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This Is the Unhappiest State in America

This Is the Unhappiest State in America

How do you measure happiness? According to one adage, money cannot buy it. Perhaps it is tied to health or a good family life. A good job should be mixed in. So should the environment where people live. (These are the best jobs in America.)

The prescription drug consultant site NiceRx tried to measure the happiest and unhappiest states with its own methodology, and according to the results, the unhappiest state is Mississippi. 

To make its determinations, NiceRx used metrics including rates of poverty and mental illness, life expectancy, median household income, a safety score, and homicide levels. The site drew data on life expectancy and homicide rate from the CDC. Data on the mean household income and safety ratings are from World Population Review, and data on each state’s rates of mental illness and poverty came from Data USA. 

According to NiceRx, “These factors cover a range of different topics, from health and social affairs to economic matters. This provided us with a good overview of the different stresses and strains that people living in these states might experience.”

What did the research leave out? Certainly environmental factors like air and water pollution. Another measure omitted was good schools and colleges. Yet another was the presence of parks and retail amenities. However, the site’s yardsticks are as good as most others.

Once all factors were taken into account, each state was given a composite happiness score, ranging from 10 to zero, with the happiest state receiving the highest score. That state was Hawaii, with a score of 9.02. Its mean household income was high, at $103,780, and its poverty rate was a low 9.44%. Connecticut ranked second with a score of 8.82. Six of the top 10 states were in the Northeast. (These are the best and worst states to live in.)

The lowest-rated – unhappiest – state was Mississippi, at 2.06. It was followed by Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama in ascending order, as Southern states dominated the bottom of the list.

Source: Adam-Springer / Getty Images

1. Hawaii
> Happiness score: 9.02 / 10
> Median household income: $83,102 — 4th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 81.0 years — the highest

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

2. Connecticut
> Happiness score: 8.82 / 10
> Median household income: $78,833 — 6th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.4 years — 5th highest

Source: Creative-Family / Getty Images

3. New Jersey
> Happiness score: 8.25 / 10
> Median household income: $85,751 — 3rd highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.8 years — 9th highest

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

4. Massachusetts
> Happiness score: 8.14 / 10
> Median household income: $85,843 — 2nd highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.1 years — 6th highest

Source: LIKE HE / Getty Images

5. Minnesota
> Happiness score: 8.06 / 10
> Median household income: $74,593 — 13th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.5 years — 3rd highest

Source: choness / Getty Images

6. California
> Happiness score: 7.59 / 10
> Median household income: $80,440 — 5th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.8 years — 2nd highest

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

7. Maryland
> Happiness score: 7.55 / 10
> Median household income: $86,738 — the highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.5 years — 24th lowest

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

8. New Hampshire
> Happiness score: 7.44 / 10
> Median household income: $77,933 — 8th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.1 years — 17th highest

Source: FilippoBacci / Getty Images

9. New York
> Happiness score: 7.25 / 10
> Median household income: $72,108 — 14th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.5 years — 3rd highest

Source: aiisha5 / iStock via Getty Images

10. Washington
> Happiness score: 7.19 / 10
> Median household income: $78,687 — 7th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.0 years — 7th highest

Source: LarryLindell / Getty Images

11. Iowa
> Happiness score: 7.15 / 10
> Median household income: $61,691 — 21st lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.2 years — 16th highest

Source: Adventure_Photo / Getty Images

12. Utah
> Happiness score: 7.06 / 10
> Median household income: $75,780 — 11th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.6 years — 12th highest

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

13. Rhode Island
> Happiness score: 7.00 / 10
> Median household income: $71,169 — 15th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.8 years — 9th highest

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

14. Virginia
> Happiness score: 6.96 / 10
> Median household income: $76,456 — 10th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.0 years — 19th highest

Source: gabetcarlson / Getty Images

15. North Dakota
> Happiness score: 6.90 / 10
> Median household income: $64,577 — 20th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.3 years — 13th highest

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

16. Vermont
> Happiness score: 6.83 / 10
> Median household income: $63,001 — 25th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.3 years — 13th highest

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

17. Maine
> Happiness score: 6.80 / 10
> Median household income: $58,924 — 16th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.6 years — 25th lowest

Source: Planet Unicorn / Getty Images

18. Colorado
> Happiness score: 6.66 / 10
> Median household income: $77,127 — 9th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.0 years — 7th highest

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

19. Wisconsin
> Happiness score: 6.60 / 10
> Median household income: $64,168 — 21st highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.3 years — 13th highest

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

19. Nebraska
> Happiness score: 6.60 / 10
> Median household income: $63,229 — 25th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.1 years — 17th highest

Source: marchello74 / Getty Images

21. Illinois
> Happiness score: 6.31 / 10
> Median household income: $69,187 — 17th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.8 years — 23rd highest

