State rankings

Happiest States

Hawaii has the highest Total Happiness Score in 2025 (65.5), followed by Maryland (64.13) and Nebraska (63.61). West Virginia has the lowest (32.04).

CultureFacts & Trivia50 states · 4 metricsUpdated Mar 9, 2025Original page
1 source
50 of 51 states
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Total Happiness Score, 2025

Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 50 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
52.25
Middle half 45.86 – 55.91
Average
51.17
50 states
Highest
65.5
Hawaii
Lowest
32.04
West Virginia

Over time · 2023–2025

The top 5 in 2025, against the median.

  • Median of all states
  • Hawaii
  • Maryland
  • Nebraska
  • New Jersey
  • Connecticut

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

50 states · # = rank by Total Happiness Score
#
1Hawaii65.5
2Maryland64.13
3Nebraska63.61
4New Jersey63.42
5Connecticut62.53
6Utah61.12
7California60.09
8New Hampshire59.56
9Massachusetts59.19
10Idaho58.31
11Minnesota58.21
12Delaware56.07
13South Dakota55.93
14Florida55.86
15Virginia55.45
16New York55.42
16Iowa55.42
18Pennsylvania54.73
19Georgia53.88
20Wisconsin53.62
21North Dakota53.43
22Illinois53.38
23Arizona52.89
24Washington52.88
25South Carolina52.82
26Rhode Island51.68
27Kansas51.29
28North Carolina50.97
29Vermont49.93
30Wyoming49.47
31Missouri48.31
32Montana47.83
33Maine47.64
34Indiana47.36
35Michigan47.06
36Oklahoma47.05
37Texas46.41
38Ohio45.67
39Oregon44.93
40Nevada44.82
41Colorado44.49
42Mississippi43.9
43Kentucky43.25
44New Mexico43.08
45Tennessee41.22
46Alabama40.69
46Alaska40.69
48Arkansas37.03
49Louisiana34.26
50West Virginia32.04

What correlates with Total Happiness Score (2025)?

Pearson r against 2,089 other state metrics sharing at least 30 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Total Happiness Score tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Total Happiness ScoreSaddest States
    r = +0.92 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. Emotional Physical Well Being RankSaddest StatesA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.81 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. Life Expectancy, Both SexesLife Expectancy by State
    r = +0.81 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. Health and Safety RelatedMost Stressed StatesA rank: rank 1 is the worst
    r = +0.80 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Male Life ExpectancyLife Expectancy by State
    r = +0.80 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Life Expectancy, Both Sexes (HALE)Life Expectancy by State
    r = +0.80 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Total Happiness Score tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. Premature Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States
    r = −0.81 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. ScoreMost Stressed States
    r = −0.79 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. Cigarette Use Past MonthDrug Use by State
    r = −0.79 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. Age-Adjusted Death RateDeath Rate by State
    r = −0.78 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. SmokersSmoking Rates by State
    r = −0.78 · very strong · n = 49
    Plot
  6. Tobacco Use Past MonthDrug Use by State
    r = −0.77 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Total Happiness Score?
Hawaii has the highest Total Happiness Score in 2025, at 65.5, followed by Maryland (64.13) and Nebraska (63.61).
Which state has the lowest Total Happiness Score?
West Virginia has the lowest Total Happiness Score in 2025, at 32.04.
What is the median Total Happiness Score across US states?
The median is 52.25 across the 50 US states with data in 2025.
Where does this happiest states data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: These were the happiest states in 2024: Report - NewsNation.