Iowa Is a Happy State

Believe or not, Iowa is a happy state. We even have proof.

With research proving that money can contribute to happiness — at least, up to a certain dollar amount — the personal-finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2016’s Happiest States in America.

To find the states that are home to the happiest Americans, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key metrics. Their data set ranges from emotional health to income level to sports participation rate.

Best vs. Worst

• Hawaii has the lowest depression rate, 10.7 percent, which is 2.2 times lower than in Oregon, where the rate is highest, 24.0 percent.
• The District of Columbia has the lowest number of suicides per 100,000 residents, 7.8, which is 3.1 times lower than in Montana, where the number is highest, 23.9.
• North Dakota has the lowest long-term unemployment rate, 13.1 percent, which is 3.8 times lower than in the District of Columbia, where the rate is highest, 49.2 percent.
• Utah has the lowest rate of heart attacks, 2.7 percent, which is 2.7 times lower than in West Virginia, where the rate is highest, 7.4 percent.
• Utah has the highest volunteerism rate, 45.2 percent, which is 2.5 times higher than in Louisiana, where the rate is lowest, 18.2 percent.
• Utah has the lowest divorce rate, 15.97 percent, which is 1.9 times lower than in the District of Columbia, where the rate is highest, 31.00 percent.

For the full report and to see where the rest of the country ranks, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/happiest-states/6959/

Source: WalletHub