With 50% of Americans saying they are “very satisfied” with the way their personal life is going, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Happiest States in America, as well as expert commentary.
To determine where Americans have the highest satisfaction with life, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 30 key indicators of happiness. The data set ranges from the depression rate and the share of adults feeling productive to income growth and the unemployment rate.
| Happiest States in America | |
| 1. Utah | 11. Delaware |
| 2. Hawaii | 12. Massachusetts |
| 3. Maryland | 13. North Dakota |
| 4. Minnesota | 14. Virginia |
| 5. New Jersey | 15. New Hampshire |
| 6. Connecticut | 16. New York |
| 7. California | 17. Illinois |
| 8. Florida | 18. South Dakota |
| 9. Idaho | 19. Wisconsin |
| 10. Nebraska | 20. South Carolina |
Best vs. Worst
- Hawaii has the lowest share of adult depression, 11.40 percent, which is 2.5 times lower than in West Virginia, the state with the highest at 29.00 percent.
- New Jersey has the fewest suicides (per 100,000 residents), 7, which is 4.6 times fewer than in Wyoming, the state with the most at 32.
- Utah has the highest volunteer rate, 40.70 percent, which is 2.6 times higher than in Florida, the state where the rate is the lowest at 15.90 percent.
- Utah has the lowest separation and divorce rate, 15.46 percent, which is 1.7 times lower than in New Mexico, the state where the rate is the highest at 25.63 percent.
