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By Joe Edwards
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Personal-finance website WalletHub has revealed its 2025 rankings for the "happiest" states in the U.S. in a newly published report, with Hawaii ranking top and Nebraska rising to third from ninth the previous year.
Why It Matters
WalletHub's study, officially released on Monday, comes after a separate survey earlier this year found that just 44 percent of Americans were "very satisfied" with how things were going in their personal lives, which Gallup—who conducted the poll—said was the lowest number since 2001.
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What To Know
Hawaii ranked first in the nation in 2025's report. The state had the second-lowest depression rate and the highest self-reported life satisfaction. Nearly 85 percent of adults in Hawaii reported being in good or better physical health, and the state has the longest life expectancy in the U.S.
Low unemployment and a high percentage of households earning more than $75,000 also contributed to the state's top ranking, according to WalletHub.
Maryland came in second with one of the lowest unemployment rates at 3.2 percent and the highest percentage of households earning above $75,000. Maryland also reported the third-highest rate of people who feel motivated and like what they do.
WalletHub also found that the state had the third-highest share of people who report "having supportive relationships and love in their lives."
Nebraska placed third overall, supported by the second-highest level of economic security and the sixth-lowest depression rate. Despite longer work hours, Nebraskans enjoy the most leisure time of any state, the report said.
The state also ranks among the top 10 for physical health and has one of the lowest divorce and separation rates, WalletHub found.
Overall, WalletHub found the 10 happiest states to be:
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Utah
- California
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Idaho
The lowest ranked state was West Virginia, with Louisiana 49th and Arkansas 48th.
Nebraska made a notable leap in 2025's rankings compared to the previous year, when the state placed ninth.
"Nebraska's leap in the 2025 report is largely tied to big improvements across all three dimensions that define happiness: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment," WalletHub analyst and writer Chip Lupo told Newsweek.
"The state now has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, combined with the second-highest level of economic security, which means residents are more likely to feel financially stable and protected. Mental health indicators have also improved, as Nebraska now boasts one of the lowest depression rates and a high share of adults reporting good or better overall health.
"On top of that, community factors stand out: Nebraskans enjoy the most leisure time in the nation while also maintaining strong family stability, with one of the country's lowest separation and divorce rates. Together, these elements helped push Nebraska from the middle of the pack in 2024 to the third-happiest state in 2025."
WalletHub says it determined the happiest states by analyzing all 50 across three main dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. Within these categories, researchers used 30 weighted metrics—such as depression rates, income levels, and physical health—each graded on a 100-point scale. The weighted averages from these metrics produced the overall scores and final rankings.
What People Are Saying
Lupo said in the report: "In addition to pursuing your passions, having a good work-life balance and maintaining an emotional support network, another key way to boost your happiness is living in the right place. The happiest states are those that provide above-average quality of life in a wide variety of areas, from strong state economies and high quality physical and mental health care to adequate amounts of leisure time and good weather."
What Happens Next
WalletHub releases its "Happiest States in America" report annually.
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