The Inside the Huddle show is back for the games of the week of September 24, including our featured Mid South game of the week: Gray’s Creek vs. 71st High School (at Reid Ross). HIT PLAY to listen to the full show below!
Oh Bother. North Carolina Only 20th Happiest State in U.S.
Things have been stressful the last few years, so it would make some sense that North Carolina wouldn’t necessarily be the happiest state in the country.
And while things are certainly not TERRIBLE here, North Carolina only comes in as the 20th happiest state in America, according to a recent study from our friends at WalletHub.
“To determine where Americans exhibit the best combination of these factors, we examined the 50 states across 30 key metrics, ranging from the depression rate and the share of adults feeling productive to income growth and the unemployment rate,” WalletHub said in the study.
When you dive into the data, you feel the middle-of-the-pack Eeyore-like happiness we are experiencing here. Here’s where North Carolina ranked among the 50 states in a number of key metrics, with 1 being the happiest and 25 being average:
- 29th – % of Depressed Adults
- 20th – Adequate-Sleep Rate
- 14th – Suicide Rate
- 28th – % of Civilian Labor Force Unemployed 15 Weeks or Longer
- 30th – Volunteer Rate
- 29th – Separation & Divorce Rate
- 13th – Income Growth
- 19th – Safety
- 29th – Share of Adults Feeling Active & Productive
The good people of Hawaii ranked as the happiest in the country, and why wouldn’t they? And the least happy state? Well, that goes to West Virginia, where economic impacts have kept things feeling pretty rough for a while now.
“Research suggests that having more money is associated with greater happiness on average – but only to a certain extent,” Dr. Emily C. Willroth, Assistant Professor, Psychological & Brain Sciences – Washington University in St. Louis told WalletHub. “Above a certain income level, income and happiness are less strongly related. This might suggest that money can buy happiness when it is used to meet basic needs and remove financial strain. Beyond that, money may be less important for happiness.”
So what does the rest of the country look like? We take a dive through the rankings here to show you the top and the bottom of the list of the happiest states in the country, where North Carolina came in at No. 20 overall.
The 10 Happiest States
1. Hawaii
This one seems obvious, with the good folks on the islands having the top scores in Emotional & Physical Well Being, playing a big part.
2. Maryland
Thanks to high scores in Community & Environment, Maryland isn’t far behind Hawaii.
3. Minnesota
Sure, it’s really cold up there, but loads of work opportunities and great community makes for a happy place.
4. Utah
The best work environment and community aspects in the country make up for some of the other shortfalls in Utah.
5. New Jersey
While New Jersey may rank a little low on work and community aspects, being near the top in emotional and physical well being certainly helped.
6. Idaho
Similar to their nearby neighbors in Utah, Idaho has a great work and community environment, which makes up for a low emotional score.
7. California
Solid numbers all across the board helps make California one of the happiest places.
8. Illinois
A 3 rank in Emotional & Physical Well Being was huge in helping Illinois overcome bad scores elsewhere.
9. Nebraska
If you’re a fan of the open plains, and corn, the happy folks in Nebraska are just your type.
10. Connecticut
Connecticut gets some bonus points for healthy people, and that makes up for some lower community scoring.
The Most Unhappy States (The Bottom 10)
There’s still plenty of happiness in all these states, so we’ll pick happy images to represent them.
41. Missouri
You’ll notice a pattern here with the bottom ranked states, like Missouri, they all have terrible scores in Emotional & Physical Well Being.
42. New Mexico
New Mexico is also hurt by a bad work environment score.
43. Tennessee
While Tennessee is middle of the pack in work environment, it doesn’t fare well in emotional well being, or community and environment.
44. Oklahoma
Oklahoma has a great 12 ranking in community and environment, but some dreadful scores everywhere else.
45. Mississippi
The worst state in the country for Work Environment makes for a pretty low ranking down on the Delta.
46. Alabama
It appears that having the best college football team in all the land year in and year out isn’t enough to make up for some rough health and community marks.
47. Kentucky
The folks in Kentucky are struggling with mental and emotional well being it seems, and also a lack of work opportunities.
48. Arkansas
They mean well, don’t they?
49. Louisiana
The best food in the country can’t make up for a terrible work environment, and the associated Southern health issues.
50. West Virginia
As we mentioned earlier, bad marks all around doomed West Virginia, particularly when it comes to mental and physical health.
2022's Happiest States in America