Source: aoldman / Getty Images

22. Wyoming
> Happiness score: 6.27 / 10
> Median household income: $65,003 — 19th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.1 years — 22nd lowest

Source: mdgmorris / Getty Images

23. Delaware
> Happiness score: 6.17 / 10
> Median household income: $70,176 — 16th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 77.8 years — 17th lowest

Source: 4nadia / Getty Images

24. Oregon
> Happiness score: 6.08 / 10
> Median household income: $67,058 — 18th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.7 years — 11th highest

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

25. Texas
> Happiness score: 5.92 / 10
> Median household income: $64,034 — 22nd highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.4 years — 23rd lowest

Source: 4kodiak / Getty Images

26. Nevada
> Happiness score: 5.92 / 10
> Median household income: $63,276 — 24th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 77.9 years — 18th lowest

Source: tonda / Getty Images

27. Arizona
> Happiness score: 5.84 / 10
> Median household income: $62,055 — 23rd lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.7 years — 24th highest

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

28. Pennsylvania
> Happiness score: 5.82 / 10
> Median household income: $63,463 — 23rd highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.1 years — 22nd lowest

Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images

29. South Dakota
> Happiness score: 5.82 / 10
> Median household income: $59,533 — 18th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.9 years — 21st highest

Source: mattalberts / Getty Images

30. Idaho
> Happiness score: 5.81 / 10
> Median household income: $60,999 — 20th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.0 years — 19th highest

Source: sorincolac / Getty Images

31. Alaska
> Happiness score: 5.69 / 10
> Median household income: $75,463 — 12th highest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.0 years — 20th lowest

Source: ricardoreitmeyer / Getty Images

32. Kansas
> Happiness score: 5.59 / 10
> Median household income: $62,087 — 24th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.0 years — 20th lowest

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

33. Florida
> Happiness score: 5.52 / 10
> Median household income: $59,227 — 17th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.9 years — 21st highest

Source: RudyBalasko / Getty Images

34. Michigan
> Happiness score: 5.28 / 10
> Median household income: $59,584 — 19th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 77.7 years — 16th lowest

Source: RickSause / Getty Images

35. North Carolina
> Happiness score: 5.07 / 10
> Median household income: $57,341 — 12th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 77.6 years — 15th lowest

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

36. Indiana
> Happiness score: 4.98 / 10
> Median household income: $57,603 — 14th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 76.8 years — 12th lowest

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

37. Georgia
> Happiness score: 4.94 / 10
> Median household income: $61,980 — 22nd lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 77.2 years — 14th lowest

Source: miroslav_1 / Getty Images

38. Montana
> Happiness score: 4.84 / 10
> Median household income: $57,153 — 11th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 78.7 years — 24th highest

Source: Ronald E Grafe / Getty Images

39. Ohio
> Happiness score: 4.43 / 10
> Median household income: $58,642 — 15th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 76.8 years — 12th lowest

Source: JTGrafix / Getty Images

40. Missouri
> Happiness score: 4.38 / 10
> Median household income: $57,409 — 13th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 76.6 years — 10th lowest

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

41. South Carolina
> Happiness score: 4.35 / 10
> Median household income: $56,227 — 10th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 76.5 years — 9th lowest

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

42. New Mexico
> Happiness score: 3.86 / 10
> Median household income: $51,945 — 6th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 77.2 years — 14th lowest

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

43. Kentucky
> Happiness score: 3.77 / 10
> Median household income: $52,295 — 7th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 75.3 years — 4th lowest

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

44. Tennessee
> Happiness score: 3.66 / 10
> Median household income: $56,071 — 9th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 75.5 years — 5th lowest

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

45. Oklahoma
> Happiness score: 3.65 / 10
> Median household income: $54,449 — 8th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 75.6 years — 8th lowest

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

46. West Virginia
> Happiness score: 3.19 / 10
> Median household income: $48,850 — 2nd lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 74.4 years — the lowest

Source: BlazenImages / Getty Images

47. Alabama
> Happiness score: 3.17 / 10
> Median household income: $51,734 — 5th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 75.1 years — 3rd lowest

Source: BlazenImages / Getty Images

48. Arkansas
> Happiness score: 2.61 / 10
> Median household income: $48,952 — 3rd lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 75.6 years — 8th lowest

Source: Jaimie Tuchman / Getty Images

49. Louisiana
> Happiness score: 2.38 / 10
> Median household income: $51,073 — 4th lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 75.6 years — 8th lowest

Source: maxmironov / Getty Images

50. Mississippi
> Happiness score: 2.06 / 10
> Median household income: $45,792 — the lowest
> Life expectancy at birth: 74.6 years — 2nd lowest

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