Are you planning to move to a different place in the United States to start anew? If yes, then this ranking of the best states to live in based on happiness metrics can help you decide on the next place to call home.
What are the top states to live in 2023 according to WalletHub’s ‘Happiness’ research?
In order to determine the best states for living in America based on happiness metrics, the personal finance website WalletHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) emotional & physical well-being, 2) work environment, and 3) community & environment.
WalletHub evaluated those three dimensions using 30 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness.
Emotional & Physical Well-Being – Total Points: 50
- Career Well-Being: Double Weight (~4.35 Points)
- Physical Health Index: Full Weight (~2.17 Points)
- Adverse Childhood Experiences: Full Weight (~2.17 Points)
- Share of Adult Depression: Quadruple Weight (~8.70 Points)
- Social Well-Being: Full Weight (~2.17 Points)
- Share of Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder: Double Weight (~4.35 Points)
- Adequate-Sleep Rate: Full Weight (~2.17 Points)
- Sports-Participation Rate: Full Weight (~2.17 Points)
- Share of Adults Feeling Active & Productive: Full Weight (~2.17 Points)
- Share of Adults with Mental Health Not Good: Triple Weight (~6.52 Points)
- Life Expectancy: Double Weight (~4.35 Points)
- Suicide Rate: Triple Weight (~6.52 Points)
- Food-Insecurity Rate: Full Weight (~2.17 Points)
Work Environment – Total Points: 25
- Number of Work Hours: Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Commute Time: Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
- Share of Households Earning Annual Incomes Above $75,000: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Share of Adults with Financial Anxiety: Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
- Current Unemployment Rate: Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
- Share of Civilian Labor Force Unemployed 15 Weeks or Longer: Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
- Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Job Security: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Share of Work-Related Stressed Tweets: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Income-Growth Rate: Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
- Economic Security: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Median Credit Score: Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
Community & Environment – Total Points: 25
- Volunteer Rate: Half Weight (~1.67 Points)
- Ideal Weather: Triple Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Average Leisure Time Spent per Day: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)
- Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
- Safety: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
For the final step, WalletHub determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the 50 states. Check out the top ten states to live in based on happiness metrics:
Top ten states to live in based on happiness metrics (Top 10 happiest states in America)
1. Utah
Utah has the highest volunteer rate, 40.7 percent, which is 2.6 times higher than in Florida, the state where the rate is the lowest at 15.90 percent. Utah also has the lowest separation and divorce rate, 15.46 percent, which is 1.7 times lower than in New Mexico, the state where the rate is the highest at 25.63 percent.
2. Hawaii
Hawaii has the lowest share of adult depression, 11.4 percent, which is 2.5 times lower than in West Virginia, the state with the highest at 29 percent.
3. Maryland
Maryland (tied with South Dakota) has the fourth-lowest share of adult depression and the fourth-lowest suicide rate.
4. Minnesota
Minnesota has the second-highest adequate sleep rate and the third-highest volunteer rate.
5. New Jersey
New Jersey has the fewest suicides (per 100,000 residents), 7, which is 4.6 times fewer than in Wyoming, the state with the most at 32.
6. Connecticut
Connecticut has the fifth-lowest suicide rate and the fifth-fewest mean work hours (tied with Massachusetts).
7. California
California has the third-lowest share of adult depression and the highest income growth.
8. Florida
Florida has the second-lowest share of adult depression.
9. Idaho
Idaho (tied with Iowa and Kansas) has the fourth-lowest long-term unemployment rate and the fourth-highest income growth.
10. Nebraska
Minnesota has the fourth-highest adequate sleep rate and the fifth-lowest divorce rate.
