The happiest US state is...

[MichaelWinicki]

Top 10 states and their average well-being scores (out of a possible 100 points):

Hawaii: 71.1
Colorado: 69.7
Minnesota: 68.9
Utah: 68.8
Vermont: 68.6
Nebraska: 68.5
Montana: 68.5
New Hampshire: 68.4
Iowa: 68.1
Massachusetts: 68.1

I can understand Hawaii being #1, having just visited there... Of course the weather helps, but when you're there you're sorta isolated from all the rest of the BS that happens elsewhere in the U.S.

The bottom 11 states:

South Carolina: 65.2
Oklahoma: 65.2
Nevada: 65.2
Indiana: 65.1
Louisiana: 64.7
Ohio: 64.6
Alabama: 64.2
Arkansas: 64.1
Tennessee: 64.0
Mississippi: 63.6
Kentucky: 62.7
West Virginia: 61.3

BP has soured West Virginia for everyone.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/02/28/happiest-us-state-is/

 

[DFWJC]

At first glance, my guess would be economics play a role here. :
Maybe I'll read the article later.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Now you know why I get in a crappy mood so often.

 

[Ren]

with the exception of #1 most of the list surprises me

I'd be miserable in most of those places

 

[DFWJC]

The other thing that stands ut is there is only a 10 pt gap (out of 100) between # 1 and # 50. So, it's not some stark contrast.

 

[Hoofbite]

At first glance, my guess would be economics play a role here. :
Maybe I'll read the article later.

Also look at outdoor recreation activities and weather.

I'm not shocked that so many of the places at the bottom are humid as all hell.

 

[joseephuss]

They must of interviewed everyone in Minnesota during the summer.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Also look at outdoor recreation activities and weather.

I'm not shocked that so many of the places at the bottom are humid as all hell.

I don't think having great weather all the time is a panacea.

And obviously from that list, it's not.

Speaking for myself, I enjoy the change in seasons. Yeah, winter sucks, but our Spring, Summer and Fall our outstanding.

New York state probably gets a screw job on the ratings due to NYC. That's an entirely different "world" down that way and should be ranked separately as to not drag all the rest of us down with'em.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

They must of interviewed everyone in Minnesota during the summer.

It's the change in seasons.

For folks like yourself that live in a state where there isn't much of a change from one season to another, you have no idea what you're missing.

 

[joseephuss]

It's the change in seasons.

For folks like yourself that live in a state where there isn't much of a change from one season to another, you have no idea what you're missing.

I get that part, but Winter is very long in Minnesota and is brutal. Plus many people from that area migrate down south for the Winter.

 

[Ren]

It's the change in seasons.

For folks like yourself that live in a state where there isn't much of a change from one season to another, you have no idea what you're missing.

I'm gonna go ahead and strongly disagree with this, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Seasons are overrated, except summer which you appreciate 1000x more if you spent all fall, winter and spring waiting for it. There's really only 2 seasons if you live somewhere cold, summer (a really short one) and waiting for summer

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I get that part, but Winter is very long in Minnesota and is brutal. Plus many people from that area migrate down south for the Winter.

You're right.

January through March is harsh.

Hey, I'm in western NY... we're pretty familiar with what winters are like. :laugh2:

Trust me, when the weather breaks and you see your first robin of the season or you start seeing the plants come up or you can go outside for the first time without a coat-- It leaves you with pretty good feeling.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm gonna go ahead and strongly disagree with this, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Seasons are overrated, except summer which you appreciate 1000x more if you spent all fall, winter and spring waiting for it. There's really only 2 seasons if you live somewhere cold, summer (a really short one) and waiting for summer

Summer's great... No question, but to short-change Fall and Spring... Well anyone that does that probably hasn't enjoyed too many Falls and Springs.

 

[WV Cowboy]

It is no wonder that WV is the unhappiest state, .. it is covered with beautiful, majestic mountains, .. with clean picturesque lakes, rivers and streams.

Lakes for boating, swimming, water skiing.

Rivers and streams for white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, flyfishing.

Woods and trails for hunting, hiking, biking, camping, picnics, horse-back riding, four-wheeling, dirt bikes and zip-lines.

In winter, .. snow skiing, snow boarding and sled-riding.

Beautiful golf courses.

Caves and caverns for spelunking.

Great Civil War history sites.

Awesome mountain backroads/highways for motorcycle riding.

West Virginia is such an ugly and boring place, no wonder it is rated the unhappiest state.

Probably none of you guys should ever come here to visit, site-see, or vacation, ... you won't like it, and will be "unhappy" when you leave.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It is no wonder that WV is the unhappiest state, .. it is covered with beautiful, majestic mountains, .. with clean picturesque lakes, rivers and streams.

Lakes for boating, swimming, water skiing.

Rivers and streams for white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, flyfishing.

Woods and trails for hunting, hiking, biking, camping, picnics, horse-back riding, four-wheeling, dirt bikes and zip-lines.

In winter, .. snow skiing, snow boarding and sled-riding.

Beautiful golf courses.

Caves and caverns for spelunking.

Great Civil War history sites.

Awesome mountain backroads/highways for motorcycle riding.

West Virginia is such an ugly and boring place, no wonder it is rated the unhappiest state.

Probably none of you guys should ever come here to visit, site-see, or vacation, ... you won't like it, and will be "unhappy" when you leave.

Maybe it's a Mothman thing.

 

[DFWJC]

Summer's great... No question, but to short-change Fall and Spring... Well anyone that does that probably hasn't enjoyed too many Falls and Springs.

Note that he is writing from Oslo, Norway. So what he says is true.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Maybe it's a Mothman thing.

Sorry, .. mothman ????

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Sorry, .. mothman ????

Silver Bridge...

John Keel book...

Oh I give up! LOL!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Note that he is writing from Oslo, Norway. So what he says is true.

:laugh1:

Well yeah.

 

[5Stars]

It is no wonder that WV is the unhappiest state, .. it is covered with beautiful, majestic mountains, .. with clean picturesque lakes, rivers and streams.

Lakes for boating, swimming, water skiing.

Rivers and streams for white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, flyfishing.

Woods and trails for hunting, hiking, biking, camping, picnics, horse-back riding, four-wheeling, dirt bikes and zip-lines.

In winter, .. snow skiing, snow boarding and sled-riding.

Beautiful golf courses.

Caves and caverns for spelunking.

Great Civil War history sites.

Awesome mountain backroads/highways for motorcycle riding.

West Virginia is such an ugly and boring place, no wonder it is rated the unhappiest state.

Probably none of you guys should ever come here to visit, site-see, or vacation, ... you won't like it, and will be "unhappy" when you leave.

:laugh2:

When I lived in Columbus, OH, friends and I used to go down to WV and mess around in the mountains. However, them aint mountains, them be hills! I'm from out West (albuquerque and now utah), so if you want to see mountains, come see the Rocky Mountains!

Of course what we call "rivers" out here are nothing but creeks compared to actual rivers out east!! But, yeah, WV is a pretty state, but my favorite place to go TDY was to Richmond, VA. So much History around your area...