A recent Oxford Economics study of well-being, found sleep is the largest factor contributing to well-being, followed by other health, lifestyle and economic factors.
Six of the top ten happiest states were in the Midwest, according to MagnifyMoney.
While some states rated highly in only one or two categories, those ranks diminished their overall ranking. Utah ranked first in lifestyle and prosperity, yet it only ranked at No. 4 overall due to being ranked at No. 21 in health.
MagnifyMoney examined each of the 50 states and ranked them based on health, lifestyle, and prosperity. Each state was then scored based on a “wellness” score out of 100.
These are the happiest states, in ascending order, based on their wellness score:
10.Montana
Exercise keeps 40.1 percent of Montanans with a health score ranked No. 9 in the study. Montana’s total score was 63.2/100.
9. New Hampshire
The study found that 37.3 percent of the state’s population exercised regularly. With a total score of 63.8, the state came in at No. 5 in the lifestyle category and at No. 7 for economic stability.
8. Iowa
Iowans did well in the health category, with a No. 5 rank in that category. Economic stability category ranked at No. 9. The state had a total score of 64.4/100.
7. Nebraska
With a total score of 64.8, Nebraska performed well in the category of health. The criteria for a good health rank include air quality and life expectancy.
6. Wisconsin
The Midwest state had a total score of 67.3/100. Wisconsin ranked at No. 3 in the economic stability category, which includes unemployment rates, and median household income.
5. North Dakota
Economic stability and health gave North Dakota solid rankings in those two categories. The overall score for the state was 67.4/100.
4. Utah
The state scored a 69 for the overall ranking. Economic stability and lifestyle ranked at No.1 in these two categories. Utah had the third lowest divorce rate and had the fifth lowest unemployment rate at 4 percent, the study reported.
3. Colorado
Health and lifestyle ranked high in the Rocky Mountain state. Colorado’s overall score was 70.5/100 with 39 percent of Coloradans who regularly excercise.
2. South Dakota
The state’s overall score was 72/00. South Dakota ranked first in Health second in economic stability. The study found that the state’s first-place rank was due to a high percentage of people who get at least seven hours of sleep. And, South Dakota ranked sixth in the state health index.
1. Minnesota
It may be cold, but the overall score for the state was 73.3/100. Despite Minnesota ranking third in health and third in lifestyle, the overall score gave it the top score. The state also ranked sixth for economic stability.
The full report can be viewed here.