Utah Ranks Third Happiest State In America Behind Hawaii And New Jersey
Utah is apparently one of the happiest places in America. In fact, according to a new WalletHub ranking, Utah is the third-happiest state in the country.
Third.
And that sounds pretty good until you look at the two states ahead of us. Hawaii is No. 1, which seems reasonable enough. Hawaii has beaches, sunshine, palm trees and an almost unfair head start in the happiness department.
But New Jersey is No. 2.
New Jersey.
I’m not saying the people of New Jersey aren’t happy. I’m sure they are. But beating Utah at happiness? That seems like something that deserves at least a little investigation.
WalletHub’s ranking isn't based simply on asking people which state makes them happiest. The organization compared all 50 states using 30 different measures covering emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. Those measurements include everything from depression and physical health to work hours, economic security, divorce rates, leisure time and weather.
And Utah does remarkably well.
The Beehive State ranks first in the nation for work environment and first for community and environment. Utah has the nation’s highest level of economic security, according to the study, while its 3.4 percent unemployment rate is the 12th-lowest. Utah also ranks second in the percentage of people reporting supportive relationships and love in their lives.
There’s more. Utah has the eighth-highest percentage of adults reporting good or better health, the lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, and residents work fewer hours per week than people in any other state.
And then there’s the weather. WalletHub gives Utah the nation’s second-best weather ranking.
So perhaps we shouldn’t be too offended by New Jersey.
Still, there is something oddly satisfying about seeing Utah near the top of a happiness ranking. We like to think there’s something special about living here, and this particular study gives us plenty of evidence to support that idea.
Utah finished with an overall score of 66.45, trailing New Jersey at 67.09 and Hawaii at 69.53.
So congratulations to Hawaii. Congratulations, I suppose, to New Jersey.
But third-happiest state in America is nothing to complain about. Especially when the only thing standing between Utah and the No. 2 spot is New Jersey.
Just wait until next year.
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Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins