Maryland residents are motivated to achieve the goals they set out for themselves. They enjoy their careers, report experiencing lower levels of workplace stress, have job stability, and work in decent environments. 

3. New Jersey

New Jersey doesn’t get a lot of respect, and its property taxes are the highest in the country, but people who live there are pretty satisfied with the Garden State. Residents say they’re happy in several aspects of their lives. 

They have low rates of depression, and high rates of supportive relationships, which includes happy marriages. New Jerseyans have a 17 percent separation and divorce rate, which is the third lowest in the United States. The state also has the third-highest number of households with incomes over $75,000 a year. 

4. Utah

The Beehive State is perennially named one of the happiest places in the U.S. and for good reason. Married couples are quite content with each other, with Utah having the lowest divorce rate in the country. They also have positive feelings towards their careers, with low unemployment while working the fewest hours a week. 

Utah residents make a point of staying active, and have the second-highest number of people participating in sports, with the adults there feeling productive and engaged. They probably feel that way because of their high sleep rate ranking. 

5. Delaware

Delaware may be best known as the home of President Biden and the headquarters for the DuPont chemical company, but the state has quite a few attributes making it the fifth happiest state on the list. What makes Delaware residents so gratified?

A strong sense of emotional wellbeing and physical health and a higher income than the national median household are two factors Delawareans highly rate. Positive feelings about their living environment and community are credited with the state’s favorability ratings. 

6. Minnesota

“Minnesota Nice” is more than just a catchphrase; it’s a way of life. When you look at the reasons why people are so pleased with their state, it’s easy to see why they’re so pleasant to each other and complete strangers. 

A stable social environment, a booming economy, good physical health, and emotional wellbeing all have Minnesotans loving life. The state may have some of the coldest weather in the nation, but the people are much warmer. 

7. Connecticut

The New England states are well represented by Connecticut. The state is the home of the NCAA back-to-back basketball champions University of Connecticut Huskies. That’s reason alone to be proud about living there.

There are other reasons for people living in Connecticut to be cheerful. They have an affinity for their overall environments and communities, their physical and emotional wellbeing are high, and they like their work conditions. 

8. Idaho

There’s much more to Idaho than being America’s potato capital. Just ask any of the happy folks who live there. Idaho is a pleasant place to work when you consider that it ranks highly regarding its working conditions.

Residents of the Gem State also extol their community ties and environmental conditions. They have a high rating for getting enough sleep, have the least number of adults with depression, and have a low rate of marital separation and divorce. 

9. Nebraska

Located in the heart of the Midwest, Nebraska is a place of highly satisfied people. The state has so much going for it, that you might consider relocating there. The Cornhusker State has one of the highest numbers of volunteers in the country, and the residents feel they have productive, active lives. 

Jobseekers can look forward to landing new jobs sooner rather than later. They’re usually out of work for 15 weeks or less, which is the second lowest rate in the U.S. Married couples can also take comfort in the knowledge that the state has one of the lowest levels of separation and divorce. 

10. Massachusetts

Rounding out the top 10 is the state of Massachusetts. It has a well-deserved reputation for being a hub of higher education, being the home to Harvard, MIT, UMass, and Boston College. Besides its highly-ranked schools, it’s the most educated state in the country, with more adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher than anywhere else in the U.S. 

The state’s healthcare systems cover more than 97 percent of the population, and it has the lowest number of people in poor health. Massachusetts is not only a state that prioritizes education, it also emphasizes the health of its residents.  

The five most unhappiest states in the country share certain traits that make their residents feel discontented or disillusioned. What makes a state one of the worst to live in? Some of those characteristics may surprise you.

1. Louisiana

Despite all of its natural beauty and culture, Louisiana ranks as the unhappiest state in the U.S. Less than half of the population – 43 percent – feel good about their quality of life, which is a harbinger of things to come. 

Louisiana has the third-highest rate of divorce, a metric that doesn’t bode well for couples. For everyone else in general, the state ranks low in getting enough sleep, low in terms of good work hours, and reportedly has the least safe communities. 

2. Arkansas

While Arkansas has a powerful history, especially in the area of civil rights, it hasn’t lived up to the promise it once had when it was called the Land of Opportunity state. Arkansas unfortunately ranked low across the board in many respects.

The state has one of the highest levels of depression among the adult population and the lowest levels of sleep quality. Its residents also feel it’s an unsafe place to live, and the data backs up those beliefs: Arkansas ranks high in violent and property crimes. 

3. West Virginia

The landscapes found in West Virginia are some of the most breathtaking in the country. Behind the beautiful scenery is a lot of discontent from the population. West Virginia perpetually struggles with different issues. 

The state scores low in the physical health and emotional wellbeing of its population. The Mountain State ranks last when it comes to having a positive work environment, and a significant number of individuals and families live in poverty. 

4. Tennessee

The state with Elvis Presley’s beloved Graceland doesn’t have an especially satisfied population, and that shows in its low rankings in several lifestyle areas. Like West Virginia, Tennessee has its share of struggles in some areas. 

The state has twice as many adults as Hawaii who identify as having depression, with over 37 percent responding they have feelings of anxiety and/or depression. Tennessee reports moderate rankings in having a healthy work atmosphere, community, and general environment.

5. New Mexico

Surprisingly, the fifth unhappiest state in the U.S. is New Mexico. It may be called The Land of Enchantment, but it’s anything but according to its residents. Couples don’t fare too well in the state as it has the highest rate of divorce in the country. 

New Mexico ranks low in physical health and emotional wellbeing, and also rates low in the number of people who volunteer. On a somewhat positive note, the state has moderate scores for the environment and communities they live in. 

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