The best and worst states to live in the US (Complete state rankings)
Curious about your state’s position in the ranking? Check out the full ranking of the best states for living based on happiness metrics in the table below:
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| Overall Rank* | State | Total Score | Emotional & Physical Well-Being | Work Environment | Community & Environment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 69.79 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 66.42 | 1 | 25 | 30 |
| 3 | Maryland | 64.62 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | Minnesota | 62.82 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 61.98 | 3 | 14 | 29 |
| 6 | Connecticut | 60.68 | 6 | 32 | 8 |
| 7 | California | 60.53 | 5 | 34 | 10 |
| 8 | Florida | 59.31 | 2 | 21 | 44 |
| 9 | Idaho | 59.31 | 30 | 6 | 2 |
| 10 | Nebraska | 58.92 | 12 | 7 | 25 |
| 11 | Delaware | 58.68 | 11 | 29 | 6 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 58.43 | 4 | 16 | 48 |
| 13 | North Dakota | 58.02 | 14 | 5 | 21 |
| 14 | Virginia | 57.69 | 13 | 8 | 35 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 57.29 | 20 | 19 | 9 |
| 16 | New York | 56.71 | 7 | 39 | 39 |
| 17 | Illinois | 56.23 | 9 | 37 | 40 |
| 18 | South Dakota | 55.93 | 27 | 9 | 16 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 55.74 | 19 | 13 | 32 |
| 20 | South Carolina | 55.27 | 28 | 20 | 11 |
| 21 | Iowa | 55.03 | 18 | 18 | 37 |
| 22 | Washington | 54.87 | 26 | 23 | 12 |
| 23 | Kansas | 54.46 | 29 | 15 | 14 |
| 24 | Georgia | 54.10 | 24 | 30 | 15 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 53.96 | 17 | 35 | 27 |
| 26 | North Carolina | 53.55 | 15 | 28 | 38 |
| 27 | Arizona | 53.48 | 21 | 33 | 23 |
| 28 | Vermont | 52.78 | 37 | 10 | 7 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | 52.40 | 22 | 12 | 46 |
| 30 | Maine | 51.99 | 31 | 11 | 24 |
| 31 | Colorado | 51.51 | 23 | 22 | 45 |
| 32 | Nevada | 50.71 | 33 | 46 | 3 |
| 33 | Michigan | 50.20 | 32 | 24 | 28 |
| 34 | Montana | 49.11 | 41 | 2 | 36 |
| 35 | Missouri | 48.64 | 39 | 17 | 22 |
| 36 | Wyoming | 48.06 | 38 | 26 | 19 |
| 37 | Ohio | 47.77 | 35 | 31 | 34 |
| 38 | Oregon | 47.67 | 34 | 36 | 31 |
| 39 | Texas | 47.66 | 25 | 40 | 50 |
| 40 | Indiana | 46.48 | 40 | 27 | 20 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | 44.09 | 46 | 43 | 4 |
| 42 | New Mexico | 43.49 | 43 | 45 | 17 |
| 43 | Alaska | 42.20 | 36 | 48 | 47 |
| 44 | Mississippi | 41.42 | 42 | 47 | 41 |
| 45 | Alabama | 40.82 | 44 | 44 | 42 |
| 46 | Kentucky | 40.58 | 47 | 41 | 26 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 39.72 | 49 | 42 | 18 |
| 48 | Tennessee | 38.30 | 45 | 38 | 49 |
| 49 | Louisiana | 35.86 | 48 | 49 | 43 |
| 50 | West Virginia | 35.08 | 50 | 50 | 33 |
The 25 best cities for living in the U.S.
If you’re looking for specific American cities to live in, then a previous study by media company U.S. News can help you where to move.
To determine the 25 best cities for living in the U.S. in 2021-2022, U.S. News looked at various data like the cost of living, job market, crime rates, quality of education, and more on the country’s 150 most populous metro areas. The data were weighted based on responses from a survey of more than 3,600 people across the country to find out what matters most to them when picking a new place to live in. Below are the 25 best places to live in America:
#1 Boulder, Colorado
Metro Population: 322,510
Median Home Price: $528,833
Average Annual Salary: $67,160
For the second year in a row, Boulder is the best city to live in the U.S., out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the country. Based on the desirability survey and excellent higher education for high schoolers, Boulder has a positive reputation among many residents in the country. People living in Boulder also enjoy a high quality of life with great mountain views from their windows and an average yearly salary of $67,160.
#2 Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina
Metro Population: 1,959,006
Median Home Price: $329,709
Average Annual Salary: $56,888
Because of its affordability and solid job market, the Raleigh and Durham metro area remains one of the top picks of young people to relocate to. In addition to the tech industry, some of the consistently growing industries in the area also include research, education, and health care. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Raleigh and Durham metro area grew by 5.87% due to net migration from 2015 to 2019.
