Happiest states in America: Where does New York rank?

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – There are many ways to pursue happiness, yet, only 50% of Americans feel “very satisfied” with the way their personal life is going, according to a recent study.

WalletHub, a personal finance website, has released its 2023 report on the Happiest States in America, with experts also weighing in.

“Where you live is important to the extent that it influences your ability to decrease stress, access support, and pursue the activities that promote your well-being and happiness — in particular, connecting with a healthy community,” said Eleanor D. Brown, professor and director of the Early Childhood Cognition and Emotions Lab at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. “Being in a place that allows for outdoor exercise and connection with nature can help as well. But we all should be cautious about assuming that a change of scenery will lead to long-term changes in our level of happiness.”

She added that sustaining happiness requires a toolkit of strategies for overcoming challenges, processing negative emotions and integrating practices to promote positive emotions.

WalletHub gauged the levels of life satisfaction across the United States by analyzing 30 key indicators of happiness in all 50 states. These indicators range from the depression rate and the share of adults feeling productive, to income growth and the unemployment rate.

New York ranks in the top 20 of happiest states in America — 16th overall, according to the 2023 WalletHub report.

Top 20 happiest states in America

1. Utah

2. Hawaii

3. Maryland

4. Minnesota

5. New Jersey

6. Connecticut

7. California

8. Florida

9. Idaho

10. Nebraska

11. Delaware

12. Massachusetts

13. North Dakota

14. Virginia

15. New Hampshire

16. New York

17. Illinois

18. South Dakota

19. Wisconsin

20. South Carolina