Yulia Mayorova/Shutterstock Experts say happiness largely depends on exercise, sleep, and good social ties.
- Happiness can be tough to quantify.
- The researchers at MagnifyMoney created a state ranking of where the happiest Americans live, based on metrics determined by Oxford economists.
- The happiest states are in the Midwest and Mountain regions.
It might seem impossible to put happiness into numbers, but Oxford economists defined it as having good health, economic stability, and a lifestyle with good social ties and plenty of time spent outside of work.
The researchers at MagnifyMoney applied those barometers to the US to see where people are the happiest.
To measure that, MagnifyMoney used data from sources like the US Census Bureau and Gallup to determine a health, lifestyle, and prosperity score for each state. Then they compiled a score based off those three markers. (You can read more about their methodology here.)
States in the Midwest and Mountain regions, like Minnesota, South Dakota, and Colorado, have the happiest folks, while the South and East Coast tend to have a lower baseline happiness, the data found.
But, if you want to be happier, this doesn't mean you should move to South Dakota. You should stay put where you have tons of social connections.
Another quick way to boost your well-being isn't to focus on making impressive jumps in your career, huge vacations, or meeting your soulmate, as Business Insider's Shana Lebowitz has reported. It's better to focus on daily routines that allow you to exercise regularly, sleep a full eight hours, and get your finances under control.
In ascending order, here's how every state ranks on happiness. Scores for each category are out of 50.