You are here

Mapped: America’s Happiest States in 2025

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

Use This Visualization

Mapped: America’s Happiest States in 2025

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

  • WalletHub ranked U.S. states by happiness using 30 indicators across three key dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment.
  • Hawaii, Maryland, and Nebraska are the happiest states in 2025, while West Virginia ranks lowest overall.

This map highlights the happiest states in America in 2025, based on a comprehensive study by WalletHub. The ranking considers 30 metrics, like adult depression rates, income growth, commute time, volunteer rates, and life expectancy. A score of 100 represents maximum happiness.

Hawaii and the East Lead the Way

Hawaii claimed the top spot again this year, a consistent leader thanks to strong mental health, life expectancy, and community scores. Meanwhile, Maryland and Nebraska also performed well, benefiting from favorable work and income statistics.

Overall Rank State Total Score
1 Hawaii 66
2 Maryland 64
3 Nebraska 64
4 New Jersey 63
5 Connecticut 63
6 Utah 61
7 California 60
8 New Hampshire 60
9 Massachusetts 59
10 Idaho 58
11 Minnesota 58
12 Delaware 56
13 South Dakota 56
14 Florida 56
15 Virginia 55
16 New York 55
17 Iowa 55
18 Pennsylvania 55
19 Georgia 54
20 Wisconsin 54
21 North Dakota 53
22 Illinois 53
23 Arizona 53
24 Washington 53
25 South Carolina 53
26 Rhode Island 52
27 Kansas 51
28 North Carolina 51
29 Vermont 50
30 Wyoming 49
31 Missouri 48
32 Montana 48
33 Maine 48
34 Indiana 47
35 Michigan 47
36 Oklahoma 47
37 Texas 46
38 Ohio 46
39 Oregon 45
40 Nevada 45
41 Colorado 44
42 Mississippi 44
43 Kentucky 43
44 New Mexico 43
45 Tennessee 41
46 Alaska 41
47 Alabama 41
48 Arkansas 37
49 Louisiana 34
50 West Virginia 32

Middle America Shows Strong Performances

Nebraska ranks third overall with a score of 64, showing impressive balance across all three categories. Utah (#6), Minnesota (#11), and South Dakota (#13) also show strong well-being despite being less populous. These states benefit from lower stress levels, high volunteer rates, and a sense of community often found in smaller, tight-knit areas.

Adult Depression Lowest # Highest
1 New Jersey 1 W. Virginia
2 Hawaii 2 Tennessee
3 Florida 3 Maine
3 New York 3 Vermont
5 California 5 Oregon

The Bottom of the List

Southern and Appalachian states rank lowest on the happiness scale. West Virginia, Louisiana, and Arkansas make up the bottom three, each with scores below 40. These regions face challenges such as higher poverty rates, lower life expectancy, and limited access to mental health services.

Suicide Rate Lowest # Highest
1 New Jersey 1 Alaska
2 New York 2 Montana
3 Massachusetts 3 Wyoming
4 Connecticut 4 Idaho
5 Maryland 5 New Mexico

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Charted: Median U.S. Salaries by Age Group on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Source
America
United States