#3 Huntsville, Alabama
Metro Population: 457,003
Median Home Price: $192,667
Average Annual Salary: $55,980
Huntsville’s stronger job market in the midst of unemployment concerns across the country helps the city jump from No. 15 to No. 3 in the overall ranking. Out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S., Huntsville is the most affordable place to live in. It is the home of many local tech companies and is also the location of several firms focused on science, technology, engineering, and math, which contribute to a higher average yearly salary for young professionals living in the city.
#4 Fayetteville, Arkansas
Metro Population: 514,259
Median Home Price: $203,150
Average Annual Salary: $47,600
Fayetteville’s low cost of living, strong population growth due to net migration, and steady job market all help the city achieve the No. 4 spot.
#5 Austin, Texas
Metro Population: 2,114,441
Median Home Price: $377,693
Average Annual Salary: $55,190
The home of Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin was the No. 1 best place to live in the U.S. for three years in a row – that’s back in 2017, 2018, and 2019. After it was unseated in 2020 to rank No. 3, the city falls again to No. 5. Despite this, Austin is still a great place to live in for many Americans. It remains to have a strong job market and continued long-term population growth due to net migration, even though its cost of living continues to rise.
#6 Colorado Springs, Colorado
Metro Population: 723,498
Median Home Price: $455,371
Average Annual Salary: $52,360
Among all the 150 most populous metro areas in the country, Colorado Springs is the most desirable place to live, sharing the top spot with Honolulu, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Though the rising cost of living has negatively affected Colorado Spring’s affordability, the city’s steady population growth due to net migration as well as its consistently strong job market help the city score the No. 6 spot this year.
#7 Naples, Florida
Metro Population: 371,453
Median Home Price: $345,000
Average Annual Salary: $47,980
From No. 14 in 2020, Naples is now No. 7 on the overall Best Places to Live ranking in the U.S. for 2021-2022. Though Naples doesn’t attract the same number of tourists as Miami or Tampa, a lot of young professionals want to move there. In fact, Naples is the fourth-fastest growing metro area out of the 150 U.S. places examined.
#8 Portland, Maine
Metro Population: 532,075
Median Home Price: $310,300
Average Annual Salary: $52,820
The most populous metro area in Maine is now No. 8 in the ranking, thanks to its quality of life, fairly steady job market, and growing reputation as a desirable place to live in. For the quality of life category — which includes college readiness among high school students, close proximity to quality health care, low crime rates, short commute time, and overall well-being — Portland ranks eighth out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the country.
#9 Sarasota, Florida
Metro Population: 803,709
Median Home Price: $227,754
Average Annual Salary: $46,040
Securing this year’s No. 9 spot, Sarasota is the second-fastest-growing city out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sarasota saw a population increase of 11.22% due to net migration from 2015 to 2019.
#10 Portland, Oregon
Metro Population: 2,445,761
Median Home Price: $515,360
Average Annual Salary: $58,240
Americans see Portland as a highly desirable place to live in, with the city ranking No. 5 in that category. The city also boasts a fairly strong job market and consistent growth in population due to net migration.
#11 Boise, Idaho
Metro Population: 710,743
Median Home Price: $221,475
Average Annual Salary: $47,170
With high scores in population growth due to net migration and affordable housing, Boise lands at No. 11 in the overall ranking. People living in Boise need just 22.11% of the median household income to pay for rent or mortgage payments, as well as additional housing expenses.
#12 Ann Arbor, Michigan
Metro Population: 367,000
Median Home Price: $270,567
Average Annual Salary: $56,370
Ann Arbor gets the highest score out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for its access to quality health care, sharing the top spot with Kalamazoo, Michigan; Reading, Pennsylvania; York, Pennsylvania; and Trenton, New Jersey. Ann Arbor, which is basically a college town, also ranks third in college readiness, following only Boulder and San Jose.
#13 Des Moines, Iowa
Metro Population: 680,439
Median Home Price: $273,134
Average Annual Salary: $52,890
With a strong job market and relatively sustained net migration, Des Moines secures the No. 13 spot in the overall ranking. The city also boasts an affordable cost of living compared to the city’s median household income, ranking fifth out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for its affordability.
#14 Denver, Colorado
Metro Population: 2,892,066
Median Home Price: $557,273
Average Annual Salary: $61,540
After holding the No. 2 spot for a long time, Denver falls to No. 14 in the overall ranking of best places to live in the U.S. for 2021-2022. Despite taking some hits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the capital city of Colorado maintains its reputation as a desirable place to live in among U.S. residents. It also has a positive growth in population due to net migration and a job market that’s stronger than the typical U.S. metro area.
