This Is the Happiest State in the U.S.-and It Has Amazing Beaches, Too

"It came to its conclusion after evaluating all 50 states across three key dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. Those three dimensions were evaluated using 30 metrics, including the physical health of the population, sleep rates, food insecurity, commute times, income growth rate, average leisure time per person, safety, and more. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness. WalletHub then averaged each state's numbers to calculate its overall score."

"Hawaii is the happiest state, living up to its reputation as an island paradise, with residents reporting the highest levels of life satisfaction in the nation and the second-lowest depression rate," the WalletHub team wrote in its findings. The researchers noted that Hawaii residents exhibit fantastic physical health, with roughly 85 percent of adults reporting that "they are in good or better health," which represents the 10th-best percentage in the U.S."

In September 2025 WalletHub evaluated all 50 U.S. states across three dimensions—emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment—using 30 metrics such as physical health, sleep rates, food insecurity, commute times, income growth, average leisure time, and safety. Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale and averaged to produce overall state rankings. Hawaii ranked first with the highest life satisfaction, the second-lowest depression rate, roughly 85 percent of adults reporting good or better health, the longest life expectancy, low unemployment (2.4 percent), and a high share of households earning over $75,000. Maryland placed second and Nebraska placed third.

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