With 87% of Americans feeling “anxious” or “very anxious” about inflation, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Happiest States in America, as well as accompanying videos and 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. Hawaii | 11. Virginia | |
| 2. Maryland | 12. South Dakota | |
| 3. Minnesota | 13. North Dakota | |
| 4. Utah | 14. Massachusetts | |
| 5. New Jersey | 15. New Hampshire | |
| 6. Idaho | 16. Iowa | |
| 7. California | 17. Delaware | |
| 8. Illinois | 18. Florida | |
| 9. Nebraska | 19. Georgia | |
| 10. Connecticut | 20. North Carolina |
Best vs. Worst
- Hawaii has the lowest share of adult depression, 12.90 percent, which is 2.1 times lower than in West Virginia, the state with the highest at 27.20 percent.
- New Jersey has the fewest suicides (per 100,000 residents), 7, which is 4.4 times fewer than in Wyoming, the state with the most at 31.
- Utah has the highest volunteer rate, 51.20 percent, which is two times higher than in New York, the state where the rate is the lowest at 25.00 percent.
- Utah has the lowest separation and divorce rate, 15.63 percent, which is 1.7 times lower than in Nevada, the state with the highest at 25.79 percent.
