Post by Jack Lee
What makes a state happy? LiveScience.com reports residents of happy states tend to be wealthier, better educated, more tolerant and more knowledgeable about healthy behaviors.
States that have more money have a greater ability to provide a solid infrastructure of police and fire protection, good schools and other amenities, making it easier for residents’ needs to be met.
Happier states have a large number of residents with advanced educations whose jobs are considered “super-creative.” These include architecture, engineering, computer and math occupations, library positions, arts and design work, as well as entertainment, sports and media occupations.
In addition, states with residents who are tolerant tend to have a higher proportion of artists and gays, making it easier for all to freely express themselves.
Residents who are knowledgeable about healthy behaviors not only exercise regularly, eat well and don’t smoke, but also are more likely to have health insurance.
Of course, this is a generalization. Not every resident of Utah is happy, just as not every resident of West Virginia is miserable. But to arrive at the list, the Cambridge team analyzed data collected from more than 350,000 individuals who were interviewed in 2008 as part of the Gallup Organization’s Well-Being Index. Six types of well-being were measured: overall evaluation of their lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors (such as whether a person smokes or exercises) and job satisfaction.
All 50 states ranked for happiness with their happiness score (out of 100):
1. Utah: 69.2
2. Hawaii: 68.2
3. Wyoming: 68
4. Colorado: 67.3
5. Minnesota: 67.3
6. Maryland: 67.1
7. Washington: 67.1
8. Massachusetts: 67
9. California: 67
10. Arizona: 66.8
11. Idaho: 66.8
12. Montana: 66.7
13. New Hampshire: 66.7
14. Vermont: 66.6
15. Virginia: 66.5
16. Nebraska: 66.4
17. New Mexico: 66.3
18. Oregon: 66.3
19. Connecticut: 66.3
20. Alaska : 66.2
21. Texas: 66.1
22. Kansas: 66.1
23. Georgia: 66.0
24. Wisconsin: 65.9
25. New Jersey: 65.8
26. South Carolina: 65.7
27. Iowa: 65.6
28. North Dakota: 65.5
29. Maine: 65.5
30. Florida: 65.3
31. Illinois: 65.2
32. Pennsylvania: 64.9
33. Alabama: 64.9
34. North Carolina: 64.8
35. New York: 64.7
36. Delaware: 64.7
37. Rhode Island: 64.6
38. Nevada: 64.5
39. South Dakota: 64.3
40. Louisiana: 64.2
41. Michigan: 64.0
42. Tennessee: 64.0
43. Oklahoma: 64.0
44. Missouri: 63.8
45. Indiana: 63.3
46. Arkansas: 62.9
47. Ohio: 62.8
48. Mississippi: 61.9
49. Kentucky: 61.4
50. West Virginia: 61.2
Oddly states in the Bible belt are among the most unhappy.