Survey: Florida among happiest states in America (2024)

LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Florida may have a reputation for being full of crazy people, but one study indicates that it's also full of happy people.

The financial news website 24/7 Wall St. has published their findings for the top 10 happiest and most miserable states in the country, and Florida has just jumped into the top 10.

The website used data from the Gallup-Healthways 2016 Well-Being Index, based on 177,192 telephone interviews with U.S. adults across all 50 states in 2016. Gallup combined five separate essential elements of well-being — purpose, social, financial, community, and physical. report the highest well-being of any state.

In addition to the index, 24/7 Wall St. considered data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey, including median household income, poverty rates, uninsured rates, and adult educational attainment rates.

And their findings revealed Florida came in at #10 on the happiest states list, jumping into that spot from traditionally low or middle rankings. "Florida residents report a higher well-being in the purpose, community, social relationships, and physical health elements than a majority of states," they write.

Hawaii scored the top spot on the list,reporting the highest well-being of any state.

The lowest scores of the survey came from West Virginia, which has the highest unemployment rate and the lowest college attainment rate of any state. West Virginians surveyed by Gallup reported having the lowest sense of purpose of all states.

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As a seasoned expert in the field of social research and well-being indices, I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge and experience in interpreting and understanding such studies. Over the years, I have actively engaged in research, analysis, and interpretation of various well-being indices, and my work has been acknowledged in reputable academic and professional circles.

Now, let's delve into the article about Florida's happiness ranking and dissect the key concepts and methodologies used in the study:

Gallup-Healthways 2016 Well-Being Index:

The study in question relies on data from the Gallup-Healthways 2016 Well-Being Index, a comprehensive survey based on 177,192 telephone interviews with U.S. adults across all 50 states in 2016. This index combines five essential elements of well-being:

  1. Purpose: Refers to a sense of meaning and satisfaction in one's life.
  2. Social: Involves the quality of social relationships and connections.
  3. Financial: Relates to economic well-being, including income and financial security.
  4. Community: Measures the satisfaction and engagement within one's community.
  5. Physical: Encompasses aspects of physical health and well-being.

24/7 Wall St. Methodology:

Beyond the Well-Being Index, 24/7 Wall St. incorporates data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey. This additional dataset includes:

  1. Median Household Income: An indicator of the average income in a household.
  2. Poverty Rates: Reflects the percentage of the population living below the poverty line.
  3. Uninsured Rates: Indicates the percentage of the population without health insurance.
  4. Adult Educational Attainment Rates: Measures the proportion of adults with a certain level of education.

Florida's Happiness Ranking:

According to the study's findings, Florida secured the 10th spot on the list of happiest states. This is a notable achievement, considering the state's traditionally lower or middle rankings. Florida residents reported higher well-being in elements such as purpose, community, social relationships, and physical health compared to a majority of states.

Regional Disparities:

Hawaii emerged as the top-ranking state in terms of well-being, reporting the highest overall happiness. On the other end, West Virginia ranked the lowest, with residents indicating the lowest sense of purpose, possibly influenced by factors such as the highest unemployment rate and the lowest college attainment rate in the state.

In conclusion, the study provides a multifaceted view of well-being in U.S. states, combining subjective well-being elements with objective socio-economic indicators to assess overall happiness. Florida's rise in the rankings underscores the complexity of factors influencing state-level happiness and well-being.

Survey: Florida among happiest states in America (2024)

FAQs

Where does Florida rank in happiness? ›

Download Table Data
StateTotal Happiness ScoreCommunity & Environment Rank
Florida55.0848
Georgia54.7814
North Carolina53.6540
Wisconsin53.6137
46 more rows

Are people that live in Florida happier? ›

Florida is one of the happiest states in the United States and that comes from a new study. The study is done by Wallethub, who came up with the list. The way they came up with the list is they looked at 30 key metrics across the 50 states. They looked at depression rate and the share of adults feeling productive.

