Utah still among the top 10 ‘Happiest States in America’ in 2025 according to annual study

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Although the Beehive State has been shifting around in the rankings over the last several years, Utah is still among the top ten happiest states in the U.S., according to an annual study.

An annual study from WalletHub ranked the 50 U.S. states based on happiness. This happiness rating was determined based on factors like each state’s work conditions, community, environment, and emotional and physical well-being of its residents. Below are the ten happiest states, according to the study.

4. New Jersey

5. Connecticut

7. California

8. New Hampshire

9. Massachusetts

In 2021 and 2023, Utah was the happiest state, according to each year’s respective study. Last year, Utah was the fourth-happiest state in the U.S., below only Hawaii, Maryland, and New Jersey. This year, Connecticut and Nebraska have moved ahead of the Beehive State, lowering it to sixth place.

2024: Utah ranks as one of the happiest states in the country, study says

This year, Utah ranked first in two out of three key dimensions, but it landed 26th place for the third category.

The first of the key dimensions was work environment, in which Utah took the number one spot. This dimension was based on a multitude of factors, including work hours, commute time, unemployment rate, and economic security. The Beehive State has the fewest work hours nationwide, according to the study, which aided in bagging this ranking.

The next key dimension was community and environment, where Utah also took first place. The weight of this dimension was based on metrics like volunteer rate, ideal weather, average leisure time per day, divorce rate, and safety. According to the study, Utah was first in the lowest divorce rate and the highest volunteer rate. The Beehive State also ranked fifth when it came to safety.

The final dimension, and the one where Utah placed the lowest, was emotional and physical well-being. Utah placed 26th in the dimension, which was based on factors like physical health index, share of adult depression, suicide rate, and life expectancy. While Utah was first in one of the metrics, sports participation, it ranked much lower in other deciding factors. Utah ranks among the states with the highest suicide rates, which was likely a contributing factor.

Weighing all of these dimensions together landed Utah as the sixth-happiest state in the U.S. this year. Although we’ve dropped out of the top five, the list changes every year, and Utah has a chance to reclaim its place as the happiest state in America next year.

To learn more about the methodology of this study and see how other states ranked, visit WalletHub’s website.

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