Happiness is a personal feeling that depends on several factors, both internal and external. And depending on where people live, their happiness and mental well-being may vary significantly.
To determine the happiest U.S. states, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 2019 Gallup Well-Being Index, which is based on responses from more than 115,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older surveyed in 2019. The index is intended to capture how people feel about their lives and what they experience on a daily basis. The index consists of five categories: social relationships, financial security, relationship to community, physical health, and career prospects.
The overall well-being in the United States has declined since 2016. The national Well-Being Index score decreased by almost 1 point since then, falling to 61.2 in 2018. The 30 states on this list all have a well-being score higher than 61.2. (Still, more Americans appear happy than sad — these are the 18 most miserable states)
Physical health, together with healthy behaviors, is part of the physical element of well-being. It was an important factor contributing to happiness. People who reported being happy were also physically healthy.
To help measure happiness, Gallup asked Americans if they love the city they live in. Nationwide, 52.7% of adults love their city. In all but two of the states with the highest happiness scores, at least 53.3% of residents like where they live.
Though, according to some, money doesn’t buy happiness, financial well-being plays a significant role in happiness. Asked about their financial situation, 40.9% of Americans answered that they worried about money in the last week. Residents in just three of the 15 happiest states report higher levels of worrying about money.
Gallup also asked Americans if they liked what they do every day. About 56.4% of people across the country said that they do. Only five of the 30 happiest states have a higher share of the population who like what they do everyday than the national average — these are the 25 best jobs in America.
Click here to see the happiest states in America
30. New Mexico
> Well-being index score: 61.3 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 61.5% — 4th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.2% — 21st highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 48.9% — 10th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 48.9% — 8th lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 38.8% — 14th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 61.0% — 9th highest
> Median household income: $51,945 — 6th lowest
> Violent crime rate: 832 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest
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29. Texas
> Well-being index score: 61.3 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 57.5% — 25th lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.1% — 24th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 47.0% — 20th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 53.9% — 24th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 42.6% — 5th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 60.3% — 13th highest
> Median household income: $64,034 — 22nd highest
> Violent crime rate: 419 per 100,000 people — 16th highest
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28. Oregon
> Well-being index score: 61.4 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 54.5% — 7th lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 49.9% — 25th lowest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 46.8% — 22nd highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 57.6% — 12th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 42.6% — 5th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 58.2% — 22nd lowest
> Median household income: $67,058 — 18th highest
> Violent crime rate: 284 per 100,000 people — 15th lowest
27. Virginia
> Well-being index score: 61.5 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 57.6% — 25th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.1% — 24th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 48.4% — 12th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 52.6% — 19th lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 40.4% — 24th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 57.0% — 13th lowest
> Median household income: $76,456 — 10th highest
> Violent crime rate: 208 per 100,000 people — 6th lowest
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26. Iowa
> Well-being index score: 61.5 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 58.5% — 19th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.2% — 21st highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 47.7% — 15th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 55.2% — 20th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 38.6% — 13th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 57.6% — 17th lowest
> Median household income: $61,691 — 21st lowest
> Violent crime rate: 267 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest
25. Rhode Island
> Well-being index score: 61.5 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 54.2% — 4th lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.6% — 16th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 52.5% — 2nd highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 50.4% — 13th lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 39.4% — 18th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 55.7% — 6th lowest
> Median household income: $71,169 — 15th highest
> Violent crime rate: 221 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest
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24. Wisconsin
> Well-being index score: 61.5 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 56.4% — 19th lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 49.4% — 20th lowest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 46.3% — 25th lowest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 56.2% — 18th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 38.0% — 12th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 56.2% — 9th lowest
> Median household income: $64,168 — 21st highest
> Violent crime rate: 293 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest
23. Georgia
> Well-being index score: 61.7 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 55.5% — 12th lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.4% — 17th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 47.2% — 18th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 53.1% — 23rd lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 41.1% — 20th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 60.1% — 15th highest
> Median household income: $61,980 — 22nd lowest
> Violent crime rate: 341 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest
22. Idaho
> Well-being index score: 61.7 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 58.0% — 22nd highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.7% — 14th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 45.4% — 13th lowest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 63.3% — 2nd highest
> Adults who worry about money: 44.1% — 2nd highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 58.1% — 21st lowest
> Median household income: $60,999 — 20th lowest
> Violent crime rate: 224 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest
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21. Maine
> Well-being index score: 61.7 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 61.2% — 6th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 49.8% — 23rd lowest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 45.6% — 18th lowest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 58.8% — 8th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 41.3% — 15th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 57.7% — 18th lowest
> Median household income: $58,924 — 16th lowest
> Violent crime rate: 115 per 100,000 people — the lowest
20. Florida
> Well-being index score: 61.8 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 58.6% — 18th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 51.6% — 8th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 47.5% — 16th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 55.0% — 21st highest
> Adults who worry about money: 42.3% — 8th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 59.9% — 16th highest
> Median household income: $59,227 — 17th lowest
> Violent crime rate: 378 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest
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19. Nevada
> Well-being index score: 61.9 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 58.3% — 21st highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.2% — 21st highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 45.5% — 15th lowest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 50.3% — 11th lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 37.4% — 9th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 59.2% — 19th highest
> Median household income: $63,276 — 24th highest
> Violent crime rate: 494 per 100,000 people — 9th highest
18. Nebraska
> Well-being index score: 61.9 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 59.8% — 13th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 51.3% — 10th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 47.0% — 20th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 54.0% — 23rd highest
> Adults who worry about money: 39.6% — 20th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 59.2% — 19th highest
> Median household income: $63,229 — 25th highest
> Violent crime rate: 301 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest
17. Massachusetts