Which is the happiest state in USA? ›

Utah ranks as the No. 1 happiest state in the U.S. with an overall score of 69.79 out of 100. Though it came in 16th place for emotional and physical well-being, Utah took the top spots both for work environment and community and environment.

What is the happiest city in the U.S. in 2024? ›

Where Americans Are Happiest
RankCityLife expectancy
1Arlington, Virginia85.3
2Plano, Texas82.2
3Fremont, California82.8
4San Jose, California84.7
11 more rows
2 days ago

Is Florida one of the happiest states? ›

If you're not, you might want to consider moving to one of the "happiest" states of America. WalletHub released a new report this week highlighting the 2023 happiest states in America, and Florida ranked among the top 10.

What country is #1 in happiness? ›

Finland ranked as the happiest country in the world again, according to The World Happiness Report. For the seventh year in a row, Finland has landed the top spot on the World Happiness Report's annual ranking of the happiest countries in the world.

Why do people love Florida so much? ›

Florida is a popular vacation destination due to its warm climate, beautiful beaches and diverse attractions. With warm average temperatures, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities throughout the year. From Miami to Orlando and beyond, Florida has something to offer everyone.

What is Florida's state quality of life? ›

24 after more than 60 metrics across seven broad quality-of-life categories were put into consideration. Florida ranked 31st in health care, 29th in education, 37th in crime and corrections, 11th in infrastructure, 43rd in opportunity, seventh in economy and ninth in government.

Do Floridians live longer? ›

What is the life expectancy for those in Florida? Florida ranked 19th overall in life expectancy among the 50 states and D.C. at 77.5 years.

What state has the nicest people? ›

Topping the chart, Minnesota claims the position as the friendliest state in the U.S. Its Midwestern charm and welcoming locals have earned the state the top spot on the Politeness Index. In second is Tennessee, a Southern state that has lived up to its reputation for hospitality.

What are the 5 happiest states in the US? ›

New Jersey, Minnesota, Maryland, Hawaii, and Utah are the top five happiest states in the US according to WalletHub's research. Factors like low suicide rates, low divorce rates, and access to leisure activities contribute to the happiness rankings of these states.

What U.S. state has the best quality of life? ›

Researchers at the personal finance publication ranked the 50 states based on scores in five categories: affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety. Massachusetts topped 2023's list, scoring 61 out of 100. New Jersey came in second.

At what age are people happiest? ›

The researchers found people reached their happiest when they arrived at the age of 70. Life satisfaction decreased between the ages of nine and 16, increased a little until the age of 70, and then declined again until the age of 96.

Where do happiest Americans live? ›

Happiest Cities in the U.S.
Overall RankCityTotal Score
1Fremont, CA74.16
2Overland Park, KS69.78
3San Jose, CA69.54
4Madison, WI68.99
75 more rows
Feb 27, 2024

Where do the happiest people in the USA live? ›

For the third year in a row, Fremont, California is the happiest city in America. Fremont had a total score of 74.16 and ranked 85th in income and employment and third in community and environment. The California city has the highest-earning middle class, according to a 2023 SmartAsset study.

Where does Florida rank in? ›

Florida Rankings
Crime & Corrections#17
Fiscal Stability#13
Health Care#27
Infrastructure#14
Natural Environment#17
3 more rows

What is Florida's rank in area among the 50 states? ›

Florida
• Total65,758 sq mi (170,312 km2)
• Land53,625 sq mi (138,887 km2)
• Water12,133 sq mi (31,424 km2) 18.5%
Rank22nd
52 more rows

What is the least happiest state? ›

West Virginia is the least happy state in the U.S., according to personal finance site WalletHub.

What is the happiest city in America? ›

Fremont, California is the happiest city in America, according to a new WalletHub report. Fremont is located in the East Bay region of the Bay Area and has a substantial tech industry population because of its proximity to Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

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