- Happiness can be tough to quantify.
- The researchers at MagnifyMoney created a state ranking of where the happiest Americans live, based on metrics determined by Oxford economists.
- The happiest states are in the Midwest and Mountain regions.
It might seem impossible to put happiness into numbers, but Oxford economists defined it as having good health, economic stability, and a lifestyle with good social ties and plenty of time spent outside of work.
The researchers at MagnifyMoney applied those barometers to the US to see where people are the happiest.
To measure that, MagnifyMoney used data from sources like the US Census Bureau and Gallup to determine a health, lifestyle, and prosperity score for each state. Then they compiled a score based off those three markers. (You can read more about their methodology here.)
States in the Midwest and Mountain regions, like Minnesota, South Dakota, and Colorado, have the happiest folks, while the South and East Coast tend to have a lower baseline happiness, the data found.
But, if you want to be happier, this doesn’t mean you should move to South Dakota. You should stay put where you have tons of social connections.
Another quick way to boost your well-being isn’t to focus on making impressive jumps in your career, huge vacations, or meeting your soulmate, as Business Insider’s Shana Lebowitz has reported. It’s better to focus on daily routines that allow you to exercise regularly, sleep a full eight hours, and get your finances under control.
In ascending order, here’s how every state ranks on happiness. Scores for each category are out of 50.
50. Louisiana
Final Score: 29.8
Health Rank: 37
Lifestyle Rank: 50
Economic Stability: 50
49. Rhode Island
Final Score: 30.8
Health Rank: 44
Lifestyle Rank: 49
Economic Stability: 39
48. West Virginia
Final Score: 30.9
Health Rank: 49
Lifestyle Rank: 46
Economic Stability: 36
47. Alabama
Final Score: 33.1
Health Rank: 50
Lifestyle Rank: 40
Economic Stability: 38
46. Mississippi
Final Score: 33.5
Health Rank: 36
Lifestyle Rank: 48
Economic Stability: 48
45. Kentucky
Final Score: 29.8
Health Rank: 37
Lifestyle Rank: 50
Economic Stability: 50
44. Arkansas
Final Score: 36.2
Health Rank: 41
Lifestyle Rank: 44
Economic Stability: 31
43. Tennessee
Final Score: 36.9
Health Rank: 47
Lifestyle Rank: 37
Economic Stability: 29
42. Nevada
Final Score: 38.7
Health Rank: 28
Lifestyle Rank: 47
Economic Stability: 47
41. Georgia
Final Score: 38.7
Health Rank: 42
Lifestyle Rank: 33
Economic Stability: 45
40. Delaware
Final Score: 38.8
Health Rank: 46
Lifestyle Rank: 41
Economic Stability: 19
39. New York
Final Score: 39.7
Health Rank: 35
Lifestyle Rank: 38
Economic Stability: 19
38. Ohio
Final Score: 40.2
Health Rank: 39
Lifestyle Rank: 43
Economic Stability: 20
37. Oklahoma
Final Score: 41.2
Health Rank: 40
Lifestyle Rank: 39
Economic Stability: 22
36. Michigan
Final Score: 38.7
Health Rank: 42
Lifestyle Rank: 33
Economic Stability: 45
35. South Carolina
Final Score: 41.9
Health Rank: 34
Lifestyle Rank: 42
Economic Stability: 41
34. Maryland
Final Score: 44.4
Health Rank: 43
Lifestyle Rank: 17
Economic Stability: 30
33. New Mexico
Final Score: 45.9
Health Rank: 43
Lifestyle Rank: 17
Economic Stability: 30
32. Indiana
Final Score: 46.0
Health Rank: 38
Lifestyle Rank: 30
Economic Stability: 12
31. Pennsylvania
Final Score: 46.6
Health Rank: 32
Lifestyle Rank: 32
Economic Stability: 25
30. Connecticut
Final Score: 47.6
Health Rank: 30
Lifestyle Rank: 28
Economic Stability: 34
29. Florida
Final Score: 47.6
Health Rank: 30
Lifestyle Rank: 28
Economic Stability: 34
28. North Carolina
Final Score: 47.8
Health Rank: 29
Lifestyle Rank: 23
Economic Stability: 42
27. Massachusetts
Final Score: 49.0
Health Rank: 31
Lifestyle Rank: 21
Economic Stability: 35
26. New Jersey
Final Score: 49.6
Health Rank: 24
Lifestyle Rank: 22
Economic Stability: 43
25. Missouri
Final Score: 49.6
Health Rank: 24
Lifestyle Rank: 22
Economic Stability: 43
24. Illinois
Final Score: 52.0
Health Rank: 19
Lifestyle Rank: 34
Economic Stability: 28
23. Maine
Final Score: 52.6
Health Rank: 27
Lifestyle Rank: 16
Economic Stability: 18
22. Virginia
Final Score: 53.7
Health Rank: 26
Lifestyle Rank: 13
Economic Stability: 23
21. California
Final Score: 53.8
Health Rank: 11
Lifestyle Rank: 26
Economic Stability: 40
20. Texas
Final Score: 53.9
Health Rank: 16
Lifestyle Rank: 27
Economic Stability: 27
19. Alaska
Final Score: 54.6
Health Rank: 18
Lifestyle Rank: 19
Economic Stability: 33
18. Oregon
Final Score: 56.2
Health Rank: 15
Lifestyle Rank: 14
Economic Stability: 26
17. Arizona
Final Score: 56.3
Health Rank: 13
Lifestyle Rank: 15
Economic Stability: 32
16. Hawaii
Final Score: 59.2
Health Rank: 22
Lifestyle Rank: 2
Economic Stability: 37
15. Washington
Final Score: 59.7
Health Rank: 12
Lifestyle Rank: 11
Economic Stability: 21
14. Kansas
Final Score: 60.6
Health Rank: 7
Lifestyle Rank: 31
Economic Stability: 8
13. Idaho
Final Score: 60.8
Health Rank: 14
Lifestyle Rank: 7
Economic Stability: 16
12. Vermont
Final Score: 60.8
Health Rank: 10
Lifestyle Rank: 12
Economic Stability: 15
11. Wyoming
Final Score: 62.5
Health Rank: 20
Lifestyle Rank: 8
Economic Stability: 5
10. Montana
Final Score: 62.5
Health Rank: 9
Lifestyle Rank: 6
Economic Stability: 14
9. New Hampshire
Final Score: 63.8
Health Rank: 17
Lifestyle Rank: 5
Economic Stability: 7
8. Iowa
Final Score: 64.4
Health Rank: 5
Lifestyle Rank: 19
Economic Stability: 9
7. Nebraska
Final Score: 64.8
Health Rank: 4
Lifestyle Rank: 24
Economic Stability: 10
6. Wisconsin
Final Score: 67.3
Health Rank: 8
Lifestyle Rank: 9
Economic Stability: 3
5. North Dakota
Final Score: 67.4
Health Rank: 6
Lifestyle Rank: 10
Economic Stability: 4
4. Utah
Final Score: 69.0
Health Rank: 21
Lifestyle Rank: 1
Economic Stability: 1
3. Colorado
Final Score: 70.5
Health Rank: 2
Lifestyle Rank: 4
Economic Stability: 13
2. South Dakota
Final Score: 72.0
Health Rank: 1
Lifestyle Rank: 20
Economic Stability: 2
1. Minnesota
Final Score: 73.3
Health Rank: 3
Lifestyle Rank: 3
Economic Stability: 6
Originally published at amp.businessinsider.com.
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