The 20 Happiest States

1.Hawaii*

Well-Being Index: 64.8 out of 100
Hawaii bumped Alaska from the top spot to be named the happiest state for the fifth time since 2008. Not only does the Aloha State boast the highest overall well-being score, it also comes in No. 1 for residents’ physical health.
* Rankings are from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index for 2016. 
1.Hawaii*

2. Alaska

Well-Being Index: 64.1
Despite losing the No. 1 ranking, the largest state in the nation comes in first in terms of residents’ financial well-being. Alaska also ranks in the top 10 for residents’ sense of purpose, community, fulfilling social lives and physical activity. 
2. Alaska

3. Montana

Well-Being Index: 63.8
Residents of Montana might have the highest sense of community, but the state ranks a lowly 37th for residents’ social fulfillment. On the bright side, it’s one of the best states to live in for taxes, with no sales tax and a relatively low income tax rate. 
3. Montana

4. Colorado

Well-Being Index: 63.6
Colorado has ranked in the top 10 for overall well-being every year since 2008. Not only is it in the top 10 for residents’ sense of community and physical activity, it also has the lowest adult obesity rate at 21.3 percent.
4. Colorado

5. Wyoming

Well-Being Index: 63.5
Down one spot since 2014. But its residents scored among the top 10 for their sense of purpose and community.
5. Wyoming

6. South Dakota

The Mount Rushmore state is in the top 10 for sense of purpose, financial stability, a sense of community and physical activity. It also boasts anunemployment rate of 2.9 percent, the second-lowest in the country. 
6. South Dakota

7. Minnesota

Well-Being Index: 63.3
Residents of the Land of 10,000 Lakes score among the top 10 for financial stability, sense of community and physical activity. Gallup also ranked Minnesota the top-performing state for job creation after it added more than 40,000 jobs last year. 
7. Minnesota

8. Utah

Well-Being Index: 63.1
Home to five national parks, Utah ranks among the top 10 for its residents having active social lives and a large sense of community. However, the state has the second-worst gender pay gap in the U.S., with women making a mere 67 cents to every man’s dollar. 
8. Utah

9. Arizona

Well-Being Index: 63.0
Arizona bumped up an impressive 11 spots since 2014, ranking among the top 10 for residents’ sense of purpose, fulfilling social lives and physical activity. The states other big claim to fame is that it is home to America’s only known wild jaguar. 
9. Arizona

10. California

Well-Being Index: 62.7 
The most populous state in the nation, California comes in the top 10 for residents’ sense of purpose and physical activity. The Golden State also has the second-best-performing high schools in the country.
10. California

11. Texas

Well-Being Index: 62.7
The Lone Star state ranked among the top 10 for residents’ sense of purpose. However, Texas has the lowest education standards in the country, according to a new study from Education Next. 
11. Texas

12. Florida

Well-Being Index: 62.4
Up 14 spots since 2014, the Sunshine State is among the top 10 states for sense of purpose and fulfilling social lives. Florida also ranks as the  fourth-best state for taxes, with no individual income tax and a low sales tax of 6 percent. 
12. Florida

13. Wisconsin

Well-Being Index: 62.4
The nation’s largest cheese producer, Wisconsin ranks high for residents’ financial stability. The state comes in a meager 31st for both purpose and social fulfillment, though.   
13. Wisconsin

14. Iowa

Well-Being Index: 62.4
Iowa ranks among the top 10 for financial stability. Part of the reason Iowa keeps climbing in the rankings is because of its Healthiest State Initiative, a government-sponsored program designed to improve the state’s physical, emotional and mental health.
14. Iowa

15. North Dakota

Well-Being Index: 62.3
North Dakota ranks as second-best state for residents’ financial stability and boasts the nation’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.7 percent, but it comes in 48th for residents’ social lives. 
15. North Dakota

16. New Mexico

Well-Being Index: 62.2
Despite plummeting seven spots since 2014, New Mexico’s residents have high levels of social fulfillment and physical activity. The state has the highest child poverty rate in the U.S., though, with nearly one-third of children living in poverty
16. New Mexico

17. Virginia

Well-Being Index: 62.2
The Old Dominion state ranks among the top 10 for residents’ social fulfillment and is home to Virginia Beach, the most romantic city in America. 
17. Virginia

18. Connecticut

Well-Being Index: 62.2
Up six spots since 2014, Connecticut ranks as the second-best state for residents’ social fulfillment and fifth for physical activity. WalletHub named the state the third-worst for retirees.    



18. Connecticut



19. South Carolina

Well-Being Index: 62.2
The Palmetto State takes the top spot for residents’ social well-being. It also places high on the list for sense of purpose. South Carolina also ranks as the worst state in the nation for deadly violence against women. 
19. South Carolina

20. Nebraska

Well-Being Index: 62.1
Nebraska plunged 13 spots since 2014, failing to rank among the top 10 for any category. The state came in the top 15 for residents’ financial stability and sense of community, though. 
20. Nebraska
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Selvaraj Mudali

Trying to fit in this world.

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