What is the happiest state?

Hawaii is consistently ranked as the happiest state in the U.S. by studies like WalletHub, thanks to its strong emotional and physical well-being, low depression rates, good health, financial stability (despite high costs), and positive community/environment factors like low unemployment and beautiful scenery. Other states frequently appearing in the top tier for happiness include Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, Utah, and Minnesota.

What is the least happiest state?

According to recent studies, West Virginia is frequently ranked as the most unhappy state in the U.S., followed closely by states like Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama, facing challenges with high depression rates, poor sleep, limited physical activity, and tough economic/work environments. These rankings often come from WalletHub analyses, which consider factors like emotional well-being, work-life balance, and community/environment quality, though results can shift slightly year to year.
 

What is the #1 happiest country?

Finland is the world's happiest country, holding the top spot for the eighth consecutive year in the 2025 World Happiness Report, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands, with high rankings attributed to strong social support, freedom, low corruption, and high living standards.
 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as it depends on the study, but recent reports often name Massachusetts, Vermont, or New Jersey as #1 for Quality of Life, with Massachusetts leading in overall metrics (health, education) and Vermont shining in specific areas like low crime and natural environment. Other top contenders include Idaho, Minnesota, and New York, highlighting that rankings vary based on whether they emphasize healthcare, economy, safety, or environment. 

Which state is the state of happiness?

Hawaii was ranked the happiest state by WalletHub for the second year in a row, boasting the highest levels of life satisfaction and the second-lowest depression rate in the nation.

Happiest States in the US (2026)

What are the 5 unhappiest states in the US?

The Top 5 happiest states in the U.S. are: Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and Connecticut. The 5 LEAST happy states in the U.S. are: West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Alaska.

What is the most stressful state to live in?

New Mexico tops the list of most stressed states in the U.S. as of 2025, with a stress score of 60.52 out of 100. This ranking considers stress factors related to work, money, family, and health and safety.

Which state has the nicest people?

There's no single "nicest" state, but studies and surveys often point to Minnesota, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming as top contenders for friendliness, based on factors like tourist impressions and acts of kindness. Other states like Hawaii, Iowa, and parts of the South (like Kentucky, North Carolina) are also frequently praised for their welcoming and kind residents, though perceptions of niceness can vary by individual and region.
 

What is the safest state to live in?

The safest states to live in consistently rank high for low crime (violent and property), strong financial health, and good emergency preparedness, with Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine frequently appearing at the top of 2025 lists from sources like WalletHub and World Population Review. Other top contenders often include Massachusetts, Utah, Idaho, and Connecticut, while factors like cybercrime rates and road safety also play a role in overall safety scores. 

Which state is the cheapest to live in?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the cheapest state to live in the U.S., primarily due to the nation's lowest housing costs, plus low property taxes and inexpensive groceries, though other contenders like West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama also offer very low overall costs, with strong affordability in housing, utilities, and transportation. 

Where do the happiest people live?

The happiest people live in Finland, which has topped the World Happiness Report for several consecutive years, followed closely by other Nordic countries like Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway, known for strong social support, high living standards, and connection to nature. These rankings, based on citizen life evaluations and factors like social support, freedom, and low corruption, highlight Northern European nations as leaders in well-being, though countries like Costa Rica and Mexico also rank highly. 

What is the most loved country in the world?

🇨🇦 A new WorldAtlas ranking puts Canada at number 1 on the list of the top 20 most loved countries on the planet, ahead of every U.S. and European destination. From our natural beauty to our global reputation for kindness, Canada just took the crown as the place people love most.

What is the least happy country?

According to recent World Happiness Reports (2024-2025), Afghanistan consistently ranks as the least happy country, followed closely by nations like Sierra Leone, Lebanon, and Malawi, often facing severe economic hardship, conflict, and instability. These reports, based on Gallup surveys, measure citizens' life satisfaction, with Afghanistan scoring extremely low due to ongoing crises, political instability, poverty, and lack of basic services, with some reports from late 2025/early 2026 data.
 

What is the hardest U.S. state to live in?

These states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025:

• Arkansas.
• Alabama.
• Georgia.
• Louisiana.
• Utah.
• Indiana.
• Texas.
• Tennessee.

What state is the least depressed?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the state with the lowest depression rate in the U.S., followed by states like California, Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey, based on CDC data from recent years (2020-2022), with West Virginia having the highest rates. These figures reflect the percentage of adults who have ever been told by a healthcare professional that they have a depressive disorder.
 

Which state is richest in the USA?

The richest state in the U.S. depends on the metric, but Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey consistently rank at the top for median household income, while the District of Columbia (though not a state) leads in Per Capita Personal Income (PCPI), with Massachusetts and Connecticut close behind. Other contenders for wealth include Washington, California, and Hawaii, often leading in GDP or holding high income rankings.
 

What state is #1 in crime?

Alaska and New Mexico consistently rank as having the highest violent crime rates in the U.S. according to 2024 data, with Alaska at the very top for overall violent incidents per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, with other states like Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana also facing high rates. While some sources mention high overall crime rates in the District of Columbia (though not a state) and states like Colorado, Alaska leads for violent offenses. 

What is the most peaceful state in the USA?

Maine consistently ranks as the most peaceful U.S. state due to low violent crime rates, low incarceration, and high personal safety, often followed by New Hampshire and Vermont, while the Northeast generally leads in peacefulness over the South, according to indices like the US Peace Index.
 

What state has the prettiest people?

Beauty is subjective, but studies and polls often place California, Illinois, and New York high for attractive people, with California leading for overall beauty/models due to Hollywood, Illinois often topping "sexiest" lists, and New York ranking high for models and fashion. Other states like Hawaii, Colorado, and Texas also frequently appear due to factors like outdoor culture, fitness, or diversity. 

What is the least friendly state in the US?

The least welcoming states are Missouri, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Most Americans greet strangers with a handshake (60%), smile (47%), or by making eye contact (25%). Over 1 in 5 Americans say they aren't comfortable with physical contact when greeting. 30% of Americans don't smile at strangers.

What is the most loved state in America?

While "most loved" is subjective, polls consistently show Hawaii as a top contender for favorability, often leading in overall positive views, net favorability, and as a favorite destination, alongside strong showings from Colorado, Alaska, and North Carolina. Americans also frequently name states like Florida, California, New York, and Texas as favorites in head-to-head polls, but Hawaii consistently ranks highest for broad appeal and positive perception.
 

What is the unhealthiest state to live in?

While rankings vary slightly by study, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Kentucky consistently appear as the most unhealthy U.S. states, often due to high rates of obesity, smoking, chronic disease, substance abuse, poor nutrition, mental distress, and lower life expectancies, with many of these top contenders located in the South.
 

What is the #1 worst habit for anxiety?

The #1 worst habit for anxiety isn't one single thing, but often a cycle involving procrastination/avoidance, driven by anxiety and leading to more anxiety, alongside fundamental issues like sleep deprivation, which cripples your ability to cope with stress. Other major culprits are excessive caffeine, poor diet, negative self-talk, sedentary living, and constantly checking your phone, all creating a vicious cycle that fuels worry and physical symptoms.
 

What is the most relaxed state to live in?

For the most relaxed state, rankings vary slightly by study, but South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Vermont, and Hawaii consistently appear as top contenders with low stress, good work-life balance, strong health/safety, or low anxiety rates, often highlighting the Midwest, New England, and the island state for peaceful living.