Making your life happier could be as simple as moving to a new state.
WalletHub created a happiness index ranking the states by relative happiness, including factors like "emotional & physical well-being," "work environment," and "community & environment." (Fortunately, WalletHub did not take into account how attractive residents of each state are.)
Combining these elements of a happy life reveals clear winners among the happiest states in America.
10.Connecticut — Overall score: 59.23
Housatonic River Valley, Lake Lillinoah Litchfield County, Connecticut
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 5
Work Environment rank: 38
Community & Environment rank: 17
One of Connecticut's nicknames, "The Land of Steady Habits," pretty well describes this workhorse of the happiness index, which comes in at the tail end of the top 10 list.
9.Idaho — Overall score: 59.58
Boise, Idaho
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 34
Work Environment rank: 2
Community & Environment rank: 2
Highly valued for its work environment and community, if not for the well-being of locals, Idaho cracks No. 9 among the nation's cheeriest places.
8.Iowa — Overall score: 59.65
Cornfield in Iowa
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 15
Work Environment rank: 6
Community & Environment rank: 11
Ray Liotta and Kevin Costner said it best in "Field of Dreams." Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa. According to people who live in the "Hawkeye State," it's pretty darn close to perfect.
7.North Dakota — Overall score: 60.02
Fargo, North Dakota
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 18
Work Environment rank: 3
Community & Environment rank: 7
Honestly, we're as surprised as you are, but it turns out North Dakota residents are pretty darn happy, thanks to an excellent work environment score.
6.California — Overall score: 61.14
San Francisco skyline with Oakland Bay Bridge at sunset, California
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 7
Work Environment rank: 18
Community & Environment rank: 13
Cali was always destined to rank high among America's happiest states, and it did pretty well among the top contenders considering how big and diverse the state is.
5.Maryland — Overall score: 61.78
Annapolis, MD
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 3
Work Environment rank: 33
Community & Environment rank: 9
Despite a relatively poor score in work environment, the "Free State" finds itself in the middle of the top 10 happiest states.
4.New Jersey — Overall score: 64.10
Waterfront area in Trenton, NJ
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 1
Work Environment rank: 30
Community & Environment rank: 22
For all the jokes New Jersey residents have to suffer, they're still pretty happy. Haters gonna hate.
3.Minnesota — Overall score: 65.42
Lowry Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 4
Work Environment rank: 4
Community & Environment rank: 10
It may be cold in Minnesota, but living there isn't so bad after all, especially given the state's high rankings for well-being and work environment.
2.Utah — Overall score: 69.42
Park City, Utah
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 14
Work Environment rank: 1
Community & Environment rank: 1
You can't find a better environment than Utah, either inside an office or outside in the state's rugged landscape.
1.Hawaii — Overall score: 69.58
Waihee ridge hiking trail in Maui, Hawaii
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Emotional & Physical Well-Being rank: 2
Work Environment rank: 16
Community & Environment rank: 3
No surprise here. Hawaii topped the charts of the happiest places in the United States. Now you have the numbers to back up that plan for remote work or retirement.
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