Maryland Among The Happiest States In The U.S., Ranking Says

MARYLAND — Maryland is the second-happiest state in the country, according to a new ranking that looked at where in the United States Americans have the best economic, emotional, physical and social health.

To determine the happiest states, researchers at WalletHub examined each across 30 key metrics, ranging from the depression rate to income growth to the unemployment rate. Each metric was then graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness.

"The happiest states are those that provide above-average quality of life in a wide variety of areas, from strong state economies and high quality physical and mental health care to adequate amounts of leisure time and good weather," said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst.

Maryland earned the No. 2 spot on the list with an overall score of 64.67. Only Hawaii scored higher.

According to the ranking, Marylanders are most happy in part because the state has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, along with the highest percentage of households earning over $75,000 per year.

When surveyed about life satisfaction, Maryland residents reported liking what they do and being motivated to achieve their goals. The state also has the second-lowest share of people who report having traumatic events during their childhood, according to the ranking, and the third-highest share of people who report having supportive relationships and love in their lives.

Here are the top 10 happiest states, according to the ranking:

1. Hawaii
2. Maryland
3. New Jersey
4. Utah
5. Delaware
6. Minnesota
7. Connecticut
8. Idaho
9. Nebraska
10. Massachusetts

Louisiana is the least happiest state, according to the ranking, followed by Arkansas, West Virginia, Tennessee and New Mexico.

See the full ranking online.