California Fourth Happiest Place in America

For those living in sun-soaked California, which is rich with wide open desert spaces, sandy beaches, breathtaking sunsets, and more, it will come as no surprise that it is one of the happiest places in the country.

To determine where Americans have the highest satisfaction with life, WalletHub, the personal finance website, compared the 50 states across 31 key indicators of happiness. The data set ranges from emotional health to income level to sports participation rate.

The top five happiest places in the country are Hawaii, Utah, Minnesota, California, and New Jersey.

The least happiest places are Louisiana, Mississippi, Alaska, Arkansas, and West Virginia.

Happiness in California (1=Happiest; 25=Avg.)

8^th – % of Depressed Adults
25^th – Adequate-Sleep Rate
5^th – Suicide Rate
5^th – Number of Work Hours
15^th – Separation & Divorce Rate
9^th – Income Growth
30^th – Safety

Happiness comes from a combination of internal and external factors, according to Adam McCann, a financial writer for WalletHub. We can influence it somewhat by approaching situations positively or choosing to spend time with people we love, doing activities we enjoy.

One thing that doesn’t drive happiness is money, according to McCann. Happiness only increases with wealth up to an annual income of $75,000 to $95,000. But one thing that can have a big influence on how we feel about life is where we choose to live.

In this study, WalletHub drew upon the findings of “happiness” research to determine which environmental factors are linked to a person’s overall well-being and satisfaction with life. Previous studies have found that good economic, emotional, physical and social health are all key to a well-balanced and fulfilled life.

To determine where Americans exhibit the best combination of these factors, we examined the 50 states across 31 key metrics, ranging from depression rate to sports participation rate to income growth. Read on for our findings, additional insight from a panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

To determine where Americans exhibit the best combination of these factors, WalletHub examined the 50 states across 31 key metrics, ranging from depression rate to sports participation rate to income growth. Read on for our findings, additional insight from a panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

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