#15 San Francisco, California
Metro Population: 4,701,332
Median Home Price: $1,047,714
Average Annual Salary: $75,890
Fifteenth-placer San Francisco remains one of the most desirable major cities to live in America because of its stable job market. In fact, even as the entire country took an employment hit during the coronavirus pandemic, the city still ranks fourth in the job market ranking out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the country.
#16 Madison, Wisconsin
Metro Population: 653,725
Median Home Price: $348,940
Average Annual Salary: $54,300
Madison lands at the No. 16 spot in the overall ranking of best places to live in the U.S., largely because of its steady job market. While many other metro areas struggled with unemployment rates above 7% in 2020, Madison’s unemployment rate was comparatively low at 4.95%. Furthermore, Madison’s average annual salary is $54,300, which is higher than the national average of $53,490.
#17 Fort Collins, Colorado
Metro Population: 344,786
Median Home Price: $462,481
Average Annual Salary: $53,230
Despite being one of the smallest metro areas in the U.S., Fort Collins has been seeing a lot of growth as of late. The city ranks 11th out of the 150 metro areas examined for population growth due to net migration, which increased by 8.2% from 2015 to 2019.
#18 Melbourne, Florida
Metro Population: 585,507
Median Home Price: $217,400
Average Annual Salary: $51,180
From No. 28 in 2020, Melbourne is now at the No. 18 spot. The city’s jump in the ranking is largely due to its rapid population growth from net migration and a job market that sustained itself better than many other U.S. metro areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. For reference, from 2015 to 2019, the Melbourne metro area grew by 8.46% due to net migration.
#19 Seattle, Washington
Metro Population: 3,871,323
Median Home Price: $675,237
Average Annual Salary: $68,460
Seattle’s impressive job market makes the city one of the most desirable U.S. places to live in. Even though the city’s job market took a hit as a result of the pandemic, it still ranks No. 6 out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the country. And with an average yearly salary of $68,460, Seattle has the fifth-highest individual average salary out of all 25 cities on this list.
#20 Charlotte, North Carolina
Metro Population: 2,545,560
Median Home Price: $351,700
Average Annual Salary: $52,150
Charlotte scores the No. 20 spot due to its high scores in the desirability category and fast and sustained population growth. Based on the data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Charlotte metro area grew by 5.9% between 2015 and 2019 due to net migration alone.
#21 Green Bay, Wisconsin
Credit: Chris Rand / Wikimedia Commons
Metro Population: 319,401
Median Home Price: $181,700
Average Annual Salary: $47,400
Among all the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S., Green Bay scores the highest for its affordable cost of living compared to the area’s median household income. People living in the city only spend 19.83% of the median household income on rent or mortgage payments, along with property taxes, utilities, and other housing costs.
#22 Jacksonville, Florida
Metro Population: 1,503,574
Median Home Price: $303,789
Average Annual Salary: $48,270
Sitting at the No. 22 spot in the ranking of best cities for living in the U.S., Jacksonville is seeing rapid growth due to more and more people moving to the area.
#23 Salt Lake City, Utah
Metro Population: 2,480,709
Median Home Price: $458,230
Average Annual Salary: $50,103
Salt Lake City’s affordable housing, relatively low unemployment rate, and salary hike despite the national economic uncertainty during the pandemic bring the city to the No. 23 spot. It’s also worth noting that the average monthly unemployment rate for the city in 2020 was 4.64% while the national average was 8.1%.
#24 Spartanburg, South Carolina
Metro Population: 307,617
Median Home Price: $156,300
Average Annual Salary: $44,920
A lot of people are moving to Spartanburg, South Carolina because of the low cost of living in the area. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Spartanburg metro area grew by 7.97% between 2015 and 2019 due to net migration alone. Moreover, Spartanburg residents spend only 20.63% of the median household income on housing costs.
#25 Omaha, Nebraska
Metro Population: 931,779
Median Home Price: $303,980
Average Annual Salary: $50,550
Thanks to its low cost of living and job market that remained steady compared to other parts of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, Omaha lands at No. 25 for the 2021-2022 ranking of the best places to live in the U.S. Old and new residents of Omaha also spend just 20.42% of the area’s median household income on housing expenses.