> Well-being index score: 62.0 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 56.2% — 18th lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 48.3% — 14th lowest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 46.7% — 23rd highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 55.0% — 21st highest
> Adults who worry about money: 42.3% — 8th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 60.9% — 10th highest
> Median household income: $85,843 — 2nd highest
> Violent crime rate: 328 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest
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16. Connecticut
> Well-being index score: 62.1 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 60.2% — 11th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 48.7% — 15th lowest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 47.2% — 18th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 47.7% — 5th lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 41.7% — 13th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 60.3% — 13th highest
> Median household income: $78,833 — 6th highest
> Violent crime rate: 184 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest
15. Arizona
> Well-being index score: 62.1 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 60.0% — 12th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 53.8% — 4th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 50.3% — 4th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 58.4% — 10th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 41.2% — 17th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 60.6% — 11th highest
> Median household income: $62,055 — 23rd lowest
> Violent crime rate: 455 per 100,000 people — 10th highest
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14. California
> Well-being index score: 62.2 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 57.4% — 24th lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 51.3% — 10th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 47.3% — 17th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 52.7% — 21st lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 39.7% — 22nd lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 61.3% — 6th highest
> Median household income: $80,440 — 5th highest
> Violent crime rate: 441 per 100,000 people — 12th highest
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> Well-being index score: 62.5 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 58.9% — 17th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 53.6% — 5th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 49.0% — 9th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 56.7% — 16th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 36.0% — 6th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 61.3% — 6th highest
> Median household income: $78,687 — 7th highest
> Violent crime rate: 294 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest
12. Minnesota
> Well-being index score: 62.5 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 59.3% — 15th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.4% — 17th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 48.7% — 11th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 59.6% — 7th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 36.9% — 8th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 58.8% — 24th highest
> Median household income: $74,593 — 13th highest
> Violent crime rate: 236 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest
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11. New Hampshire
> Well-being index score: 62.7 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 57.1% — 22nd lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 51.5% — 9th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 45.7% — 21st lowest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 56.8% — 15th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 36.3% — 7th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 57.6% — 17th lowest
> Median household income: $77,933 — 8th highest
> Violent crime rate: 153 per 100,000 people — 2nd lowest
10. North Dakota
> Well-being index score: 62.7 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 62.2% — 3rd highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 50.7% — 14th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 46.1% — 23rd lowest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 52.2% — 17th lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 37.7% — 10th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 58.5% — 24th lowest
> Median household income: $64,577 — 20th highest
> Violent crime rate: 285 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest
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9. South Dakota
> Well-being index score: 62.7 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 61.3% — 5th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 54.2% — 3rd highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 49.4% — 7th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 57.6% — 12th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 41.2% — 17th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 61.3% — 6th highest
> Median household income: $59,533 — 18th lowest
> Violent crime rate: 399 per 100,000 people — 20th highest
8. Delaware
> Well-being index score: 62.9 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 55.8% — 16th lowest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 49.6% — 22nd lowest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 45.6% — 18th lowest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 58.4% — 10th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 34.4% — 4th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 58.5% — 24th lowest
> Median household income: $70,176 — 16th highest
> Violent crime rate: 423 per 100,000 people — 15th highest
7. Vermont
> Well-being index score: 63.3 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 59.0% — 16th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 48.9% — 17th lowest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 48.1% — 13th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 59.7% — 6th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 35.2% — 5th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 57.9% — 19th lowest
> Median household income: $63,001 — 25th lowest
> Violent crime rate: 202 per 100,000 people — 4th lowest
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6. Colorado
> Well-being index score: 63.4 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 59.5% — 14th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 52.7% — 6th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 50.1% — 5th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 58.6% — 9th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 39.8% — 24th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 62.2% — 4th highest
> Median household income: $77,127 — 9th highest
> Violent crime rate: 381 per 100,000 people — 21st highest
5. Utah
> Well-being index score: 63.4 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 60.3% — 10th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 51.9% — 7th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 49.1% — 8th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 60.2% — 5th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 42.1% — 10th highest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 63.1% — 3rd highest
> Median household income: $75,780 — 11th highest
> Violent crime rate: 236 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest
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4. Montana
> Well-being index score: 63.5 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 65.1% — the highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 51.2% — 12th highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 51.4% — 3rd highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 61.5% — 3rd highest
> Adults who worry about money: 39.0% — 16th lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 62.1% — 5th highest
> Median household income: $57,153 — 11th lowest
> Violent crime rate: 405 per 100,000 people — 19th highest
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3. Alaska
> Well-being index score: 63.9 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 60.5% — 9th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 54.7% — the highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 53.1% — the highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 53.3% — 24th lowest
> Adults who worry about money: 32.2% — 2nd lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 64.7% — 2nd highest
> Median household income: $75,463 — 12th highest
> Violent crime rate: 867 per 100,000 people — the highest
2. Wyoming
> Well-being index score: 64.2 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 60.8% — 7th highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 54.4% — 2nd highest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 50.1% — 5th highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 60.7% — 4th highest
> Adults who worry about money: 29.8% — the lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 59.8% — 17th highest
> Median household income: $65,003 — 19th highest
> Violent crime rate: 217 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest
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1. Hawaii
> Well-being index score: 64.6 (national average: 61.2)
> Adults who like what they do every day: 63.0% — 2nd highest
> Adults who feel productive every day: 49.9% — 25th lowest
> Adults who learn/do something interesting every day: 46.7% — 23rd highest
> Adults who are happy with where they live: 64.7% — the highest
> Adults who worry about money: 33.3% — 3rd lowest
> Adults who get positive energy from friends/family every day: 70.6% — the highest
> Median household income: $83,102 — 4th highest
> Violent crime rate: 286 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest
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